Intersex: A Perilous Difference

189 Pages·2008·2.859 MB·English

by  Morgan Holmes

I N T E R S E X
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I N T E R S E X
A Perilous Difference
Morgan Holmes
Selinsgrove:SusquehannaUniversity Press
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(cid:2)2008byRosemontPublishing&PrintingCorp.
Allrightsreserved.Authorizationtophotocopyitemsforinternalorpersonaluse,or
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videdthatabasefeeof$10.00,pluseightcentsperpage,percopyispaiddirectlyto
the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, Massachusetts
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AssociatedUniversityPresses
2010EastparkBoulevard
Cranbury,NJ08512
ThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstherequirementsoftheAmerican
NationalStandardforPermanenceofPaperforPrintedLibraryMaterials
Z39.48-1984.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Holmes,Morgan,1967–
Intersex:aperilousdifference/MorganHolmes.
p.;cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-1-57591-117-5(alk.paper)
1.Intersexuality. 2.Intersexuality—Socialaspects. 3.Genderidentity.
I.Title. [DNLM:1.Hermaphroditism—psychology. 2.Hermaphroditism—
therapy. 3.AttitudeofHealthPersonnel. 4.GenderIdentity. 5.Social
Identification. WJ712H752i2008]
QP267.H65 2008
616.6(cid:2)94—dc22 2007028758
printedintheunitedstatesofamerica
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To MaxBeck
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Contents
Acknowledgments 9
Introduction:Intersex/ualityIsTrouble 13
1. MakingMeaning:Representations andMisrepresentations 23
2. Representations andMisrepresentations 65
3. Bodies, Knowledge,andIdentity 107
4. RethinkingtheMeaningand Managementof
Intersexuality 138
Notes 158
Glossary 168
WorksCited 171
Index 186
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Acknowledgments
I
TIS DIFFICULTTOPUTATIME-AND-DATESTAMPON THISWORKTO
identifypreciselywhenitwasborn.Sufficeittosaythatbysomemea-
sures it has been more than a decade since the project began in the
guiseofmaster’s levelresearchspurredintoactionby anewsclipping
kept aside for me in a graduate seminar with Karen Anderson at York
University in Toronto. That clipping led me to the work, integrity,
and support of Anne Fausto-Sterling who was more than generous
withhertime,support,andexpertisethanIcouldhavehopedorantic-
ipated. Suzanne Kessler has also been extremely supportive of my
work,bothacademicandactivist,andforthatrecognitionandsupport
I am truly grateful. My various colleagues in the intersex movement
whoagreedtolettheirvoicesbeheardinthistextcontinuetobemod-
els of strength and courage. I hope the book does fair service to their
words,evenifIdo notalwaysagree withtheirideas.
Iowe adebt ofgratitudeto manyadvisors along theway, butespe-
ciallytoVeronicaHollingerandPatElliotfortheirenduringsupport.
Margaret Lock and Carl Elliott both helped me to see that my work
could be highly relevant to clinical settings and to ethical thinking,
andtofurtheringthereachofacademic workinthebroaderworld.
JordanLeithprovidedpatientreadingandeditingofthefirsttransi-
tion of the work from its dissertation state to book manuscript and
restored my faith in my own convictions along the way. Rhona and
Mark Leith provided excellent food, hospitality, and all the comforts
ofhome on myregularresearch tripstoToronto when Iwasworking
on updates to the text. Sustenance comes in many forms; friendship
and material comforts are no small matter to a person staring down
deadlines.
RichardJuangreadthemanuscriptandurgedmetoseekapublisher
whenIwasreadytochuckit all.
IalsoowethankstomyanonymousreviewersatSusquehannaUni-
versityPress,andtothepressdirector,RachanaSachdev,fordeciding
totakethemanuscriptonforpublication.
In the end, it is to my family that I owe the greatest thanks and
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10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
acknowledgment. Tom and Trudy Rawley and Elsie MacBride have
been constant supporters. Trevor has always been the one willing to
standbehindme,toliftmeupwhenIlostinterestandstrengthofmy
own.AndNicholas,myNicholas...forlovingmejustbecauseIexist
...andforremindingmethatlifeneedstoincludeplay:thankyou.
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