A Memoir Written by the Mother of an Adult Transgender Child

Trading Places is a memoir written by the mother of an adult transgender woman describing her own emotional challenges coming to terms with her daughter's transition. This unique memoir focuses on addressing an "invisible" transition that occurs in many of these families - that of parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Baker tells the story of supporting her adult child through gender transition while struggling to overcome deep personal anguish about it. It may serve as valuable reading material for clinicians and clients alike.

 

In addition to its emotionally rich and detailed narrative, this book also features chapters providing:

 

-Descriptions of key terms related to trans issues and details of the transition process.

-Answers to questions sometimes asked by people new to trans issues.

-Cognitive strategies the author used to improve her ability to cope.

-A frank discussion of religious and political issues as they affected the family in question.

-An afterword written by the author's daughter describing her own impression of the value of the book.

-Appendices providing lay descriptions of scientific information including causal theories, transphobia in science and medicine, and prevalence.

 

Here is an excerpt describing the title: "I watched my son disappear; it felt like he had died and an entirely different person emerged to replace him. As my child became whole, I became more dissonant. It was as though we were trading places."

 

Trading Places by Jane Baker (ISBN 978 0990626701) can be found on Amazon.com