Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Just after Thanksgiving, we had our last bookclub of the year to discuss Jen's pick Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock. Unfortunately, we were missing Rebecca and Karen. Liz was there but she called in so she is not pictured (sorry, Liz). 

Redefining Realness is a memoir recounting the story of how the author, who was born a boy, learns to embrace her identity as a girl and how she eventually establishes herself as a successful black/Hawaiian woman with a career and loving husband. Through her stories, we catch a glimpse of the overwhelming challenges she faced living in poverty, raised by single parents, misunderstood, abused, and shunned. As a reader, we see these matter-of-fact stories not through the lens of a victim but a survivor.

Although the book was difficult to read at times given the trials faced by the author, it was well received. It was eye-opening for many in terms of how transwomen think about their identities especially from a young age. It also shed light on more subtle dynamics, for example, bias within the LGBTQ community itself.

The book surfaced many topics, for example, how gender exploration is different for our children's generation and how even if we think we are accepting, some of our own reactions and thoughts can surprise us.

Thanks to Lisa for cooking up a delicious lunch!