My New Gender Workbook

A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity

Kate Bornstein

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781136268151
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Gender Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

"This updated edition of Bornstein's formative My Gender Workbook (1997) provides an invigorating introduction to contemporary theory around gender, sexuality, and power. The original is a classic of modern transgender theory and literature and, alongside Bornstein's other work, has influenced an entire generation of trans writers and artists. This revised and expanded edition extends that legacy, offering an accessible foundation for examining gender in the reader's life and in the broader culture while arguing for the dismantling of all forms of oppression. For fans of the original, Bornstein's new material merits a fresh read..."-- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Cultural theorists have written loads of smart but difficult-to-fathom texts on gender theory, but most fail to provide a hands-on, accessible guide for those trying to sort out their own sexual identities. In My Gender Workbook, transgender activist Kate Bornstein brings theory down to Earth and provides a practical approach to living with or without a gender.

Bornstein starts from the premise that there are not just two genders performed in today's world, but countless genders lumped under the two-gender framework. Using a unique, deceptively simple and always entertaining workbook format, complete with quizzes, exercises, and puzzles, Bornstein gently but firmly guides readers toward discovering their own unique gender identity.

Since its first publication in 1997, My Gender Workbook has been challenging, encouraging, questioning, and helping those trying to figure out how to become a "real man, " a "real woman, " or "something else entirely." In this exciting new edition of her classic text, Bornstein re-examines gender in light of issues like race, class, sexuality, and language. With new quizzes, new puzzles, new exercises, and plenty of Kate's playful and provocative style, My New Gender Workbook promises to help a new generation create their own unique place on the gender spectrum.

Chapter 1: Welcome to Your New Gender Workbook

Is your body situated as comfortably as possible? Very well, I’ll begin. From the moment we take our first breath-or from the moment our picture first hits the ultrasound screen-the cry “It’s a boy” or “It’s a girl” ushers us into the world.

As we grow into childhood and mature into adulthood, everything about ourselves grows and matures—everything except gender. We’re taught that our genders never shift or waiver. We’re supposed to believe that our gender stays exactly the same as the day we were born. The genders we’re assigned at birth lock us onto a course through which we’ll be expected to become whole, well-rounded, creative, loving people—but only as men or as women. From where I stand, that’s like taking a field of racehorses, hobbling the front legs of half of them and the rear legs of the other half, and expecting them to run a decent race: it doesn’t work.

Gender, this thing we’re all seemingly born with, is a major restraint to self-expression. This has never made sense to me. Why should we be born with such a hobble? Does that make sense to you?

More and more people are beginning to agree with the idea that gender is more than either/or—there must be dozens of theories. But for the moment … fuck theory. This is a workbook, and we’re going to start with the practical. And, since this is a workbook about questioning things, let’s get right to work and ask some questions.

And yes, I’m going to use the word fuck. A lot. This is a book about gender and sex, and how can we talk about that without using the word fuck.

What’s “New” About This Workbook?

A lot has happened in the world of sexuality and gender over the last fifteen years—so much so that the first edition of this workbook started to feel a little dated. For example …

• In my country, trans people are more and more included under the protection of the law against hate crimes.
• There are so many more hate crimes against trans people. Mostly male-to-female trans people. Mostly trans women of color.
• The Miss Universe beauty pageant is open to trans women. Now, that may sound shallow to you, but beauty is a great big part of the trans experience, and it’s simply lovely to see beautiful trans women in pages other than porn. Not that I mind the porn, mind you. Au contraire!
• Membership in The Girl Scouts of America is now open to young trans girls.
• In 2012, Argentina became the first country to give a legal green light to any person who wants to change their gender. They’ve removed all the medical and psychiatric hoops. If you want to change your gender in Argentina, you can—just because you want to.
• In the case of pre-teen and tween trans youth, more and more doctors have begun to use hormone blockers to prevent the genderfying c...