1. Women’s Studies Senior Seminar
Engendering The Sciences: “Non-Normative Bodies” And The Construction Of Scientific Authority
Women’s Studies Senior Seminar
Chelsea Azevedo

2. POINT OF FOCUS Feminist critique of scientific discourse
“Non-normative bodies”
Call to end forced genital reassignment surgery (GRS) on interexed infants

3. OUTLINE Introduction Critique of current standard protocol
“John/Joan Case”
“Gendering the Science of Genital Reassignment Surgery”
“Ethics: How GRS Violates the Cardinal Rule of Consent and Informed Consent
Conclusion

4. JOHN/JOAN CASE Bruce Thiessen/Brenda Thiessen/David Reimer
Dr. John Money
Born a genetic XY male
Reassigned in infancy because of damage to phallus
Re-Reassignment
David Reimer: August 22, 1965-May 5, 2004

5. THE BIAS OF INHERENT SEXISM WITHIN THE PRACTICE OF GRS
Sex Re-Assignment Default
Adequacy/Normalcy
Female=Inferior
Pre-Judgment of Maleness
“Microphallus”
“Psychosexually devastating”

6. CONCLUSION Perpetuation of a false dichotomy
Cultural framework of GRS
Advocation of cessation of forced GRS at birth