I got the BLUES

Leslie Feinberg has written a very honest, emotionally moving novel! Stone Butch Blues allows readers to get inside the psyche of a butch lesbian who grew up in an Era were sock-hops, milkshakes, and drive-in movie theaters were all the rage. The model picture of the American Family, in the 50’s, dominated billboards, laundry detergent boxes, and television shows across the nation. Children and teens coming of age in this post-world war II environment had really only one image of what “normalcy” was. Our protagonist Jess Goldberg is bombarded with cookie cutter images of how she should look and behave from quite an early age. She doesn’t fit into the perfect box everyone is trying to cram her into. I found it really very disturbing that her parents actually sent her to a psychiatric hospital of some sort just for dressing up in her fathers clothing. It is so upsetting to think about the traumatic experience she encountered while there. Two men urinating on your bed sheets is something no one should have to endure. I was also a bit surprised that her encounter with a doctor was very brief. There was no real clear cut discussion of why she was forced to spend a night in this hospital. I would like to think that doctors and people working within the field of psychology have better communication skills and sweeter bedside manners now-a-days. I liked the symbolism behind the ring that was given to Jess’s mother by Native American women. Right from the onset of Jess’s birth the Native American women informed her mom that she would have a very different path in life than others. It was interesting to see that Jess became fascinated with the ring as she got a little older. An androgynous dancing figure was depicted on this precious turquoise and silver piece of jewelry. This once again reinforces the openness that Native Americans have when it comes to ideas about gender. I found this interesting because, in Transamerica, we see an older Native American gentlemen being accepting of Bree. It was cool to have a voyeuristic glance into the subculture of Butch/Femme nightclubs in the 50’s. I found it really difficult to read about the torture that many women endured by sexist cops. It seems so odd to picture now. I can’t even imagine police breaking down the door of a gay club and demanding that every female show them that they have “3 pieces of female clothing on”! How strange, sounds like they were the Fashion Police! The brutal beatings butch women received from male cops were inflicted in order to make the butch women feel as though they could never be as tough and strong as real BIOLOGICAL males. It is so insane and narcissistic on the cops’ part to think that these butch women dressed and acted manly just to get under their skin. I mean isn’t imitation the sincerest form of flattery. I feel like this book gives readers a positive message about the importance of allowing others to live their lives in a way that they feel is appropriate and healthy. If we all just took the time to at least be tolerant of others this world would be a much better place!