Introduction

Anna Soldner, 20, is a female with an interest in gender rights and issues. She didn’t have prior knowledge about Norah Vincent’s book or experiment, but chose to read Self-Made Man because she finds the subject fascinating and enjoys exploring the differences and similarities between men, women and all genders in between. Anna is a straight, white, able-bodied, middle class, young adult who is open to all orientations and genders and believes that open discussion is essential in deconstructing gender binaries, eradicating stigmas, and clarifying common misconceptions. In reading this book she will use her previous knowledge to reaffirm her beliefs, gain new perspective and ponder new ideas about male privilege, feminism, and gender identity.

Erik Maanum, 19, is a male reader of Norah Vincent’s book, Self-Made Man. He chose to read Self-Made Man after reading some book reviews on the internet. It was the good feedback of the book and the uniqueness of Vincent’s ethnography on gender identity that struck Erik’s interest the most. As a straight, white, middle class, male growing up in a sheltering community of people with similar backgrounds, Vincent's extreme actions sparked Erik's interest. His favorite part of the book is the fact that Vincent was able to overcome all insecurities and challenge so many beliefs on the touchy subject of gender. By reading this book, Erik hopes to learn more about himself and how gender affects identity.

Casey Mesner, 19, is a straight, white, middle class female from a small town in Wisconsin. She was interested in this book because she is a psychology major and gender is one of the main topics amongst many of her classes. Previously in both a psychology and a sociology class, she explored the different roles of each gender and how society, as well as the individual, views them. They also touched a little on the psychological impacts of certain experiences with both genders. Though she does not have any biases toward any gender, she likes to view things from different perspectives and propose arguments for both cases. In reading Self-Made Man she learned a lot about both genders and gained new insight which she will carry throughout her life.



Sarah Tyrrell, 18, is a first-time reader of author Norah Vincent. Sarah chose to read Self-Made Man because she is intrigued by the ideas of the American male subculture and enjoys delving into the controversial topics of gender and identity within that subculture. Coming from a small town in Northern Wisconsin with little diversity, Sarah was curious about the different viewpoints of the topics covered in the eight chapters of Self- Made Man. As a straight, white, female, the different circumstances Sarah read in the book were very eye-opening and enthralling.