If a trans woman who knows herself and operates in the world as a woman is seen, perceived, treated, and viewed as a woman, isn’t she just being herself? She isn’t passing she is merely being. This pervasive thinking frames trans people as illegitimate and unnatural. Redefining Realness is not only an interesting biography of Janet Mock's life, but also serves as a plea to not overlook the many underprivileged trans youth in our communities today.

This is no different for trans people who “pass” as their gender or, more accurately, are assumed to be cis or blend in as cis, as if that is the standard or norm. Examples of people “passing” in media, whether through race ( Imitation of Life and Nella Larsen’s novel Passing), class ( Catch Me if You Can and the reality show Joe Millionaire), or gender ( Boys Don’t Cry and The Crying Game), are often portrayed as leading a life of tragic duplicity and as deceivers who will be punished harshly by society when their true identity is uncovered. It’s rooted in the idea that we are not really who we say we are, that we are holding a secret, that we are living false lives. These thoughts surrounding identity, gender, bodies, and how we view, judge, and objectify all women brings me to the subject of “passing,” a term based on an assumption that trans people are passing as something that we are not. To this day, I’m told in subtle and obvious ways that I am not “real,” meaning that I am not, nor will I ever be, a cis woman therefore, I am fake. REDEFINING REALNESS is Janet Mocks memoir about womanhood, and, more specifically, womanhood as told through her own unique perspective as a BIPOC/Native. “When I was younger, I remember taking pride in people’s well-meaning remarks: “You’re so lucky that no one would ever know!” or “You don’t even look like a guy!” or “Wow! You’re prettier than most ‘natural’ women!” They were all backhanded compliments, acknowledging my beauty while also invalidating my identity as a woman.

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock