Real Gender – A Cis Defence of Trans Realities, by Danièle Moyal-Sharrock and Constantine Sandis

Book Review

Abstract

Transphobia as language on holiday? In Real Gender – A Cis Defence of Trans Realities (2024), Danièle Moyal-Sharrock and Constantine Sandis want to defend the credibility and social rights of transgender people. The book is largely structured around undermining myths and hostile images spread by “gender critics” or TERFs (Trans-exclusive radical feminists) and thus aims to make itself relevant to an ongoing societal discussion while also making philosophical remarks on language and gender by using Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later work.  The authors have set themselves in a complicated position: While carrying the noble ambition to bring philosophical light to a polarizing topic they also to some extent end up submitting to the terms set by a polarized political climate. The question is if both tasks can be succeeded with precision and consistence and if the message of the book will get across to its intended audience.