GENDERGENDER© 2003, John B. Pryor, Ph.D.

Illinois State University

Levi Suydam

• In 1843 Levi Suydam, a 23-year-old resident of Salisbury, Connecticut, asked the town's board of selectmen to allow him to vote as a Whig in a hotly contested local election.

• Tories contested Suydam’s gender.

• The selectmen brought in a physician, one Dr. William Barry, to examine Suydam and settle the matter. Presumably, upon encountering a phallus and testicles, the good doctor declared the prospective voter male.

• With Suydam safely in their column, the Whigs won the election by a majority of one.

• Barry later discovered that Levi had vaginal opening and menstruated. He also had many feminine behaviors.

Unusual case of Unusual case of David ReimerDavid Reimer

•Identical twin, genetic male•Penis burned offduring circumcision•Surgically altered to resemble a female•Given female Hormones•Raised as a female

Unhappy childhood,felt different, not accepted by boys or girls

Unusual case of Unusual case of David ReimerDavid Reimer

When told at 14 about hispast, decided to have surgery to return being a male. Late he marriedto a woman who already had children. Ultimately, DavidCommitted suicide.

Gender

Two aspects of gender:

1) Gender Role

2) Gender Identity

Money & Ehrhardt (1972)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 GenderJohn Money

FIVE CHROMOSOMAL ANOMALIES

1) X (Turner’s syndrome)

2) XXX

3) XYY

4) XXY (Klinefelter’s syndrome)

5) XXXY

TWO HORMONAL ANOMALIES IN GENETIC FEMALES

1) Progestin-Induced Hermaphroditism (PIH)

2) Adrenogenital Syndrome (AGS)

-also called congenital adrenal hyperplasia

AdrenogenitalSyndrome

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

TranssexualismTranssexualism

a gender identity disordera gender identity disorder 3-4 more times more common among genetic males3-4 more times more common among genetic males no proven genetic, hormonal, or psychopathological no proven genetic, hormonal, or psychopathological

antecedantsantecedants New research has found that male-to-female New research has found that male-to-female

transsexuals have a smaller BSTc region in their transsexuals have a smaller BSTc region in their hypothalamuses than non-transsexual men. The hypothalamuses than non-transsexual men. The hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of sexual hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of sexual behavior. This region is typically larger in men than behavior. This region is typically larger in men than in women.in women.

SEX CHANGES at Gender Identity Clinics

1) Psychosocial Treatment - Learning the gender role

2) Hormonal Treatment

3) Plastic Surgery

Renee Richards

Transsexuals-post surgery

FemaletoMaleTransexual

Some Male to Female Some Male to Female TransexualsTransexuals

Some cultures do not have Some cultures do not have just a 2 category systemjust a 2 category system

Third Sex among NavajoThird Sex among Navajo

GenderGender Catergories Catergories in Other Culturesin Other Cultures

Native American terms for 3rd 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 INOTHER CULTURES

both man and women - both man and women - Native American Native American

Two-Spirit People Two-Spirit People BerdacheBerdache

This Navajo

Berdache

wore clothing

that was distinct

from both that

of men and

women

This Crow This Crow

Berdache Berdache

was namedwas named

‘Finds-themFinds-them

-and-kills--and-kills-

them’. them’. He He

dressed dressed

as a man as a man

one day one day

when he when he went to war with the men of his went to war with the men of his tribe.tribe.

GENDER CATEGORIES INOTHER CULTURES

Hindu cult of the Hindu cult of the HijraHijraMales who amputate their penisesMales who amputate their penisesDress and live as womenDress and live as womenparticipate in fertility ritualsparticipate in fertility ritualsoften make their living as prostitutesoften make their living as prostitutes

IndiaIndia

Hijra dancing at weddingHijra dancing at wedding

Hijra athome

3 Hijra going to temple

DancingDancingAt At FestivalFestival

Blessing infantBlessing infant

Cheryl Chase