Book Review: Doublethink by Janice Raymond
Written by Lindsey, a WoLF Volunteer
Janice Raymond is a remarkable woman. She quite likely has the distinction of being the first "TERF" and the first to experience cancel culture—long before the advent of social media. Raymond foresaw many of the problems of transgenderism (then called trans-sexualism) decades before the rest of the world!
In 1979, Janice Raymond published her PhD dissertation as a book called The Transsexual Empire. The Transsexual Empire was the first book to address the (then) potential societal risks inherent in the creation of synthetic sexed bodies. Four decades later, Raymond has recently published the follow-up to her groundbreaking book. Published in 2021, Doublethink explores the current landscape of the transgender issue, specifically from the lens of how this movement threatens women's safety.
There are many angles to look at the transgender issue. Abigail Shirer (Irreversible Damage) specifically looked at it from the lens of the medicalization of teens exhibiting Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD); Kathleen Stock (Material Girls) looked at it from a philosophical point of view, and Abigail Favale (Genesis of Gender) examines it from a religious point of view. Janice Raymond's book is unique in focusing specifically on the lens of women's safety.
The first two chapters give a whirlwind overview of the topic and briefly touch on how gender ideology moved so quickly to become embedded into culture and law. For me, this section raised more questions than answers, but how the “transgender” idea took hold is a topic that could fill its own hefty book!
The third chapter is about women who identify as men and those who detransition. The rest of the book addresses how men who think they are women present a safety risk to women. Raymond discusses the effects on women in prisons, women's sports, free speech, lesbians, mothers, and academics. One of the things that I found most helpful in this part of the book is Raymond's copious use of specific accounts and legal cases of incidents involving violations of rights and safety. Many of these instances have boldfaced subtitles, which make it easy for a reader to find specific examples. Obviously, the accounts are incomplete, as there are new examples coming to light daily, but it's a start. The book will be helpful to anyone who has ever been told, "That doesn't happen or hardly ever happens," about everything from women being injured when males are in women's sports to “transwomen” (males) raping women in prisons.
Janice Raymond's book will not resonate with everyone. Even many who are gender critical may disagree with Raymond sometimes or take issue with the one-sided treatment of men who want to be seen as women. In addition, sometimes the book's tone is (justifiably) exasperated (after all, Raymond first warned of the risks in the 1970s!). However, many will find the book, and especially the specific examples, very interesting and helpful.
*Note: I received a free copy of the Doublethink in exchange for my honest review of the book.
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