A transgender evangelical Christian pastor narrates her journey from despair to joy as she transitioned from male to female, learning much along the way about gender inequity.
... a straightforward, chronological telling ... The most surprising part of the book isn’t her journey to transitioning or the fact that she knew she was meant to be in a female body from a very young age, but how long she fought against her own gender dysphoria and for the teachings of a religion that would eventually reject her for being herself ... Her insights into gender disparity are validating and perhaps somewhat obvious for anyone who has lived as a woman ... Meticulous in its detail, and thorough in its telling, this memoir often lacks intimacy and emotional depth. She tells us of her pain and sadness, but the connection the reader feels is more sociological than spiritual or poignant. In some ways, despite the fact that it is one person’s story, As a Woman is more of a trans primer for the unfamiliar than a deeply felt memoir.
She has broken free from evangelism to 'embrace a more generous expression of the Christian faith,' and consequently, the fundamentalist church has rejected her. Nonetheless, the author continues to describe her journey in religious terms, seeing her transition and life experience as a 'sacred and holy adventure' ... Not just a compelling personal memoir, this book holds lessons for all of us.
... [an] earnest, empathic debut ... While she examines her new perspective with humility and grace, Williams’s observations about patriarchy won’t come as revelations to most women and LGBTQ readers. Those haunted by evangelical culture will find much to ponder in this story.