GENDER 2009 John B Pryor Ph D Illinois

The Curious Story of Olympian Stella Walsh

Stella Walsh was a dominant sprinter of the 1930 s and 1940 s, the winner of 41 U. S. Championships in various events. Born in Poland, she emigrated to America and became a high school star in Cleveland.

Competing for Poland at the 1932 Olympics she won gold in the 100 -meter dash.

At the Berlin Olympics of 1936 she lost at 100 meters to her bitter rival Helen Stephens; a controversy followed when Walsh's supporters hinted that Stephens was too fast to be a woman.

Stephens Walsh German doctors examined Stephens and announced she was in fact female. Walsh continued to compete as an amateur until 1954 and was inducted into the U. S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975.

January 23, 1981 Report Says Stella Walsh; Had Male Sex Organs Five years later she was killed by a stray bullet during a robbery at a Cleveland shopping center. An autopsy surprised everyone by showing that Walsh had male genitals and both male and female chromosomes -- a condition known as mosaicism.

Unusual case of David Reimer • Can a boy be transformed into a girl?

Unusual case of David Reimer • Summer 1965. In a Winnipeg hospital, Janet Reimer's lifelong dream comes true as she gives birth to twin sons, Bruce and Brian. • But within six months, both boys develop difficulty urinating. The doctors suggest they be circumcised. • The doctors had chosen an unconventional method of circumcision, one in which the skin would be burned. The procedure goes horribly wrong and Bruce's penis is burned so badly it can't be repaired surgically.

Unusual case of David Reimer John Money • The family sought help from many physicians. One night, the Reimers saw a television profile of an American doctor and his theories on sex and gender. Dr. John Money of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore argued that boys caught early enough could be raised to be girls. Nurture and not nature determines a child's gender, the doctor argued. The Reimers took Bruce to Money’s clinic at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. • At the age of 21 months, Bruce's testicles were removed. What remained of his penis was left, not to interfere with his urinary tract. When Bruce was released from hospital, his parents were told to raise him as a girl. The family was told not to divulge anything to anyone. They went home with a girl they called Brenda. “Brenda” Reimer

Unusual case of David Reimer Unhappy childhood, felt different, not accepted by boys or girls David as an adult When told at 14 about his past, decided to have surgery to return being a male. Later he married to a woman who already had children. Ultimately, David committed suicide.

Gender Two aspects of gender: 1) Gender Role 2) Gender Identity

Money & Ehrhardt (1972) Five variables that contribute to a person’s gender role and gender identity: 1) Chromosomal Gender 2) Gonadal Gender 3) Hormonal Gender 4) Morphological Gender 5) Assigned Gender John Money

FIVE CHROMOSOMAL ANOMALIES 1) X (Turner’s syndrome) 2) XXX 3) XYY 4) XXY (Klinefelter’s syndrome) 5) XXXY mosaicism: the condition of possessing cells of two or more different genetic constitutions Only some of the organism’s cells would have these unusual patterns

Caroline Cossey in For Your Eyes Only (1981)

TWO HORMONAL ANOMALIES IN GENETIC FEMALES 1) Progestin-Induced Hermaphroditism (PIH) 2) Adrenogenital Syndrome (AGS) -also called congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Adrenogenital Syndrome

TWO HORMONAL ANOMALIES IN GENETIC MALES 1) Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome 2) Guevodoces - 5 -Alpha Reductase Syndrome

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome

MONEY’S HYPOTHESIS: Prenatal hormones predispose people to certain gender-linked behaviors in later life. Four Groups of Females: 1) Turner’s Syndrome 2) Progestin-Induced Hermaphroditism 3) Adrenogenital Syndrome 4) Normal Females

Gender as a continuum

Transsexualism a gender identity disorder 3 -4 more times more common among genetic males no proven genetic, hormonal, or psychopathological antecedents New research has found that male-to-female transsexuals have a smaller BSTc region in their hypothalamuses than non-transsexual men. The hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of sexual behavior. This region is typically larger in men than in women.

SEX CHANGES at Gender Identity Clinics 1) Psychosocial Treatment - Learning the gender role 2) Hormonal Treatment 3) Plastic Surgery

Renee Richards is one of the bestknown transgendered athletes in U. S. history. She sued and won the right to play at the 1976 U. S. Open in the women's division. Under a plan adopted by the International Olympic Committee, post-op transsexuals were not banned from competition in subsequent Olympics.

Transsexuals-post surgery

Female to Male Transexual

Some Male to Female Transexuals

Some cultures do not have just a 2 category system

Gender Categories in Other Cultures Third Sex among Navajo

Native American terms for 3 rd Sex 1. Nadle - Navajo 2. Bade' - Crow 3. Winkte - Lakota 4. Ihamana - Zuni 5. Mujerado Laguna/Acoma 6. Siange Winnebago 7. A-whock - Arapaho 8. Hemaneh Cheyennes

GENDER CATEGORIES IN OTHER CULTURES both man and women Native American Two-Spirit People Berdache

This Navajo Berdache wore clothing that was distinct from both that of men and women

This Crow Berdache was named ‘Finds-them -and-killsthem’. He dressed as a man one day when he went to war with the men of his tribe.

GENDER CATEGORIES IN OTHER CULTURES India Hindu cult of the Hijra Males who amputate their penises Dress and live as women participate in fertility rituals often make their living as prostitutes

Hijra dancing at wedding

Hijra at home 3 Hijra going to temple

Blessing infant Dancing At Festival

HIJRA IN CHENAI, INDIA

HIJRA BEAUTY CONTEST