Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Feminity

By Julia Serano

CW: sexism, homophobia, transphobia

A provocative manifesto, Whipping Girl tells the powerful story of Julia Serano, a transsexual woman whose supremely intelligent writing reflects her diverse background as a lesbian transgender activist and professional biologist. Serano shares her experiences and observations-both pre- and post-transition-to reveal the ways in which fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our societal attitudes toward trans women, as well as gender and sexuality as a whole.

Whipping Girl is a personal, analytical, gripping account that debunks popular misconceptions about transsexuality, while exposing the culture belief that femininity is frivolous, weak, and inherently inferior to maleness and masculinity.