Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition

Product Information

Until we have a government that recognises the humanity of transgender individuals and that is willing to understand our needs and lived experiences, we will continue to face societal ostracism; we will continue to struggle; we will continue to die. By aligning gender identity and the process of transition, medical and otherwise, with other transitions such and puberty, aging and growth she recognises this changeableness as an essential part of humanity and challenges the otherness ascribed to gender transition, fluidity and non-conformity. I think if they actually sat down with me and communicated in a respectful way instead of posting things about our community that are detrimental to the mental health, physical wellbeing and emotional wellbeing of trans people, they would see that trans people want what’s best for cisgender women, too. This week, in the aftermath of the brutal murder of British trans teen Brianna Ghey, the UK media turned the focus once more into a sickening dispute ­– this time on the gendering of trans people’s death certificates. I do think it is worth reading, though, especially if you're a fan of her work or wanted something to read for Pride Month.

While telling us of the many transitions in her own childhood and adolescence, the realisation of her transness she also shines a light on the wider attitudes of society, largely determined by a gaze that is white, cis and heteronormative.Unsurprisingly, Bergdorf was confused about her attraction to boys/men pre-transition, was subjected to multiple forms of abuse and violence: sexual, physical, emotional, etc. Until then we must recognise that Britain’s transphobia is not happening in a vacuum; it is being exacerbated and encouraged by people in the most powerful positions of government, including Boris Johnson, who was Prime Minister for much of the time I was writing this book.

This version of Bergdorf offers a glimpse into the human cost of being a Black trans activist in the unrelenting public sphere . In the past three years the model, activist and Doctor of Letters, has become recognised globally for her activism, covering many of the world’s biggest magazines and receiving numerous media accolades.It was the feeling of waking up, of accessing the confidence to be fully present, fearless and bold. As you start reading Transitional, it might come as little surprise that every word of this honest and enriching book feels very carefully chosen.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. She has spoken on international panels from Oxford to Princeton University and contributed to publications including the Guardian, Evening Standard, Grazia, i-D, British Vogue, Elle, Teen Vogue and Paper magazine. I really only knew of author Bergdorf after the controversy of her being dropped as a model from L'Oréal after commenting about racism.It is one of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition—a part of our experience as a conscious being, no matter who we are. We are a community too small for governments to pander to, but big enough to exploit as a political pawn in the weaponisation of fear in the pursuit of potential votes.

After the L’Oréal campaign was announced, someone she went to university with sent a screenshot to the Daily Mail and what happened next made her notorious. In 2018, Munroe’s debut authored television documentary, ‘What Makes A Woman’ premiered on major UK network Channel 4. and in combination with this text, I couldn't help but think about how important it is to educate children and young people about sex, relationships, identifying abusive/grooming/etc. In 2019, Bergdorf was awarded an honorary doctorate for campaigning for transgender rights by the University of Brighton, and served as National Advocate for UN Women UK. She talks passionately about rejecting public shaming, preferring that we embrace accountability and resolve, with her work focusing on education – when you know better, you do better.

The podcast will see Munroe and her guests explore their journeys of growth and share stories of turning trauma into triumph, adversity into opportunity and much more. The slightly gauzy selling point of Transitional – that all of us transition, all the time, in different ways, and that should unite us – gives it a veneer of self-help, but it is much more effective as a memoir than a guide.