Whipping Girl: Trans Woman on Sexism& Scapegoating of Feminine, Julia Serano
Blood Orange by Yaffa As
Voting ended onMay 30
Book summaries below:
Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity by Julia Serano
A provocative manifesto, Whipping Girl tells the powerful story of Julia Serano, a transsexual woman whose supremely intelligent writing reflects her diverse background as a lesbian transgender activist and professional biologist. Serano shares her experiences and observations—both pre- and post-transition—to reveal the ways in which fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our societal attitudes toward trans women, as well as gender and sexuality as a whole.
Serano's well-honed arguments stem from her ability to bridge the gap between the often-disparate biological and social perspectives on gender. She exposes how deep-rooted the cultural belief is that femininity is frivolous, weak, and passive, and how this “feminine” weakness exists only to attract and appease male desire.
In addition to debunking popular misconceptions about transsexuality, Serano makes the case that today's feminists and transgender activist must work to embrace and empower femininity—in all of its wondrous forms.
Nonfiction, queer theory
Blood Orange by Yaffa As
"Blood Orange" is a highly emotional, important and timely poetry collection by Mx. Yaffa (They/She), a trans Muslim displaced Indigenous Palestinian. Their writings probe the yearning for home, belonging, mental health, queerness, transness, and other dimensions of marginalization while nurturing dreams of utopia against the background of ongoing displacement and genocide of indigenous Palestinians.
The collection came quickly and relentlessly, drawn from the depths of the author's soul during a movement for a free Palestine and aligned with a solar eclipse. It beckons readers to re-evaluate what is perceived as immutable and to imagine pathways toward Utopia.
"Blood Orange"- the title an homage to the Yaffa Oranges (which were appropriated first by the British and subsequently by Israel) refers to the author themselves, their homeland and blood spilled in the name of settler colonialism.
This highly charged and cathartic body of work confronts the anguish and loss inflicted by genocide but also embraces a vision of a world free of it. The poems within "Blood Orange" were a means of working through and processing the grief caused by recent events and serve as an act of protest and defiance against settler colonialism as a whole.
"Blood Orange" is a highly emotional, important and timely poetry collection by Mx. Yaffa (They/She), a trans Muslim displaced Indigenous Palestinian. Their writings probe the yearning for home, belonging, mental health, queerness, transness, and other dimensions of marginalization while nurturing dreams of utopia against the background of ongoing displacement and genocide of indigenous Palestinians.
The collection came quickly and relentlessly, drawn from the depths of the author's soul during a movement for a free Palestine and aligned with a solar eclipse. It beckons readers to re-evaluate what is perceived as immutable and to imagine pathways toward Utopia.
"Blood Orange"- the title an homage to the Yaffa Oranges (which were appropriated first by the British and subsequently by Israel) refers to the author themselves, their homeland and blood spilled in the name of settler colonialism.
This highly charged and cathartic body of work confronts the anguish and loss inflicted by genocide but also embraces a vision of a world free of it. The poems within "Blood Orange" were a means of working through and processing the grief caused by recent events and serve as an act of protest and defiance against settler colonialism as a whole.
Mod opinion: I unfortunately haven't read this collection yet, but it is on my tbr for this year's trans rights readathon, so hopefully I'll get around to it soon!
"Inara: Light of Utopia" is a groundbreaking anthology that unites the voices of queer and trans Palestinians from around the world, each contributing to a vibrant mosaic set in a liberated Falasteen. This collection melds poetry, short stories, essays, visual art, and photography into a singular vision of freedom, love, and belonging. Within its pages lies a reimagined world, where the streets of historic cities resonate with the joyous laughter of those long silenced. "Inara" is not just a book; it's a beacon of hope, a celebration of identity, and a defiant cry for freedom. It invites readers into a utopia crafted from dreams of liberation, showcasing the resilience and beauty of the Palestinian queer and trans community. Join us in exploring a Falasteen reborn, where every voice sings of a future unbound.
Yaffa AS, Letters from a Living Utopia. Reclaiming Liberation from Palestine to the World, Common Notions, Brooklyn, NY – Philadelphia, PA 2025 [Bureau of General Services – Queer Division, New York, NY]
For this #pride month 🏳️🌈, I'm drawing portraits of authors who have helped me significantly on my journey of self-exploration. I am still exploring my queerness, and I love it. From left to right, top to bottom: Yaffa As, Christian Cooper, Lamya H, Kodo Nishimura.
I’ve left this unrated as I find it uncomfortable to rate personal stories and while this is a poetry collection, it is clear this is deeply personal.
This is the first poetry book I’ve picked up in 10 years and I am so glad I did.
The style left me uncertain at first, but Yaffa’s words are so full of feeling, of raw emotion, that I ended up hooked. I’d planned to read just one poem here and there throughout the month and instead binged them all back to back unable to stop.
Yaffa’s perspective is one I’ve not read from before and I think it’s really important that people do.
