Israeli Poet Mira Ran Opens Up About Gender Identity and Body Struggles in New Book

Mira Ran, a 72-year-old Israeli poet, reveals in her new poetry collection "Different Degrees of Concealment" the lifelong trauma she experienced when buying her first bra at age 11 in Ramla. Unlike many girls who see this as a rite of passage, Ran recalls the moment as humiliating due to inappropriate behavior by the shop assistant, a memory she has carried for 60 years. This event symbolizes her ongoing discomfort with her body, particularly her chest, which she associates with frustration and a gender identity that does not align with traditional female roles.

Ran describes herself as having felt like a boy since childhood, noting that photos from her youth show her as more of a boy or adolescent than a girl. She explains that her new book is a form of "coming out," as she openly discusses feelings she previously kept silent about, including her complex relationship with gender identity. While she does not identify as non-binary, she embraces a queer identity and rejects strict labels, emphasizing the fluidity of life and identity.

Her personal history includes being the eldest child of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel, losing her father at 14, and later divorcing after nine years of marriage. Despite marrying a man and having three children, Ran has struggled with her gender identity and body image throughout her life. She has experimented with gender expression, including wearing binders and adopting a more masculine style in her 30s and 40s.

Ran discusses the challenges of aging and how recent physical changes have intensified her feelings of loss and grief over her childhood identity. She contemplates the possibility of breast removal surgery but remains uncertain, prioritizing enjoying her retirement. She expresses a desire to be seen as neither fully male nor female, referencing Virginia Woolf's "Orlando" as an inspiration for fluid identity.

Though she has come out as a lesbian since the 1990s and her children accepted it without issue, she still finds it difficult to discuss her gender identity openly with them. Ran calls for greater understanding and acceptance of the complexities of identity and the costs of silence, encouraging readers to reflect on what they conceal and why. Her work highlights the intersection of personal trauma, gender identity, and societal expectations in Israel from the 1950s to today.