Transgender Warriors

Feinberg discusses many historical figures and movements in this book. Pick one and do your own research to learn more. Do you think Feinberg’s description of them was comprehensive and accurate? Is there anything you would change or add based on what you have learned?

This book provides various frameworks for understanding gender and sex. Write a personal essay examining how you understand your own gender and/or sex. Do you feel that you fall outside of the standard conceptions of gender in your culture? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast Transgender Warriors to another text about trans history. Do they discuss similar people and cultures? Do they make different points? Some options could include Transgender History by Susan Stryker, Histories of the Transgender Child by Julian-Gill Peterson, or Black on Both Sides by C. Riley Snorton.

Feinberg sets out to chronicle evidence of transgender individuals throughout history as a way to help contemporary trans people better understand themselves. Do you think she was successful in her goal? Why or why not?

Feinberg mentions that the terms she uses in the book may quickly become outdated and that this is a good problem to have. Based on the text, why might terms regarding sex and gender be so in flux? Why does Feinberg think this is a good problem to have?

This book has a strong political dimension. Why do you think politics is important to a discussion of transgender history? Why did Feinberg discuss politics and solidarity in addition to giving examples of transgender people throughout history?

Learn more about Feinberg’s life and write a brief biography of her. How does your understanding of who Feinberg was impact your understanding of this book? Do you feel that you gained any particular insights by learning more about her?

Explore the appendices of Transgender Warriors and read one or more of the texts Feinberg references. How is your chosen text connected to the themes and ideas presented in Transgender Warriors? Are there any other details from it that support the ideas Feinberg presents?