Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

In Transit

Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

For decades, our cultural discourse around trans and gender-diverse people has been viewed through a medical lens, through diagnoses and symptoms set down in books by cisgender doctors, or through a political lens, through dangerous caricatures invented by politicians clinging to power. But those who claim non-binary gender identity deserve their own discourse, born out of the work of the transsexual movement, absorbed into the idea of transgender, and now, finally, emerging as its own category.

In tracing the history and theory of non-binary identity, and telling of their own coming out, non-binary writer Dianna E. Anderson answers questions about what being non-binary might mean, but also where non-binary people fit in the trans and queer communities. They offer a space for people to know, explore, and understand themselves in the context of a centuries-old understanding of gender nonconformity and to see beyond the strict roles our society has for men and women.

In Transit looks forward to a world where being who we are, whatever that looks like, isn't met with tension and long-winded explanations, but rather with acceptance and love. Being non-binary is about finding home in the in-between places.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 4, 2022
      This thoughtful exploration by Anderson (Problematic) theorizes what it means to be nonbinary within the broader queer community. Referencing philosophers, pop culture, and personal stories, the author investigates the “linguistic and social problems we encounter when we try to lump all parts of a broad, diverse community under the same umbrella,” working to define nonbinary on its own terms and contending that “we cannot communicate if we do not agree to speak the same language.” Using the works of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Simone de Beauvoir, Anderson argues in academic prose that existing “rules about how we use language around gender” have restricted queer expression. They share how they grew up without the vocabulary to articulate gender beyond cis norms and are “just now realizing who I am,” asserting that it’s time to “claim our language for our own.” They offer advice to help cisgender readers “learn new patterns of thinking in order to be better” allies, suggesting readers respect gender labels and reflect on what it means to be cis. Anderson’s arguments are well reasoned, and the author’s frank account of their coming-out adds pathos to the discussions of queer theory. The result is an illuminating analysis of the contemporary functions and assumptions of gender.

    • Library Journal

      June 1, 2022

      Kudos to Anderson (Damaged Goods) for placing a glossary at the front of their book, as it creates cohesive vocabulary for the remainder of the work. After establishing terms, the book explores non-binary identity through the theory and historical context of what the book refers to as the transsexual movement. This lens allows Anderson to add contemporary observations and comparisons to the piece, as well as personal narrative where appropriate. They discuss trans people in the Bible, trans people in the Roman Empire, and trans Indigenous people; use The Matrix to successfully explain Baudrillard; and reflect on their own sense of physical self. Anderson's struggle with faith and finding community as a formal evangelical will resonate, as will their analysis of the obsession to define what a woman is. Anderson's message about being recognized as non-binary and finding joy are as potent as the research. VERDICT Allies new and old will discover this book fills the gaps in the current conversations about trans people and communities.--Tina Panik

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      June 1, 2022
      The umbrella of queerness covers many identities. Here, nonbinary writer Anderson dives into one identity without its own letter in the so-called "alphabet soup," namely LGBTQAI+, often used to identify members of the queer community--nonbinary. Despite having the same "roots," as Anderson calls them, queer identities are not a monolith. The author explores nonbinary as a distinct identity as it dovetails with and is distinguished from others, in particular, trans. Using theoretical and historical perspectives combined with personal experience, Anderson reveals a "gender expansive" space that challenges the gender dichotomy while also challenging modern societal myths about trans and nonbinary. For example, they remind us that trans and nonbinary people are not a new phenomenon and that there is joy in being a nonbinary person. Not seeing themself fully reflected in the discourse, Anderson created this valuable and necessary contribution. Though occasionally a bit dense in theory, this is a thoughtful and hopeful book for nonbinary individuals and allies; Anderson has even included tools for allyship.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading