The Gender Games: The Problem With Men and Women, From Someone Who Has Been Both

Product Information

In 2017, Dawson published The Gender Games, her first book aimed at adults, discussing themes of gender as well as her own life experiences. I had two careers - one as a teacher and another as a Young Adult author and built a successf Crawford Maria Hummel Marianne Ferrer Mari Hannah Marilyn Easton Mario Giordano Marjorie Liu Mark Alizart Mark Billingham Mark Illis Mark Mazower Mark Pack Mark Pesce Marlaine Delargy Martha Wells Martin Brenig-Jones Martin O’Neill Mary Auld Mary Mellor Mary Robinette Kowal Massimiliano Di Ventra Massimo Recalcati Matilda Rose Mats Strandberg Matt Carr Matteo Di Ventra Matthew Burton Matthew Sperling Matthew Todd Matt Ward Maurene Goo Maxine Beneba Clarke Max Manning Max Tegmark Maëlle Gavet Megan Todd Meg Wolitzer Mel Darbon Melita Tirado Michael A. A. Paris Babita Sharma Barnaby Norman Becka Moor Becky Goddard-Hill Becky Masterman Bella Swift Ben Aaronovitch Ben Clanton Benedict Jacka Ben Grisdale Ben Hubbard Benjamin Percy Ben Mantle Ben Sanders Bernard Marr Beth Greenhough Beth Keane Beth Lincoln Beth Macy Bimmy Talib Bimpe Alliu Black Cultural Archives Bong Dazo Bradley Schmidt Brendan Kearney Brenna Nation Britta Teckentrup Brittney Morris Bronwyn Parry Bruce Hood Bruno Mangyoku Bryan Appleyard C.

I've read many books and essays on the subject so was interested to see what this author had to say about it. I really liked seeing the perspective of someone who lives in the same country and, although Juno was born in a male body and therefore had male-privilege, I do think growing up our life experiences are more similar than someone who was from, say, USA etc. She says: “It was not OK for a boy to like the Spice Girls as much as I did, but I couldn’t keep it in.

Whilst Dawson has consistently included such characters ever since her horror debut Hollow Pike (2012), which features bisexual teenagers at its centre, she also nuances what cultural inclusion might entail besides explicit characterisations. I really wanted to read this because I’ve seen and read so much about Juno Dawson online (and I think she may be one of the coolest people ever) and I have also been really eager to read more on the subject of gender and about the experiences of transgender people, like Juno. Dawson always knew she was a girl and naturally looked for female role models in pop culture and internalized many of society's toxic messages about womanhood, just like any cis girl.

Many of her books have been concerned with the social issues affecting young adults today, including Being a Boy (2013), on the subject of puberty, This Book is Gay (2014), on being young and LGBTQ+, and Mind Your Head (2016), a guide to mental health for young people. However the fluff and endless references to Spice Girls, Madonna etc conceal some harmful ideas around gender stereotypes, safe-guarding of children, and women’s rights. Her imagining through invented characters of new possibilities in gender and subjectivity acts not merely as a personal catharsis but as an extension of those possibilities to new readers, diversifying the young adult genre from within and redressing ‘how few LGBTQ+ characters there were’ in the novels Dawson was reading at the start of her writing career. Though things have changed quite a bit in the cultural conversation surrounding gender, this book is still very relevant. I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in reading about feminism from a different perspective or am interested in trans issues.While I’m delighted with my perky little boobs,” she says, “I was profoundly disappointed that my urge to cut myself didn’t vanish with the first milligram of oestrogen to pass my lips.

Without wishing to sound a Nelly Know All, the book didn't really tell me anything new, but people grappling with their own gender identity, or those with an interest but little knowledge, will probably find it interesting.Photograph: Rachel Adams View image in fullscreen ‘I had awful relationships, I really put myself at risk’ … Juno Dawson. Dawson responded by saying the event highlighted how "there is still such small-mindedness and hatred left to contend with. There is a very artificial, self conscious attempt to use language that sounds "down-with-the-kids" which is quite cringy. Then again, I'm sensitive to this because a friend of mine is always the one to take a joke too far. I think what’s particularly good about Dawson’s book is that it’s written so conversationally – you can imagine sitting opposite her in a café listening to her tell you this.