The Transgender Encyclopedia - by Brent L Pickett (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Transgender Encyclopedia encompasses genderqueer history, along with contemporary developments that highlight the diversity and struggles of gender-diverse people. The book is global in scope, with extensive coverage of gender non-conformity across the world, along with en...

Book Synopsis

With over 200 entries ranging from Ancient Egypt to contemporary developments in law, media, and politics, the Transgender Encyclopedia shows how gender diversity spans the world and has done so for millennia. Read about how cultures have recognized and affirmed third and fourth genders. The history and development of trans activism is highlighted, making this an outstanding volume for those in the community who seek connection and inspiration, as well as for those who want to grow as an ally. With a chronology of important events in trans history, an introduction discussing conceptual issues, and an extensive bibliography, this work provides an essential starting point for those beginning research, or for anyone seeking to learn more about the topic.

The Transgender Encyclopedia has country and region entries that show gender diversity across our world. The volume also covers film, literature, and theater, along with entries on trans and non-binary persons who have shaped--and continue to influence--the contemporary era. Readable yet analytically sophisticated, this is an excellent one volume introduction to a broad range of transgender-related topics. Written by an academic who has taught freshman-level courses for decades, it is suitable for college and high school students

Review Quotes

In this volume, Pickett broadly defines being transgender as seeing oneself differently from one's assigned sex or prescribed social gender. This encyclopedia includes 233 succinctly written, unsigned, alphabetically arranged entries that encompass terms (nonbinary, gender-fluid); related topics (adoption, pronouns, bathrooms, the Equality Act); mythology (Hermaphroditus and others); people (Charles de Beaumont, chevalier d'Éon, Thomas Aquinas); and history, countries, continents, organizations, and religious beliefs. Cross-references appear within individual entries. The book's comprehensive and engaging chronology section--spanning from third-century Rome up to the year 2023 when Germany created new rights for transgender people by passing a "self-determination" law--spotlights the history, depth, and scope of nongender conformity. This resource also covers Spain's conversion-therapy ban and addresses Japan's law that says all its citizens, regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation are to be "respected" but doesn't ban discrimination. There are occasional color illustrations throughout the book and a cumulative bibliography (reference materials, archives, journals, local/regional publications, websites, history, philosophy, politics, regional/cultural studies, literature), rather than individual bibliographies. This is an excellent introductory resource that complements the 2024 Sage Encyclopedia of LGBTQ+ Studies, 2nd Edition, edited by Abbie E. Goldberg.

About the Author

Brent L. Pickett (he, him) is a professor of political science, with an emphasis in political philosophy, and dean at the University of Wyoming. He is the author of the Historical Dictionary of Homosexuality, also published by Rowman & Littlefield. He has served as a visiting professor in China, Germany, and the Republic of Georgia.