Lessons from the Intersexed

by Suzanne J. Kessler

Book Overview

From the moment intersexuality-the condition of having physical gender markers (genitals, gonads, or chromosomes) that are neither clearly female nor male-is suspected and diagnosed, social institutions are mobilized in order to maintain the two seemingly objective sexual categories. Infants' bodies are altered, and what was "ambiguous" is made "normal." Kessler's interviews with pediatric surgeons and endocrinologists reveal how the intersex...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813525306
• ISBN13: 9780813525303
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

intersting reading, but not of the awareness issues

great reading, but i have to tell you that i am always pressed to educate people of their own nature. i have this very strong power that i now release, and i want to know more about the kind of humans that stay so private, they cannot enjoy life as some of us could. and for this, i take serious my friends earthly time. doesn't anyone stop the analysis?.....being a Y2K person for so many years, this must be an issue for the next mil........jon here, just wondering...

A landmark book on gender theory and activism

This an excellent book on the "gender theory". It is also a starting point for new gender activism. Kessler tells us the intersexed "real lives stories" of pain and suffering. She deconstructs the medical retoric as to how doctors "enforce gender" while inflicting both physical and psychic harm on their intersexed patiennts. She compares the gential reconstruction imposed on the intersexed with that begrundingly provided to (m-to-f) transsexual women and suggested to women with genital cancer. Kessler shows a how we might change gender for the benifit of all. She says: "Institutionalized mutilations occur because the gentials too are taken too seriously...If we want people to respect particular bodies, they need to be taught to lose respect for ideal ones." She suggest that genital piercing, people creating "custom" gentials or men growing breast for their own self pleasure are initial steps to breaking down the connetion between body and gender. From that the two gender system will break down.Her book has a large number of foot notes and cross references to other works. She is well read and very current. The text is some 131 pages. The footnotes are another 30 pages. The glossary is 4 pages. The bibliography is 10 page. And the index is another 12. This a very well researched book with innovative ideas. Her closing words are: "We must use what ever means to we have to give up on gender. The problems of intersexuality [and gayness, transsexuals, transvities, ect] will vanish and we will, compensate intersexuals for all the lessons they have provided."