Gender Queer

The ending of Gender Queer offers valuable perspective regarding personal self-discovery. One aspect that I like about Gender Queer is that it is a memoir, so it follows Maia throughout eir entire life. I think that this offers readers a realistic perspective regarding the speed at which understanding yourself as an individual takes. 

 

In the first half of the novel, we as readers get to follow Kobabe along eir journey through elementary, middle, and high school. The second half of the novel follows Kobabe through college and adulthood. One takeaway that I believe is beneficial to readers with similar backgrounds is the conversation between Kobabe and em Aunt Shari. In this passage Kobabe’s aunt expresses that she believes “…this trend of FTM, trans, and genderqueer young people” (Kobabe 199) is a form of misogyny, and “a deeply internalized hatred of women.”(Kobabe 199) Although, Kobabe does not agree that e is making these decisions for those reasons this teaches readers a valuable lesson regarding the questions that being outside the norm may bring. 

 

Kobabe knows that there is nothing wrong with being a member of the LGBTQ+, but e was not necessarily prepared to explain eir reasoning behind things. I think the conversation with Aunt Shari forced Kobabe to think about things in a different manner leading em to helpful literature, and resources that allow em to understand, and put context to em words with feelings. This is one of my favorite aspects of Gender Queer because it gives readers a honest depiction of inevitable events. There will always be someone that asks the “why” question. I believe that every person has the right to decide whether they want to answer questions regarding their life, but if they want to at least they can be prepared. 

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