Whipping Girl

This classic manifesto is “a foundational text for anyone hoping to understand transgender politics and culture in the U.S. today.” (NPR) *Named as one of 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of All Time by Ms. Magazine* In Whipping Girl, biologist and trans activist Julia Serano shares her experiences and insights—both pre- and post-transition—to reveal the ways in which fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our attitudes toward trans women, as well as gender and sexuality as a whole. Serano's well-honed arguments and pioneering advocacy stem from her ability to bridge the gap between the often-disparate biological and social perspectives on gender. In this provocative manifesto, she exposes how deep-rooted the cultural belief is that femininity is frivolous, weak, and passive. In addition to debunking popular misconceptions about being transgender, Serano makes the case that today's feminists and transgender activists must work to embrace and empower femininity—in all of its wondrous forms.

While many feminist and queer movements are designed to challenge sexism, they often simultaneously police gender and sexuality—sometimes just as fiercely as the straight, male-centric mainstream does. Among LGBTQ activists, there is a long history of lesbians and gay men dismissing bisexuals, transgender people, and other gender and sexual minorities. In each case, exclusion is based on the premise that certain ways of being gendered or sexual are more legitimate, natural, or righteous than others. As a trans woman, bisexual, and femme activist, Julia Serano has spent much of the last ten years challenging various forms of exclusion within feminist and queer/LGBTQ movements. In Excluded, she chronicles many of these instances of exclusion and argues that marginalizing others often stems from a handful of assumptions that are routinely made about gender and sexuality. These false assumptions infect theories, activism, organizations, and communities—and worse, they enable people to vigorously protest certain forms of sexism while simultaneously ignoring and even perpetuating others. Serano advocates for a new approach to fighting sexism that avoids these pitfalls and offers new ways of thinking about gender, sexuality, and sexism that foster inclusivity rather than exclusivity.

FTW is a zine by trans women, about the sex lives of trans women. It is an educational and instructional tool as much as it is a creative exploration of how we have sex.

A classmate recently remarked "That was so long ago I can't remember if I ever had a childhood." Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear the 1950's when the big entertainment was at the State Theater, featuring "Ma and Pa Kettle" and "Francis the Talking Mule." This is the true story of life in small town America, one kid's experience of growing up in a large Irish Catholic family of 10 kids with all the required ritualistic Catholic ceremonies. Formal schooling started for this youngster with a 3-year stretch in the joint at St. Aloysius Military Academy, marching to the tune of some of the sweetest old ladies dressed in black. Followed by those exciting days at St. Teresa's, run by two of the toughest Sisters of Charity in the system, Sister Mary Raphael, a.k.a. "Bucky Beaver," the principal, and her sidekick, Sister Augustine, up against Woody and his fun loving instigator pal. It is a fast moving and funny story of numerous mishaps by a carefree fifty's kid. A kid who accidentally freezes his spirited horse, "Shorty", gets canned as an altar boy after one long week, becomes a young entrepreneur selling dirt. There are stories about camping out, Boy Scouts, BB guns, Irish Nannies, Nuns in charge, ringing the holy fire bell at St. Teresa's. Then there is a description of what life was like before McDonald's. There is never a dull moment. It's a childhood autobiography filled with memorable surprises. Learn, as I did, everything you'll ever need to know about f growing up from Woody, the street-smart Italian kid that somehow knew how life really worked. Woody was a true "biker" from the 4th grade on. Enjoy reliving the tranquil 1950's with someone that still remembers being there.

The devotees at the convent of St.Quay are subject to a harsh regime of corporal punishment and humiliation. For Lalage Vergelesses, the torment is double, for she is a whipping girl, assigned to take the punishments otherwise due to a noble's errant daughter. But the demure Demoiselle is not who she seems, and behind the arcane SM rituals, the convent hides some sinister secrets too. Part of the Scarlet Gothic series. Other titles include Scarlet Vice and Sin's Apprentice.

Julia Serano (author of Whipping Girl and Excluded) combines elements of memoir, historical account, gender theory, and activist philosophy in her third book, Outspoken. This collection provides an insightful overview of where transgender activism has been, and compelling analysis of where it should head in the future.

The author of landmark manifesto Whipping Girl exposes the violent ways we are all sexualized-then offers a bold path for resistance Feminists have long challenged the ways in which men tend to sexualize women. But pioneering activist, biologist, and trans woman Julia Serano argues that sexualization is a far more pervasive problem, as it's something that we all do to other people, often without being aware of it. Why do we perceive men as sexual predators and women as sexual objects? Why are LGBTQ+ people stereotyped as being sexually indiscriminate and deceptive? Why are people of color still being hypersexualized? These stereotypes push minorities farther into the margins, and even the privileged are policed from transgressing, lest they also become targets. Many view sexualization as a mere component of sexism, racism, or queerphobia, but Serano argues that liberation from sexual violence comes through collectively confronting sexualization itself.

This classic manifesto is “a foundational text for anyone hoping to understand transgender politics and culture in the U.S. today.” (NPR) *Named as one of 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of All Time by Ms. Magazine* In Whipping Girl, biologist and trans activist Julia Serano shares her experiences and insights—both pre- and post-transition—to reveal the ways in which fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our attitudes toward trans women, as well as gender and sexuality as a whole. Serano's well-honed arguments and pioneering advocacy stem from her ability to bridge the gap between the often-disparate biological and social perspectives on gender. In this provocative manifesto, she exposes how deep-rooted the cultural belief is that femininity is frivolous, weak, and passive. In addition to debunking popular misconceptions about being transgender, Serano makes the case that today's feminists and transgender activists must work to embrace and empower femininity—in all of its wondrous forms.