Main content

I prayed to God to make me a girl

Abby Stein grew up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Her parents considered her their firstborn son but she was adamant that she was a girl.

Abby Stein grew up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, one of the most gender segregated societies in the world. Abby’s parents considered her their firstborn son but she was adamant that she was a girl. She has written a book about her experiences called ‘Becoming Eve.’

Aged eleven, Dirce de Assis Cavalcanti was called the "daughter of a murderer" by her classmates. Dirce soon found out that her father had indeed killed a man and not just any man but one of Brazil’s celebrated authors. Although he was cleared by the courts, in the court of public opinion Dirce’s dad was condemned and this was something Dirce has grappled with throughout her life. She spoke to Outlook’s Andrea Kennedy.

Picture: Abby Stein
Credit: Courtesy of Abby Stein

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Tue 7 Jan 2020 04:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 12:06GMT
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 16:06GMT
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 18:06GMT
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 21:06GMT
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 23:06GMT
  • Tue 7 Jan 2020 03:06GMT
  • Tue 7 Jan 2020 04:06GMT

Contact Outlook

Contact Outlook

Info on how we might use your contribution on air

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected