Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story

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 labeled 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.

Reader Fit
For readers interested in gender identity, nonbinary experience, self-acceptance, and a personal account of growing beyond the expectations of the gender binary.

Why We Carry It
Tobia uses humor and vulnerability to examine how gender expectations shape a life, offering readers an intimate perspective on gender nonconformity, belonging, and becoming comfortable with complexity.