In the fifties and sixties, transgender people still had to be grateful if a psychiatrist did not admit them to an institution or administer electroshock; Nowadays, transgender people are often seen as inspiring, courageous people who dare to be themselves.
How the image has changed so much, historian Alex Bakker explains in this book in a clear and involved way. Six decades of physical treatment options, social opinions, legal entanglements, and shifting identities are reviewed. Bakker brings his story to life through the many poignant stories of transgender people, from old pioneers to children and teenagers.
The Netherlands was a forerunner in organizing assistance for transgender people. However, it still has a reputation to uphold worldwide when it comes to social acceptance, scientific research, and medical expertise in this field.
