ABSTRACT
This chapter explores what Katrina Roen called the 'liberal transsexual politics' hierarchy, in which more surgeries and an increased ability to pass is equated with being 'more trans*'. It examines the 'radical politics of gender transgression' version of the hierarchy, where being more visibly trans* or genderqueer is viewed as more progressive, and therefore, 'more trans*'. The chapter explores issues of personal authenticity, class, and geographical considerations. It also examines the racial hierachy in relation to trans* community. The chapter examines the difficulties associated with stigma hierarchies and what a hierarchy operating inside the already stigmatized group does to those already stigmatized by society. Geographic location also plays an important role from the perspective of 'more trans*' meaning more non-conforming. In the 1990s, a significant shift occurred in academic discussion about sex and gender identities.
