Publication date:
15 July 2019Length of book:
248 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442278363
What does it mean to be male? What does it mean to be female? In contemporary culture, such distinctions have increasingly been regarded as much too narrow to cover the entire spectrum of humanity. Over the past few decades, thousands of individuals have bravely declared their true identities and refused to be boxed into what society has dictated. It has become increasingly important, especially for those coming into adulthood, to go beyond the concepts of gay, lesbian, straight, and bisexual when examining gender.
In Gender Identity: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Cynthia L. Winfield encourages readers to reject the notion that male or female designations fit all. The author examines how gender lines have been crossed as a growing number of individuals—including young adults—have found the courage to express and celebrate their authentic selves. In this book, Winfield addresses:
In addition to providing a well-grounded introduction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual persons and issues, this book allows contemporary teens and young adults to voice their experiences. As more and more public figures—from actress Laverne Cox to Olympic athlete turned reality television star Caitlyn Jenner—have shared their stories, it’s just as important for everyday people to identify who they are. This second edition of Gender Identity: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a much-needed update of an important topic and will be of interest to young adults, their families and friends, and the community at large.
In Gender Identity: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Cynthia L. Winfield encourages readers to reject the notion that male or female designations fit all. The author examines how gender lines have been crossed as a growing number of individuals—including young adults—have found the courage to express and celebrate their authentic selves. In this book, Winfield addresses:
- Differences between biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression
- Legal protections for those outside the narrowly defined gender norms
- Public debate and shifting views about gender identity
- Ways readers can make society more cognizant and inclusive of gender-variant individuals
In addition to providing a well-grounded introduction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual persons and issues, this book allows contemporary teens and young adults to voice their experiences. As more and more public figures—from actress Laverne Cox to Olympic athlete turned reality television star Caitlyn Jenner—have shared their stories, it’s just as important for everyday people to identify who they are. This second edition of Gender Identity: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a much-needed update of an important topic and will be of interest to young adults, their families and friends, and the community at large.
Individual chapters feature introductory discussions about topics ranging from terminology and why words matter, to the global history of people with non-normative gender identities, to present-day challenges, particularly as may be experienced in the US, including the so-called bathroom wars, the binary in sport, and religion, as well as how to have conversations about gender. The chapters on intersex infants and the implications of delivery-room decisions about assigning gender, as well as the chapter on the legal issues facing members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, are particularly noteworthy. In addition to the book's detailed glossary and resources list, each chapter also includes multiple recommendations for suggested readings, viewings, and audiotexts providing more detailed topical information. Written in a gently supportive tone, this easy-to-read text will be most useful to teenage and older readers who either want more information about gender identity and the surrounding issues or need to know how best to support and advocate for those who do not identify in a traditional cisgendered manner.