The Liminal Chrysalis: Imagining Reproduction and Parenting Futures Beyond the Binary





Price: $39.95

Page Count: 220

Publication Date: January 2022

ISBN: 978-1-77258-358-8

The Liminal Chrysalis: Imagining Reproduction and Parenting Futures Beyond the Binary is an edited collection that works to identify and deconstruct many of the countless binaries that operate within the realms of parenting and reproduction. Weaving poetry, speculative fiction, and autobiography, with interviews, critical analysis and research, the authors take as their starting place that there is magical potential and possibility in the ambiguous, disorienting spaces of the in-between and the beyond. The collection challenges the constructedness of binaries connected to sex, gender, sexuality, and parenting roles, as well as the cis-, hetero-, repro-, trans- and amatonormativities which pervasively circulate and inform how we think about parenting and reproductive life. The collection amplifies the voices of non-binary authors among others, and tells stories of menstruation, pregnancy, abortion, assisted reproductive technologies, fertility preservation, parenthood, and activism in the face of violent binaries and reproductive injustices.

Popular understandings of pregnancy are so pink-coded. It’s "pregnant ladies” and “expectant mothers” and bows and pastels, nesting and glowing. The intersections and overlaps of sexism, cissexism, and heteronormativity surround our understanding of pregnancy, and The Liminal Chrysalis is not that. The Liminal Chrysalis is a much needed collection that offers a space for pregnancy outside of womanhood, and stories from other places from which to become.

- J Wallace Skelton is a PhD candidate at OISE, a seahorse papa, and a parent of three.

"This book is a vital contribution to the fields of transgender studies, reproductive health and family therapy. Through academic and creative writing, the readers can glean essential insights about what parenting beyond binaries means. A must read for anyone interested in reproductive justice and family studies."

- Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, SEP, CST, LMFT - author of Life Isn't Binary, How To Understand Your Gender, and Gender Trauma.

1. Reflections on a Feminist Childhood from a Non-Binary Adult by Milo Chesnut
2. Baby Triptych by Eitan Codish
3. Motherhood as Speculative (Non)Fiction by Kamee Abrahamian
4. Parenting (Selves) by Viridian Fen
5. The Work of Assisted Reproductive Technology in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Sunny Nestler
6. An Interview with Pidgeon Pagonis by Kori Doty
7. Tales from my Infinite Chrysalis by Saige Whesch
8. Towards a Queer and Trans Model for Families of Colour: Intersections of Feminism, Race, Queerness, and Gender Identity by Jan E. Estrellado and Alanna Aiko Moore
9. Otherhood by Serena Lukas Bhandar
10. “Bring in the Argentine Macho”: Feminist Resistances to the Participation of AFAB Trans People in Sexual and Reproductive Rights Activism by Blas Radi & Moira Pérez
11. Lessons Learned from Researching Non-Binary Reproduction by Olivia Fischer
12. Bloody Cycles: One Indian/Pakistani Feminist Perspective on Menstrual Health by Taq Kaur Bhandal, ਤਕਦੀਰ ਕੌਰ ਭੰਡਾਲ
13. Case Report: Rowan’s Experience Freezing their Sperm by A.J. Lowik

H. Kori Doty is a settler of European ancestry living in Lekwungen Territory after 6 transformative years living and learning while homesteading in Sinixt Territory. They are a community educator and their initiatives in sexual health, harm reduction, trans resilience building, and practical skills have been driven by a hunger for justice and equity. They are a solo parent to a 3-year-old; from this position, have challenged the province to change the way babies are assigned gender. They are a leader in best practices in education and strive to change hearts, minds, relationships, systems and paradigms with their patience, eloquence, and perspectives.

A.J. Lowik is a PhD Candidate with the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia, where their research focuses on trans people’s reproductive lives, health, and decision-making processes. A.J. has worked extensively with abortion providers and other reproductive health providers on creating trans-inclusive policies, practices, and spaces. A.J. works at the BC Centre on Substance Use, with a team of researchers focused on creating research, policies and treatment options that consider the unique needs of 2SLGBTQ+ people who use substances. They are the Gender Equity Advisor with the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity. A.J. loves cats, yoga, board games and potato chips. They are an unapologetic feminist, a queer liberationist, and work to disrupt cisnormativity everywhere they go.