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[–]MarkTwainiac 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Atwood is only four years older than Janice Raymond, author of the 1979 feminist book about males who claim to be women, The Transsexual Empire. Raymond's book was very widely reviewed - and very well received - in the mainstream press. The NY Times gave it a rave review.

Transsexualism amongst males was a very big topic in popular culture in the West in the 1960s and 70s. James Jan Morris had a huge international bestseller with his account of his "transsexualism" in 1974. Richard Raskin Renee Richards sued for the right to compete in US women's professional tennis in 1976; he won his case in 1977, and his story made international headlines. As a woman of letters and a keen observer of social trends, Atwood had to be aware of this.