Happier As a Woman by Martina Giselle Ramirez

Happier As a Woman

Transforming Friendships, Transforming Lives

Martina Giselle Ramirez, Alicia Partnoy

Cleis Press · Print & ebook · October 8, 2019

Martina Ramirez first started wearing her mother’s shoes in secret in second grade, when everyone still knew her as Martin.

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Who it’s for
A memoir told through letters, anecdotes, and interviews traces relationships, transition, and self-acceptance.
Themes
Gender transition, Relationships, Self-discovery and self-love
Genres
LGBTQ+ Lives, Transgender Studies, Women's Lives

About this book

Martina Ramirez first started wearing her mother’s shoes in secret in second grade, when everyone still knew her as Martin. Growing up in a conservative household as an adopted Mexican-American in a racially segregated city, she swore she would not be just another crime or teen pregnancy statistic. Martina lived up to that promise when she was named high school valedictorian, became a tenured professor at a prestigious university, and had a family.

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It was only then, after she had become established in her life and career, that she was able to finally be her true self. Happier as a Woman is not just a story of one woman’s transition. It is a story about relationships—those she fostered with herself, those that were hurt, those that were saved, and those that would not have existed if not for Martina’s desire to be a mentor, to be the change. Martina made it her mission to pave the way for all of those that would come after her—from women seeking to break through the glass ceiling to fellow victims of emotional abuse—regardless of who they appeared to be on the outside. It’s as though all the emotions she had to bottle up in her youth became more potent with age, and they now tell of a compelling journey of acceptance, self-discovery, and self-love. Martina’s story is artfully expressed through letters, anecdotes, and powerful interviews conducted by and written alongside her renowned coauthor, human rights advocate, and memoirist Alicia Partnoy.

Letters and Interviews

A memoir told through letters, anecdotes, and interviews traces relationships, transition, and self-acceptance.

Come here for

  • Letters expressing Martina’s story
  • Anecdotes and interviews

Expect

  • Reflections on relationships hurt, saved, and newly formed
  • A path from keeping her identity private to living openly

Where it sits

LGBTQ+ Lives87%
Transgender Studies64%
Women's Lives54%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • LGBTQ+ Lives
  • Hispanic American Studies
  • Transgender Studies
Authors
Martina Giselle Ramirez, Alicia Partnoy
Publisher
Cleis Press
Published
October 8, 2019
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Gender transition · Relationships · Self-discovery and self-love
Reading lane
LGBTQ+ Lives