UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) will host "A Conversation with Jennifer Boylan" at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, via Zoom Webinar.
In her groundbreaking memoir, “She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders,” the first bestselling work by a transgender American, Boylan chronicles her experience transitioning from living as a male, already married with a wife, two young children, and a flourishing career, to living as the female she always knew herself to be.
Join Boylan and Molly Countermine, HDFS associate teaching professor, as they discuss the memoir and its themes of gender, gender identity, and how gender as a lived experience intersects with relationships, love, marriage, parenthood, career, values, privilege and beliefs.
Attendees are invited to submit questions for Boylan prior to the event or via the Q&A function during the event. Closed captioning will be available.
Jennifer Finney Boylan is the inaugural Anna Quindlen Writer in Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University. She is the author of 16 books. Her most recent memoir, "Good Boy: My Life in 7 Dogs," was published in April of 2020. In addition to writing memoirs, novels and short stories, Boylan is also a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times.
Boylan is nationally known as an advocate for human rights, having appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Live with Larry King," and "The Today Show" to share her story. She has also been the subject of documentaries on CBS News' 48 Hours and The History Channel. She has provided counsel for the TV series "Transparent" and "I Am Cait."
She serves on the Board of PEN America, a nonprofit organization that works to protect free expression for writers and allies around the world. Boylan sat on the board of directors of GLAAD for eight years, serving as the co-chair for five years. She is also a member of the faculty of the Breadloaf Writers' Conference of Middlebury College and the Sirenland Writers' Conference in Positano, Italy.
"A Conversation with Jennifer Boylan" will be facilitated by Countermine. Among other courses, Countermine teaches HDFS 254N Reading Our Lives: Understanding Diversity and Human Development through Memoirs, which uses personal narratives, including “She's Not There: A Tale of Two Genders,” to explore the diversity of the human experience. Countermine is the chair of the HDFS Committee for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), and is a champion for diversity initiatives in the department.