Read Smart - Pride Edition: Sissy by Jacob Tobia

Join Dr. elizabeth jones (she/her) for a book discussion about Jacob Tobia’s Sissy.

About the book:

As a young child in North Carolina, Jacob Tobia wasn’t the wrong gender, they just had too much of the stuff. Barbies? Yes. Playing with bugs? Absolutely. Getting muddy? Please. Princess dresses? You betcha. Jacob wanted it all, but because they were “a boy,” they were told they could only have the masculine half. Acting feminine labelled them “a sissy” and brought social isolation.

It took Jacob years to discover that being “a sissy” isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s a source of pride. Following Jacob through bullying and beauty contests, from Duke University to the United Nations to the podiums of the Methodist church–not to mention the parlors of the White House–this unforgettable memoir contains multitudes. A deeply personal story of trauma and healing, a powerful reflection on gender and self-acceptance, and a hilarious guidebook for wearing tacky clip-on earrings in today’s world, Sissy guarantees you’ll never think about gender–both other people’s and your own–the same way again. (Source: Penguin Random House)

About Dr. jones:

Dr. elizabeth jones (she/her) is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Communication at NC State University. Her research interests include the intersections of embodiment, identity, and activism that increases possibilities for justice. She has also worked as a community educator, facilitator, and trainer for issues related to gender and sexuality, among other areas.