This post is copied from my other site MICKIFINN.COM because I thought it would be helpful her also.
I am encouraging you to read WHISPERS IN THE MIRROR: Understanding Gender Dysphoria and Identity Through Psychology, Science and Lived Experience by Lea Taylor.
I must disclose up front that I am acquainted with Lea and have been out in social gatherings with her in the past but that has no bearing on my recommendation.
I am recommending the book because I think you will get something out of it no matter who you are and where you fit under the Transgender Umbrella or like me outside of it. To begin with it is an easy read with short interesting chapters that keep your attention without burying in detail which is important. While it delves into the medical and physiological aspects of Gender Dysphoria it does so in a way that keeps you from getting bogged down and skipping ahead thus missing something of value. The personal stories are sad but help the reader understand the burden that others are carrying in their day to day lives. We are all a product of our environment growing up and the home life definitely shapes our adulthood. Compared to the stories in the book my homelife looked more like Leave it to Beaver or Father Knows Best. However, the fear, guilt, shame, self loathing, secrecy share a commonality with Transvestite / Crossdressers.
The primary focus of the book is on Transgender issues but the information is helpful to Transvestite / Crossdressers also if only for background. I know my understanding of transgenderism has now been modified based on what I leaned in the book after discovering it was far more complex than I realized. Unless you find yourself in an in depth discussion with someone knowledgeable on the subject you are unlikely to gain this type of knowledge. I’m still a Transvestite / Crossdresser but a more knowledgeable one which is not a bad thing.
I think it is fair to say that no matter where you are or, think you are in the Transgender or, Transvestite / Crossdresser or, other spectrum you will learn something from the book because the research is extensive. I picked up a couple of terms or label’s attributable to my myself that I was unaware of but I’m still the same. Others may find that their view of the term Transgender is not correct and Transvestite / Crossdresser is a better fit. There is some in depth history that is interesting and also helps with understanding that terminology.
The book is sincere and written from the heart and not written for commercial success in my opinion but, an honest desire to help. The sections where Lea discusses her marriage might be helpful to wives of Transgender women going through difficult times deciding their future. Wives of Transvestite / Crossdressers might also find it assuring if they were worried about transition. I think it is helpful to the Transvestite / Crossdressers like myself to understand more of what is behind the Transgender persons thinking and what motivates them which it did for me.
One big takeaway for me is based on the definitions Lea uses in the book in addition to the ones I have found using AI online is that the term Crossdresser should not be considered outdated and replaced by Transgender because they are distinctly different groups.
There is far more of interest in the book to put here but I am confident that if you read it you will make your own discoveries of value as will others. No matter where we are in the big picture we share some of the same burdens. I hope you find it as valuable as I did.
