Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression

Iris Gottlieb

Chronicle Books, 2019

Plot Summary

Gender is an intensely personal, yet universal, facet of humanity. In this vibrant book, queer author and artist Iris Gottlieb visually explores gender in all of its complexities, answering questions and providing guidance while also mining history and pop culture for the stories and people who have shaped the conversation on gender.

Informed by Gottlieb's personal experiences, this deeply researched and brilliantly rendered book demystifies this fluid topic at a critical time. For LGBTQIA+ people, Seeing Gender offers a space for self-exploration, giving comfort, advice, and reassurance in the sometimes confusing process of navigating one's identity. For allies, this book is an essential tool for understanding and thoughtfully participating in this necessary cultural conversation. Whatever one's position, Seeing Gender is a must-read people who are passionate about changing the way we see and talk about gender and sexuality in the twenty-first century.

Reviews

  • Booklist: “Readers will be immediately drawn to Gottlieb’s colorful, detailed, and stylized artwork and will stay for the succinct text, made accessible in short passages set against plenty of white space.” (Leeper, 2022)

     

  • School Library Journal: “Though this text takes on some heavy material, overall, it's hopeful and understanding. If a book can be friendly, this is the one. It's engaging and acknowledges that people are fallible, which will comfort teens who have made mistakes while trying to support friends.” (Waddell, 2019)

     

  • Children's Bookwatch: “‘Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression’ is a vibrant book in which queer author and artist Iris Gottlieb visually explores gender in all of its complexities, answering questions and providing guidance while also mining history and pop culture for the stories and people who have shaped the conversation on gender. Informed by Gottlieb's personal experiences, this deeply researched and brilliantly rendered book demystifies this fluid topic at a critical time.” (Children’s Bookwatch, 2022)

     

  • Kirkus Reviews: “A browsable potpourri of information and musings on gender. First published in 2019, this newly revised paperback edition explores a range of topics related to gender. The book is divided into three sections: "A Good Place To Start," "Digging Deeper," and "My Story." A new foreword by Kacen Callender and a content warning start the book of.” (Kirkus Reviews, 2022)

     

  • Bookshop Santa Cruz: "This is the book I wish I had growing up. That I could have handed to family and friends, linked people to in those early pre-social media days, when reaching out was much more limited. It covers so much more than I was expecting-privilege, toxic masculinity, eating disorders, pronouns, advertising. It's a mix of hardcore research and intimate, raw experiences sharing space with Gottlieb's crisp, vibrant art." (Swan, 2019)

Awards

Booklist Review of the Week (Hyzy, 2022)

SLJ Stars (School Library Journal, 2019)

Lists

OUTtv’s 19 Best Reads of 2019 (Singler, 2019)

BookAuthority 100 Best Gender Study Books of All Time (BookAuthority, n.d.)

ICPL Staf Picks: International Transgender Day of Visibility (Melody, n.d.)

LA County Library Exploring Gender (LA County Library, 2022)

Response to challenges

Washington University Public Review - Book Bans are Back: “No Left Turn maintains a website which posts lists of books categorized under critical race theory, anti-police, or comprehensive sexuality education. A handful of the books on their site include: "A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory," "A People’s History of the U.S." by Howard Zinn, "All Boys Aren’t Blue" by George M. Johnson, and "Seeing Gender" by Iris Gottlier.” (Baumohl, 2022)

References

Baumohl, A. (2022, April 18). Book bans are back. Washington University Political Review. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.wupr.org/2022/04/18/book-bans-are-back/

BookAuthority. (n.d.). 100 best gender studies books of all time. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://bookauthority.org/books/best-gender-studies-books

Children’s Bookwatch. (2022, April 1). Seeing Gender.

Hyzy, B. (2022, April 25). Reviews of the Week with Linda Villarosa, Katie Cotugno, and More!. Booklist Online. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from

https://www.booklistonline.com/Reviews-of-the-Week-with-Linda-Villarosa-Katie-Cotugno-and-More- April-18-22-2022/pid=9764106

Kirkus Reviews. (2022, March 1). Gottlieb, Iris: SEEING GENDER.

LA County Library (n.d.). Learning Pathway - Exploring Gender. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://lacountylibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Learning-Pathway-Exploring-Gender-Identity_v 5.pdf

Leeper, A. (2022). Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression. Booklist, 37.

Melody. (n.d.). International transgender day of visibility. Iowa City Public Library. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.icpl.org/books-more/staff-picks/lists/international-transgender-day-visibility

Singler, J. (2019, December 4). OUTtv's 19 best reads of 2019. OUTtv. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://outtv.ca/culturearts/outtvs19bestreadsof2019/

School Library Journal. (2019, November). SLJ STARS, 88.

Swan, R. (2019, February 4). Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression (Hardcover).

Bookshop Santa Cruz. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/book/9781452176611

Waddell, H. (2019, November). Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression. School Library Journal, 81+

 

Book Resume created by Virginia Library Association and PDSAL