Lessons from the Intersexed (Paperback)

by Suzanne, J. Kessler (Author) "Alex A. was born in 1971..." (more)
Key Phrases: intersexed woman, genital variability, variant genitals, United States, John Money, Cheryl Chase (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Focusing on intersexuality - having physical gender markers that are neither female or male - the author examines the social institutions that are mobilized to maintain the two seemingly objective sexual categories. She argues that we need to re-think the meaning of gender, genitals and sexuality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 1 edition (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813525306
• ISBN-13: 978-0813525303
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #748,791 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A landmark book on gender theory and activism, August 24, 1998

By A Customer

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."

1 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars intersting reading, but not of the awareness issues, December 30, 1999

By	jon (new jersey, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lessons from the Intersexed (Hardcover)

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...