He had long thought of himself as having a female identity that he called “Lili Elbe,” but whether those drastic medical procedures made him truly a woman is another matter. The Danish Girl is based on the true story of Einar Wegener, a painter in Copenhagen who in 1930 became the first known subject of “sex reassignment” surgery. In 1989, the classic film When Harry Met Sally dealt with one thorny issue: Can a man and woman really be “just friends”? That question may still be up in the air, but Hollywood took on a more fundamental one with the 2015 film The Danish Girl: Can a man really become a woman? The answer from Hollywood was a resounding “yes.” Anderson offers a strategy for pushing back with principle and prudence, compassion and grace. This understanding is vital for parents with children in schools where counselors may steer a child toward transitioning behind their backs.Įveryone has something at stake in the controversies over transgender ideology, when misguided “antidiscrimination” policies allow biological men into women’s restrooms and penalize Americans who hold to the truth about human nature. Especially troubling are the stories told by adults who were encouraged to transition as children but later regretted subjecting themselves to those drastic procedures.Īs Anderson shows, the most beneficial therapies focus on helping people accept themselves and live in harmony with their bodies. It gives a voice to people who tried to “transition” by changing their bodies, and found themselves no better off. This book exposes the contrast between the media’s sunny depiction of gender fluidity and the often sad reality of living with gender dysphoria.
Drawing on the best insights from biology, psychology, and philosophy, Ryan Anderson offers a nuanced view of human embodiment, a balanced approach to public policy on gender identity, and a sober assessment of the human costs of getting human nature wrong.
When Harry Became Sally provides thoughtful answers to questions arising from our transgender moment. Can a boy be “trapped” in a girl’s body? Can modern medicine “reassign” sex? Is our sex “assigned” to us in the first place? What is the most loving response to a person experiencing a conflicted sense of gender? What should our law say on matters of “gender identity”?
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