An analysis of "As Nature Made Him" by John Colapinto

Extract

[...] And although her parents never told her that she'd been born a boy, one therapist reported that she repeatedly insisted she was "just a boy with long hair in girls' clothes" (Colapinto 139). While Dr. Money continuously wrote about the success of the case, and how Brenda was turning out to be her “daddy's little sweetheart,” in reality, according to the testimony of teachers, therapists and family members, Brenda was an angry, depressed, miserable child who did not have friends and was unhappy in her own skin. [...]

[...] Money, because Bruce was born an identical twin, and his brother Brian had matching DNA so there was a genetic match that could be compared, from a psychological standpoint. If Bruce could be successfully raised as a girl, and if the procedure would turn out as planned, the question of nature versus nurture would be answered with this “experiment” into gender identity. What is most terrifying about this experience is the fact that it was indeed an “experiment” on a very young boy who was in a terrible position. According to Colapinto, Dr. [...]

[...] An Analysis of Nature Made by John Colapinto There are many different ways to be uncomfortable in one's own skin. Each individual is never satisfied with their appearance, or some other aspect of their everyday lives, like their jobs. However, there are many cases where people are so unsatisfied in their own skin that they ask for a medical procedure to fix the problem, whether it is cosmetic or something more serious and significant, like changing their gender. This is a personal decision and must be made with a lot of thought and consideration. [...]

[...] If the surgical procedure were done later on in life, then David would have had a choice, and would not have been subjected to the torture of living a lie. Because this is a difficult and controversial topic, medical ethics have not specifically stated what would be the appropriate course of action. However, over the last ten years, intersexuals have organized rallies and meetings, in order to assert their role and make their voice heard. Many of them are protesting the early surgeries that they underwent as children, that has made it difficult or impossible to achieve orgasm, or integrate themselves into the gender that was assigned to them as such a young age. [...]