Customer Reviews

Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex

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What does it mean to be human? Humanity incorporates physical and cultural sexuality - yet not all bodies are clearly male or female. BODIES IN DOUBT: AN AMERICAN HISTORY OF INTERSEX offers a historical, cultural, social and medical survey of intersex in America from early to modern times and argues that medical practice cannot exist outside of broader cultural influences. This history of how Americans have handled ambiguous bodies and changing criteria for judging proves it - and is key to any health collection.

As the title indicates, this book is a research based intellectual exploration of what happens to people in American society when their body or gender identity do not conform to the norms of heterosexual male or female identities. Dr. Reis' book is an essential piece of historical and sociological perspectives on intersex conditions and their place in American medical history. She smartly weaves historical documentation with narratives and perspectives on sexism, heterosexism, and transphobia that come up when trans or interesexed individuals seek medical attention. Finding research, especially unbiased and accurate historical research, on these issues is both tedious and mostly fruitless; making this work particularly valuable to any educator or student working on intersex or trans issues in history. In a perfect world this book would be featured in all medical history classes or better yet in all history classes in general. Reis' dedication and hard work truly paid off in what I believe to be her best work to date. A must purchase!

I thought this book would be just about hermaphrodites, but it's scope is the much larger question of societal response to things not well understood. The historical chapters paint a not so pleasant picture of a lack of compassion and acceptance. New medical understanding have soften attitudes, as has American society's melting pot culture.

Recently, a woman who had a partial sex change operation into a man has been in the news having babies. This book ignores sensationalism for solid research and well written prose.

Bravo