When Emilia Japonka published Zrozumienie (Understanding), she was not only releasing another book but also opening a new chapter in the ongoing conversation about identity, acceptance, and the emotional journey of gender transition. Japonka is widely recognized as one of the first transgender people in Poland to publicly share her story. An activist, columnist, editor of the TransNews portal, and co-founder of Poland’s largest online support group for transgender people, she has been a voice of inspiration for many.
Her next work, Tranzycja (Transition), made history as the world’s first mental guide to gender transition. But while Transition focused on the step-by-step process of aligning one’s gender identity, Understanding looks deeper. It is less about technical procedures and more about navigating emotions, resilience, and self-perception, the invisible yet powerful dimensions of transition.
Before diving into the themes of Understanding, it’s essential to understand who Emilia Japonka is. She often jokes about being a “Renaissance woman to the third power,” because she doesn’t fit into a single category. A mother of twin girls raising four children in total, she balances motherhood with professional creativity and spiritual curiosity. Her life has included activism, cultural events, theatre collaborations, public speaking, and humanitarian projects like “Rainbow Christmas Eve.”
