I would like to introduce you to a new book Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression which I received a copy of in exchange for this review.
Life has changed so much since I was a child. I don’t remember ever hearing the word Gay until I grew up. Although, my Uncle Chuck was Gay. I never even thought about someone being Gay. Even though he lived with a man named Charlie who we loved and thought of as another Uncle.
Then when my nephew was a teenager my sister and I never thought to discuss someone being Gay. Although, we should have because his dad Rodney took him to his Cousin Kasey Wedding. Kasey was marrying a women. My nephew came home and asked me about it.
I had to call my sister at work who came home and explained to David what was going and why two would be getting married. Holding David who had so many questions that my sister and I had no, clue how to answer was the hardest thing I ever did.
Now, that I have Charlie you see Gay people all over the place. Or men dressed as women which leads to questions. For us it isn’t right and it say’s so in the Bible. But I want Charlie to treat everyone the same way I’ve tried to make sure he understand that no, matter what lifestyle someone lives they are a human and should be treated as a friend.
Which is why I was excited to read Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression and to share with Charlie and I hope my sister will read this book with my niece and nephew answering questions they may one day have.
Charlie and I will be using Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression in our Homeschool Health Class this year. I like how in the front of the book they list pages that might be sensitive which parents should read before sharing with there children.
I love how the Author has included pictures which allows the parents to discuss what they’ve read while sharing the pictures which has helped Charlie understand the book more. There is also a list of resources in the back of the book which would allow someone to expand what they’ve learned in Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression.
About:
Seeing Gender is an off-the-moment investigation into how we express and understand the complexities of gender today. Deeply researched and fully illustrated, this book demystifies an intensely personal—yet universal—facet of humanity. Illustrating a different concept on each spread, Queer author and Artist Iris Gottlieb touches on History, Science, Sociology, and her own experience.
This book is an essential tool for understanding and contributing to a necessary cultural conversation, bringing clarity and reassurance to the sometimes-confusing process of navigating ones’ identity. Whether LGBTQ+, Cisgender, or Nonbinary, Seeing Gender is a must-read for intelligent, curious, want-to-be woke people who care about how we see and talk about gender and sexuality in the 21st Century.
About Iris Gottlieb
Iris Gottlieb is an illustrator and author based in North Carolina. Her work has been featured in publications including the New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine and NPR. She has authored three books and illustrated nine books for other authors. She lives with her dog, Bunny.
You can follow her work on Instagram @irisgottlieb and on her website www.irisgottlieb.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
