Three Books to Learn About Transgender Individuals / Palettalk Recommended Books #04

This month, November, is Transgender Awareness Month.

Transgender Awareness Month is a time to celebrate and deepen understanding of the transgender community and its people. This month also includes Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), which honors the memory of transgender people who lost their lives due to anti-trans violence.

During this Transgender Awareness Month, there may be people who feel they want to learn more about transgender issues.

To begin with, a transgender person is someone whose gender identity differs from the gender assigned at birth. Broadly speaking, this can include the following gender identities:

• Transgender Men: People who were assigned as female at birth but have a male gender identity.
• Transgender Women: People who were assigned as male at birth but have a female gender identity.
• Nonbinary: People with a gender identity that does not fit within the existing binary view of male and female.

Although there is increasing attention on gender diversity today, many transgender individuals still face various kinds of discrimination and difficulties. Worldwide, discrimination against the transgender community continues to be a problem. Recently, former U.S. President Trump’s victory in the recent election has led many to anticipate that hard times will continue for the community.

Many people may have straightforward questions or concerns, such as, “Won’t women’s safety be compromised?” or “Isn’t it also important to ensure fairness in sports?”

However, to create a society where everyone can live safely and comfortably, regardless of their gender identity, it is essential first to gain “accurate knowledge”—including answers to questions like these.

With that in mind, here are three recommended books to learn about transgender people. Why not take this November’s ‘Transgender Awareness Month’ as an opportunity to learn together?

1. If You Have Basic Questions, Start with This Book!
Transgender Q&A – When You Have Simple Questions

The term “LGBT” and the concept of transgender people are now widely known, but some of the language used to define “transgender,” as explained earlier, can still feel unfamiliar.

For example, take the phrase “the gender assigned at birth.” What does it mean to be “assigned” a gender? Not long ago, transgender experiences were often explained using terms like “the gender of the mind versus the gender of the body,” which may sound familiar. So, what is the difference between “gender of the body” and “assigned gender”?

In the beginning, we also touched on questions around women’s safety and sports, which can be difficult to understand for those who are not transgender. 

Terms like “gender” are now commonly used, yet they represent complex ideas that are not easy to grasp. Some people might even think, “Wouldn’t all of these issues go away if gender roles weren’t forced on anyone?”

If you find yourself wondering about transgender issues, start by reading Transgender Q&A – When You Have Simple Questions. Just like the title suggests, this book covers everything from basic gender and identity knowledge to real challenges transgender people face. It even gives answers to the “fears, anxieties, and questions” that are common on social media.

The book is organized by chapter, addressing questions like “What does it mean to change your gender?” as well as topics on gender-separated spaces such as bathrooms, public baths, and sports.

Before posting questions on social media, or if you are worried about unintentionally hurting someone who is transgender, this is a book that many people would benefit from reading.

Transgender Q&A – When You Have Simple Questions by Yutori Takai and Akira Shuji (2024, Seikyusha)

Note: Currently, this book has only been published in the Japanese language.

2. So, What Are Transgender Issues Really About?
The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice

When debates about transgender issues arise, from what perspective are they really being discussed?

The second book we would like to introduce is The Transgender Issue – An Argument for Justice. This book tackles the discussion that is often-labeled as “difficult issues” of transgender identity—debates that sometimes  ignored the voices of the transgender people themselves. 

It sheds light on the real difficulties that transgender people face, and highlights the diversity of experiences within the transgender community. It also addresses the discrimination and hate that transgender communities encounter worldwide.

Earlier, we mentioned the former U.S. President Trump’s re-election. During his previous term, many laws were enacted across the U.S. that stripped away transgender rights, a trend that continues to this day. Trump’s return to the presidency raises concerns about things becoming even more difficult for the transgender community. This book discusses in detail the impact of government actions, including the Trump Administration’s, on transgender rights.

This powerful book is highly recommended for those who want to understand the realities faced by transgender individuals, the connections between these issues and other social problems, and the ways they intersect with feminist movements. This book is strongly recommended. 

The Transgender Issue – An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye (2021, Allen Lane)

For the Japanese-language version, see the following:

The Transgender Issue – An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye translated by Yutori Takai (2022, Akashi Shoten)

3. Learn About the Lesser-Known Nonbinary Identities
They/Them/Their: A Guide to Nonbinary & Genderqueer Identities

Nonbinary refers to people whose gender identity does not fit within the traditional binary of male and female. In Japan, alongside “nonbinary,” the term “X-gender” has also gained recognition.

However, society still holds tightly to the male-female binary. Many people may wonder, “What does it mean to be neither male nor female?”

The final book we would like to introduce is They/Them/Their: A Guide to Nonbinary & Genderqueer Identities, which explains nonbinary identities in a clear and detailed way.

The title’s use of “they” refers to an increasingly common third-person pronoun in English, used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” or “she.”

If you are interested in learning more about the pronoun “they,” you might find this article helpful: [Explained in Manga] Do You Know About the Pronouns That Respect Gender Identity?

This book carefully unpacks the concept of gender binary as it appears in language, and provides clear explanations of real-life experiences of non-binary people in workplaces and schools. It also addresses mental health and medical issues. It is a valuable resource for deepening the fundamental question, “What is gender in the first place?”

This book can offer many useful insights for anyone wondering, “Could I be nonbinary too?” 

They/Them/Their: A Guide to Nonbinary & Genderqueer Identities by Eris Young (2019, Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

We have introduced three recommended books for learning about transgender issues during Transgender Awareness Month. Building a society where everyone can live safely and authentically requires discussions rooted in accurate knowledge, not stereotypes or biases.

Feel free to start with a book or chapter that interests you! Let’s work together to deepen our understanding of transgender issues through accurate information.

(Translation: Jennifer Martin)