Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue

Book Review

Teich, Nicholas M. Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue, 2012. Kindle. 169 pp. $11.99.

Biographical Sketch of the Author

Nicholas M. Teich is a trained social worker and the founder of Camp Aranu’tiq for trans youth in 2009, Camp Seneb for kids with skeletal dysplasia in 2016, and Camp Reflections for kids with facial differences in 2019. Teich founded Harbor Camps as the umbrella organization to manage these services in 2014. Teich earned a master’s degree in social work from Boston College and his PhD in social policy from Brandeis University.

Summary of the Contents

Nicholas M. Teich informs readers at the beginning of his book that he was labeled female at birth, but later transitioned to male (FTM). However, his purpose in writing Transgender 101 was neither autobiographical nor an attempt to evoke empathy for the 0.25% to 1% of the US population who identify as transgender. Rather, Teich wrote his book in an effort to eliminate the social stigma of transgenderism by educating people on the basics of transgender ideology.

Chapters 1 and 2

Teich defines key terms related to transgenderism, such as sex and gender. Gender (both expression and identity), he asserts, is not defined by one’s biological or anatomical makeup but exists on a continuum measured by behavioral, cultural, and/or psychological factors. Thus, he concludes, gender is something found within the brain (p. 2). Although the terms transsexual and transgender are technically distinct, Teich informs readers that his book uses them interchangeably in reference to any person who identifies with a gender different from their natal sex. The reasons people come out as transgender are unknown. However, Teich asserts, the ultimate “why” of transgenderism is irrelevant when measured against the obligation society has to simply respect the wishes of a person’s gender identity and expression (p. 5).

Chapters 3 and 4

Teich discusses why and how people reveal their transgender feelings, along with the social, emotional, and medical challenges they face. Gender, Teich asserts, is solidified by age 5 or 6, but this does not mean children positively know their gender identity or how it will be expressed (p. 41). While it may take decades for someone to understand their gender, each trans person will eventually go through some kind of social, chemical, or surgical transition.

Chapters 5 through 7

Teich outlines the societal response to transgenderism and its ongoing evolution. In the early 20th century, people like endocrinologist Harry Benjamin—the founding father of Western transgenderism—worked to legitimize the feelings of those who believed they were born in the wrong body. Based on the work of many such pioneers, Teich concludes, “it might be normal to have variation in sex and gender of people just as it is normal to have variation in sex and gender of animals (p. 72).” This idea was embraced in the latest iteration of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which classifies transgenderism as a medical, and not a psychological, condition. Despite this change in diagnosis, Teich believes that trans people still face social prejudice. Christianity, Teich asserts, has been one historic source of discrimination, but many religious people have found new interpretations of the Bible that are far more accepting of transgenderism (p. 106).

Chapter 8

Teich outlines some of the lesser-known forms of transgenderism, such as cross-dressing, gender-queer, and drag queens. Among the gender-queer, for example, are many who see themselves as gender nonconforming and prefer not to identify as either male or female. These marginalized groups are illustrative of the problem transpersons face in a society that attempts to fit everyone into the binary labeling convention of male or female. For Teich, these labels are absurd to even ponder because “People can fall into all categories, some categories, one category, or no categories at all (p.128).”

Critical Evaluation

Nicholas M. Teich wrote Transgender 101 with the hope of informing the larger population about transgenderism and normalizing the feelings of those who do not conform to the existing social constructs of gender. While Teich does offer some helpful definitions related to transgenderism, those hoping to make sense of the broader transgender ideology will find many conflicting ideas. Early in his book, Teich tells readers that the term “gender identity is the gender you are and sexual orientation is the gender(s) you are attracted to (p. 19).” Yet, he goes on to conclude that, “the correct relation between sexuality and gender can never be definitively specified (p. 20).” These two quotes illustrate the incoherence of Teich’s philosophy, which, on the one hand, defines gender and, on the other hand, strips the possibility of objective meaning from these very definitions.

Transgender 101 makes clear that the LGBTQ movement is steeped in a postmodern denial of transcendent reality. Teich’s admission that “there is not one universal answer (p. 26)” is both a denial of objective truth and a denial of any objective standard of morality. Transgender ideology, therefore, denies any objective ontology of human sexuality and ultimately destroys our ability to empirically know anything about anyone. Readers hoping the book will help them communicate with compassion will likely leave frustrated because, as Teich acknowledges, any attempt to define transgenderism marginalizes somebody.

The incoherence of Teich’s argument is exposed on page two, where he confronts readers with the seemingly simple question, “ How do you know that you are the gender you are?” He immediately asserts that physical anatomy and genetics are not reliable sources of knowing. Instead of biology, Teich appeals to feelings as the source of knowing and idiosyncratic definitions of gender and sex, which only beg the question. Attentive readers will observe that despite Teich’s denial that biology determines gender, he accepts the goal of surgical procedures that “get testosterone levels within the normal range of a biological male” (p. 50). But if biology does not align with gender, why is any such procedure necessary? Who defines what is a “normal” level of “male hormones,” and why should we accept that there is even such a thing as male or female hormones?

Teich’s underlying denial of scientific realism (i.e. that natal sex determines gender) is only more confused in later chapters, where he makes several observations about animal biology. He then concludes, “Biology loves variation. Biology loves differences. Society hates it” (p. 72). This is but one example of the many arguments used by Teich, which frequently run counter to the ideas outlined in other parts of his book.

Summary

I give the book 3 out of 5 stars. The book is dated in that so much of the conversation has changed since 2012. Despite this and the other flaws outlined above, Transgender 101 remains a useful read for any Christian looking to understand the social and moral goals of transgenderism. The information Teich provides in his book is helpful for disambiguating the trans-terminology used in both academic literature and news articles. For readers who wish to engage transpeople with empathy and compassion—yet remain committed to the biblical revelation of God’s design of male and female—the book offers valuable insight from a transperson’s perspective.