Book Review

Reviewed by Willow Arune

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Transactions

by Erica Zander
Published by Periskop, Stockholm, 2003
I.S.B.N.9189443012

This is easily one of the best books - if not the best - on the life of transsexual women available today. Instead of the American or Canadian approach, what is presented is a wonderfully European, down to earth and insightful view of transsexuality. Honest, open and candid, without the myths that one normally finds in those books that are strictly "politically correct".

As a transsexual woman, I find that far too often the mythology of transsexuality is overwhelming. I was not born a woman, but a male. I am now legally and hormonally female, but that does not erase that portion of my life that I lived as a male, nor can it ever do so. Further, I can and do, take pride in what I am, without reservation.

This book will not be popular amongst the many transsexual women who claim to be, and to have always been, women for it acknowledges and pays homage to reality, not fiction. It presents practicality and common sense, far from the quasi-fictional accounts that most books dwell upon. Nor does it pander to matters of gender generally, for it acknowledges the deep divisions that do exist - like it or not. Quintessentially European, it is as refreshing as a cool sea breeze after a hot and muggy week.

After years of books that sensationalise or sanitise the world of transsexual women, we finally have a book that with clarity and insight looks at us as we truly are. It is an essential addition for any collection of gender studies. A small part is autobiographical; the majority of the book is an exploration of how transsexuals fit into society.

I fear that many of the reviews of this book by transsexual women will be negative for many of them are believers in the myths that surround our lives.

This is a book that gives rightful pride to transsexual women, should they but have the courage to embrace it ...

Other reviewers said:

Truth, transition and reality!

At first this book starts out as a hard read but when you give it a chance you find that it grips you and pulls you in. I found so much truth and wisdom about being trans and transitioning and encouragement that I was uplifted by reading it. I did find though that even though Erica didn't face a lot of ridicule she does acknowledge that discrimination exists. And as one of the reviews written about this book said, I did find it cut through a lot of myths which is so needed in the trans community. I would recommend this book to anyone no matter what stage of transition they are in. Excellent! excellent!

and:

A living documentary! Would you like to get under the skin of a transsexual woman? This is how close Erica Zander takes you. All her thoughts, feelings, successes and failures are to be found in this book. In a way, TransActions could have been two books; There's the autobiographical part, with notes from her diary before, during and after her sex reassignment surgery. And there are chapters with facts, terminology, statistics, scientific finds and different views on what transsexualism really is. And what it isn't. And then there are the philosophical texts, where Erica presents her ideas about male versus female, the effects of hormones on our bodies and minds, the symbolic value of clothes, jewellery et cetera. Her book is also beautifully structured, and you easily find the most interesting parts or the information you are looking for. For this reason TransActions is excellent for references.

But there is so much more. Personally, I preferred the analysing chapters, which gave me many new angles to think about or discuss with my friends. On the other hand these texts might well have felt impersonal without the background of the self exposing notes from her diary. The main reason why her book feels so real and alive, is that it was written here and now; Erica wrote it throughout her transition. It isn't a look in the rear-view mirror, no reconstruction. It's a living documentary.

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