The Antijen Pages

Growing Up Transgender: Research and Theory
Seth T. Pardo
Tuesday, March 18, 2008

As more youth come out as transgender, those who work with and love trans youth try to understand what it all means. With little to guide us, many of us may fall back on outdated theories or confuse transgender and gay identities. Authored by Tamara Pardo, this issue of Research fACTs and Findings introduces current research and theory on transgender identity formation. (See also these links on transgender issues: http://www.actforyouth.net/default.asp?ID=transgenderResources)

A second part of the Article is here

My Brother Beth

by Rebecca Sardella

My Brother Beth is a story about siblings and their relationship. Suddenly after thirty-six years, your sister tells you she is sexually transitioning and will soon be your brother.

This story was written to help those who have a sibling transitioning, yet it also explores the difficulty my sister went through to finally begin her life as a male.

My Brother Beth is a quick-moving, true story that talks about a bond siblings share along with a look into the life of an entire "family" in transition.

Mom I Need to be a Girl

This is the original book from the mother of a young girl.
The links on this item will allow you to buy a copy for those of you who wish to own a real copy of the book

If you just want to read the book, go to the bottom of this page.
There are links to places here and other sites for you

Looking Beyond the Mountains


Looking Beyond the Mountains is a remarkable account of how Linda Jean Hammond became Steven Hammond after surgery to correct a genital birth defect.

Labeled female at birth, Steven Hammond lived for 25 years as a female -- a boy imprisoned in the trappings of a girl.

This is the story of the life of Linda Jean and the birth of Steven at age 25.

Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity(Trade Paperback)
by Serano, Julia


"Whipping Girl is a delight to read. Julia Serano is a careful and astute critic of the ways that trans women have been stereotyped and dismissed in popular culture, feminism, and psychology, and she repeatedly surprised me with her razor-sharp observations of the pervasive hatred of trans women and all differently gendered people.
This is an important text for gender studies classes, as well as for therapists, journalists, and anybody who'd like to keep updated as a sex radical."
--Patrick Califia, author of Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism

Transparent: Love, Family, and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers

Click here to read a review of this book

The voices of sao braphet song-males who identify as a "second type of woman"

Male Bodies, Women's Souls
Personal Narratives of Thailand's Transgendered Youth

LeeRay M. Costa, PhD
Assistant Professor, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia
Andrew J. Matzner, MSW, MA
Clinical Social Worker, Roanoke, Virginia

Transgenderism and Intersexuality in Childhood and Adolescence: Making Choices (Developmental Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry)

There is little doubt that children with gender problems suffer psychologically. But when clinicians are confronted with such cases, they often make controversial choices without the benefit of a substantial knowledge base.

True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism--For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals

THE BEST book written for and about Transsexuals. The authors are able to provide the reader with a sense of what it means to be Transsexual.  

Luna
Book Description

Regan's brother Liam can't stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female namesake, his true self, Luna, only reveals herself at night-in the secrecy of his basement bedroom Liam transforms himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister's clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change-Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives? Compelling and provocative, this is an unforgettable novel about a transgender teen's struggle for self-identity and acceptance.

Gender Loving Care: A Guide to Counseling Gender-Variant Clients
by Randi Ettner

Guidance for counselors working with transsexuals: men who want to be women, and women who want to be men. Includes a copy of the Standards of Care

Invisible Lives: The Erasure of Transsexual and Transgendered People
by Viviane K. Namaste

This is one of the few books where the situation of transgenderists and transsexuals in Canada is explored with a certain depth..Overall, this book is a must read for any serious researcher and transsexuals and transgenderists living in Canada.

Lessons from the Intersexed
by Suzanne J. Kessler

This book raises uneasy and provocative questions about the treatment of Intersexuals. A well written and eye opening book.

Medical, Legal and Workplace Issues For The Transsexual
by Sheila Kirk, M.D.

This book supplies comprehensive and accurate information addressing the medical, legal and workplace issues encountered through every phase of the sometimes challenging transition process. From the "real-life test", to surgical, medical and legal concerns, to the start of life "thereafter", this book provides the necessary tools and information to make transitioning proceed smoothly and successfully.

My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely
by Kate Bornstein

This is truly a workbook. If you want to explore gender, then this is the book for you.

Out of the Ordinary: Essays on Growing Up with Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Parents
by Noelle Howey, Margarethe Cammermeyer, Don Savage

Out Of The Ordinary is a fantastic collection of essays dealing with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and transexual parents.

Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender
by Riki Anne Wilchins

As Riki Anne says, "The question is not How to judge who is Woman or Man, but Why should anyone have the power to judge at all?". An interesting look inside Transgender politics.

She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders
by Jennifer Finney Boylan



Jennifer Finney Boyland tells her story of how it felt to live life in two different genders. This book was written beautifully, is easy to read and is very funny at times. It is one of the best personal transition stories I have read, and provides some amazing insights into transsexuality.

Social Services With Transgendered Youth
by Gerald P. Mallon

The title says it all.

Stone Butch Blues: A Novel
by Leslie Feinberg

A tortuous tale of confused sexual identity, feeling male in a female body. Reading this book will change your whole perspective on the world of transgender issues. It is truly beautiful.

Trans Forming Families
Real Stories About Transgendered Loved Ones
by Mary Boenke, Editor


Thirty-one trye stories by brave and loving mothers, fathers, spouses and partners, grandparents, adult children, siblings and friends about their struggle to understand, accept and keep on loving their transgendered family members. Includes stories about gender-variant children, FTM, and MTF transsexuals, cross-dressers, and intersexed folks. Predicted to be a best-seller in the trans community and a great help toward family acceptance. Glossary, trans-family reading list, and current national trans organizations.

Transgender Care: Recommended Guidelines, Practical Information, and Personal Accounts
by Gianna E. Israel & Donald E. Tarver II, M.D.

A really good book about Transsexual care. Written mainly for those who provide services to the Transsexual. Also provides good information for the Transsexual to take with them when looking for hormones, therapy, etc

Transgender Warriors : Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman
by Leslie Feinberg

A wonderful look into Transgendered history.

Transexuals Life From Both Sides
by Lynn Hubschman


The first half of this book contains first person accounts of both male to female and female to male people, along with comments of their family members. The second half describes the process leading to and including treatment and surgery. Also included are unique pictures of the finished surgery by a large number of surgeons and a lengthy resource list.

Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide
by Janis Walworth


This book is designed for employers, managers, human resources personnel, implementers of employee assistance programs, and others in a position to make workplace decisions about how to handle a transsexual employee's transition from one sex to the other.

Working with a Transsexual: A Guide for Coworkers
by Janis Walworth

A short, easy-to-read source of information for people who have a transsexual in their workplace. It conveys a basic understanding of transsexualism and transition and answers questions that coworkers typically ask.

The Shipping Mistake

Book Description
Fraser was a hard-working, successful, loving and dedicated husband and father of two. He was doing well in his career and in his social life, but he always knew there was something about him that was a little different. He could not quite put his finger on it. One fateful morning it struck him! He found himself presented with two options; breakfast or suicide. And so the journey to becoming Natasha began. Leaving behind a successful life and creating a new one, filled with unknowns, is difficult and scary, and not to be taken lightly. Follow Fraser's arduous journey to becoming Natasha and share in the difficult, challenging and humorous happenings along the way up until, but not including, her surgery.

The New Goddess: Transgender Women in the Twenty-First Century
Book Description
The New Goddess: Transgender Women in the Twenty-First Century is a special and valuable book because it will be viewed differently in different circles. This quality is its strength.

Feminizing Hormonal Therapy for the Transgendered
by Sheila Kirk, M.D.