By Isabel Dunn ’27
Staff Writer
Schuyler Bailar, author of He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters,”. Photo courtesy of Wymzee via Wikimedia Commons.
Author and activist Schuyler Bailar has answers to your questions about gender. With anti-trans bills proposed by legislators across the United States, discussions of gender identity are at the forefront of politics today. Bailar’s debut nonfiction, “He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters,” breaks down society’s views on the topic and its importance to the present and the future.
Bailar is widely recognized as the first trans athlete to compete on an NCAA Division 1 men’s sports team, and since graduating from Harvard College, has worked as an activist. He also has a large following on social media, and travels the country giving speeches and leading support groups on trans inclusion.
Mount Holyoke College students may remember Bailar from the Building On Our Momentum Community Day of Learning event that he spoke at in 2023, where he shared his personal story and addressed the importance of including transgender athletes in sports. Such topics are featured prominently in his books.
In 2021, Bailar published his debut novel, “Obie Is Man Enough.” According to Kirkus Reviews, the book follows the struggles and triumphs of a young transgender swimmer. Obie and Bailar have much in common, from their love of swimming to their identities as Korean American transgender men. In an Instagram post before the book’s release, Bailar described the novel as “an ode to the boyhood I never had.”
More recently, in the fall of 2023, Bailar published his first nonfiction book. “He/She/They,” a comprehensive guide to questions surrounding gender in a variety of different contexts. It covers the basics, like pronouns and gender identity, and delves into more complex discussions, like gender dysphoria and gender-affirming care.
Each chapter follows a similar formula. Bailar introduces the topic at hand by beginning with a personal anecdote. Sometimes, he leads with a story from his childhood and how it impacted his view of gender. For example, in the chapter discussing coming out, Bailar begins by describing how he first came out as a lesbian before he realized that he was a man.
Other times, Bailar describes an interaction he had with someone attending one of his talks. When discussing the many forms that transphobia can take, Bailar relays an encounter with a self-described ally who was offended when she was called out for her actions.
Regardless of the introduction, Bailar employs the stories as a jumping-off point for a deeper look at the subject matter. Starting with stories from real people helps ease readers into difficult topics. Rather than open with facts and statistics, Bailar takes the time to familiarize his audience with the content on a more personal level.
Although many of the topics are complex and scientific, Bailar breaks them down to be more accessible and understandable. He often employs analogies that allow the reader to view the topic from a different perspective. Visual representations of the data are also provided in the form of charts and graphs.
At the end of the book, Bailar provides a list of references and recommendations for further research. He is careful to acknowledge that, although he has spent many years curating his information, he is only one person who does not have the capacity to represent an entire community.
Although the book primarily contains information for cisgender allies, Bailar also includes information directed specifically toward trans individuals. He takes care in addressing the fact that everyone is at a different place in their journey and that many people still have much to learn. The final chapter of the book is a message of hope that draws both audiences together. Books like “He/She/They” benefit everyone.