WOMEN OF THE BEAUMONT SOCIETY (WOBS)

BOOKS FROM WOBS

Reviews by Di Aitchison

TRANSEXED AND TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE - A GUIDE

by Alice Purnell (Gendys Network, 2004). £15.00 (inc. post + packing)
New edition - orders being taken now for publication in January 2005

For those needing guidance, those seeking to understand, and those concerned with care and treatment.

The Foreword to this book begins: "This book is by a counsellor and psychologist who has worked for thirty years in this field of study..."

Alice's extensive knowledge and experience in the field of gender dysphoria comes together in this comprehensive guide into the complexities of gender identity difficulties. Its down-to-earth approach in attempting to inform and offer understanding - for those needing guidance, those seeking to understand, and those concerned with care and treatment' makes it an invaluable addition to any collection of material concerning transsexualism, transgenderism and gender dysphoria.

This book condenses great wisdoms and guidance in matters concerning gender identity explanations, document changes, marriage, relationships and children, the Law and gender dysphoric persons and Standards of Care to name but a few topics that can be found within the 36 Chapters and 85 pages of which it is comprised.

This book will be of the greatest help to those who are contemplating transitioning within either the National Health system or privately including those who are supporting them and need to understand.

TRANSVESTISM & CROSS DRESSING

Edited by Jed Bland. (Beaumont Trust, 2004). £13.50 (inc. post + packing) New 2004 edition.

Once I got over the shock of learning that my husband wore women's clothes (or as Eddie Izzard famously said "they're not women's clothes, they're my clothes!"), I decided that ignorance definitely wasn't bliss. I needed to learn more, a lot more, if I was going to try to incorporate Jim's needs into our marriage. It was the only way to beat the fear of the unknown, go out and meet it head on. Go to meetings, meet TVs, their wives and partners and read, read, read.

Problem was, what to read? The only TV literature that I could find was written mainly by trannies themselves and frankly they weren't really what I was looking for. I learned to appreciate very quickly that while TV's have their fantasies (Oh Boy do they fantasise!) they definitely weren't my fantasies. (Nevertheless forewarned was forearmed!)

What I really wanted was a book that had lots of points of view in it, not just TVs' but other members of society who offered an informed opinion too. It wasn't good enough for me to say that I loved him enough to put up with anything. I wanted to try to understand from within a broad framework of appraisals so that I could give myself permission to approve of something that was at that time way out of my range of experiences and bordering on the taboo.

Problem was where was this book? The answer was to encourage the Beaumont Trust in writing their first edition of Transvestism: A Guide (1994) and to participate in the new, revised edition: Transvestism & Crossdressing (Towards an Understanding) in 2001. At last we have a tool with which we can explore the core motivations and philosophies that combine to create the complexities of being transvestite so that we can empower ourselves as supportive wives and partners without feeling that we have no choice but to put up with it. TV's and Crossdressers too will feel restored and confident that they are not alone in feeling as they do.

So what do you get for your money when you purchase this book? Well, lots of points of views by lots of different people, i.e. doctors, vicars, lawyers, crossdressers/trannies and mere mortals like ourselves. It's true to say that there is a bias of course, after all the book is about coming to some sort of understanding so it wouldn't be helpful if it slagged off trannies would it? What is important about the book is that it goes a long way towards relieving the guilt that many crossdressers feel, (the result of which is to impact their depression upon their loved ones) so anything that will relieve that burden must be OK.

Another important factor is that it opens up so many avenues for discussion between TVs' and their loved ones by acting as the reference book when the going gets tough. For wives and partners to know that their opinion is not only valid but extremely important and worthy of respect too makes it worth the money! Last but not least, anyone wishing to learn about Transvestism and Crossdressing in a thoughtful and non-academic way would do a lot worse by not buying this book! A must for Birthday and Christmas gifts and any other time too!

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WOBS Books, 3 Wiles Close, Waterbeach, CAMBRIDGE CB5 9LD

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© Copyright Women Of the Beaumont Society (WOBS)
1999 amended 05.09.04, 12.12.04, 21.02.05