Stryker, Susan. Transgender History. Berkeley: Seal Press, 2008. 190p. paperback. $12.95. ISBN: 9781580052245.

In Transgender History, Susan Stryker provides a comprehensive overview of American transgender history from the mid-twentieth century to the present. This assessable volume provides a good introduction to the topic, starting out with an overview of terms and concepts. Stryker then presents the cultural underpinnings of this movement in the mid-1800s, including the first ordinances against appearing in public “in a dress not belonging to his or her sex.” This is followed by a rich presentation of the many people and events that shaped this movement, including Reed Erickson, Beth Elliott, and Leslie Feinberg. Throughout the book, Stryker incorporates the relationship between the feminist movement and the transgender movement.

Aware of the dearth of books on this topic, Stryker provides interesting sidebars, a reader’s guide, photographs and graphics, plus an index and extensive bibliography.

Stryker has a Doctorate in United States History from Berkeley, has served as the executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California, and has held visiting faculty positions at Harvard University, University of California-Santa Cruz, and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. She will become Associate Professor of Gender Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, in the fall.

Transgender History would be an important addition to any gender studies, gay/lesbian studies or women’s studies collection.

Reviewed by Morgan Gwenwald
Sojourner Truth Library
SUNY New Paltz