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Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes
“On October 10, 1970, the day she was born, she was named Dorothy Maree Alaniz--a baby girl. Curiously, though, no one filled out a birth certificate that day. When the certificate was finally filed on November 5, the name on it was Rudolph Andrew Alaniz. Within less than one month after her birth, this girl became a boy.”
Every year in the United States, more than two thousand children are born with an intersex condition or disorder of sex development. What makes someone a boy or a girl? Is it external genitalia, chromosomes, DNA, environment, or some combination of these factors? Not even doctors or scientists are entirely clear. What is clear is that sex is not an either-or proposition: not girl/boy, XX/XY, switching between two poles like an on-off switch on a radio. Rather, sex is like the bass and treble knobs on that radio.
Between XX and XY provides a fascinating look at the science of sex and what makes people male or female. There are people born XXY, XXXY, or XXXXY, or with any number of variations in X or Y chromosomes, but those who do not fit into society’s preconceived notions about sex often face a difficult path in life.
Dr. Callahan explores why humans are so attached to the idea of two sexes, and examines our obsession with sex and sexual intercourse through the ages.
Every year in the United States, more than two thousand children are born with an intersex condition or disorder of sex development. What makes someone a boy or a girl? Is it external genitalia, chromosomes, DNA, environment, or some combination of these factors? Not even doctors or scientists are entirely clear. What is clear is that sex is not an either-or proposition: not girl/boy, XX/XY, switching between two poles like an on-off switch on a radio. Rather, sex is like the bass and treble knobs on that radio.
Between XX and XY provides a fascinating look at the science of sex and what makes people male or female. There are people born XXY, XXXY, or XXXXY, or with any number of variations in X or Y chromosomes, but those who do not fit into society’s preconceived notions about sex often face a difficult path in life.
Dr. Callahan explores why humans are so attached to the idea of two sexes, and examines our obsession with sex and sexual intercourse through the ages.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2009
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May 22, 2016(Warning that I will discuss suicide, just like the book does)
In my experience, this is THE book on the shelves of American public libraries about intersex variations, so I finally gave in and read it - not because anything in it would be new to me, but to see what kind of conceptions are promulgated and what someone new to the topic might find. Can I give this book to people and save the effort of educating them?
It...... wasn't a very good experience, and I won't be giving this book to anyone.
The book is very sensationalistic, especially at the beginning; it starts with an unexplained sucide scene that comes across as if the author was saying 'Look, an intersex person tries to commit suicide! Why is it So Horribbbble to be intersex? Read the book and find out!!' It made me really aggravated.
Between XX and XY is totally written from an outsider perspective, to people with an outsider perspective. Sadly a lot of the "intersex books" are like this, and they also often regurgitate the same - sometimes incorrect - information; for example, most intersex people really dislike the term "DSD", unlike what the book states. (It is also very sad that for any kind of useful intersex self-help information that is for YOU, not for outsiders or - at most - parents, basically the only place you can go is Tumblr, Twitter etc.)
The author is Trying, with a capital T. Yes, intersex people are human and should be treated as human! Yes, sex is not a binary variable! Do these statements seriously deserve a cookie? Only if our bar for allyship and supportive behavior is really low.
The book has a lot of animal examples. These seem extraneous, and they aren't like human intersex variations at all, so thir inclusion comes across as somewhat bizarre. Does it legitimize the existence of intersex people that female spotted hyenas have a male-looking sex organ? Or that some fish change sex? No, intersex people would still exist even if these completely different animals with completely different sex configurations would not exist at all. The book is very short, so I wondered how much of this was just padding to increase the length. I wished the author would've increased the length by adding more personal narratives.
I liked the personal narratives a lot, though I did notice that all of the people the author interviewed currently lived as women. No men (!), no non-binary-gendered people. This feeds into the tropes that all sex- and/or gender-nonconforming people are somehow women.
Having a nonbinary gender identity in addition to a nonbinary sex is only discussed as something for other cultures, not for garden-variety Americans (interestingly, my own culture's terms are missing, though I am sadly somewhat relieved by that). There is one throwaway sentence that it is very hard to live as a non-binary-gendered person, and an obligatory Dreger quote stating that it is very cruel to raise children without assigning them a gender - right after the book mentions that most children readily assign gender to other people and themselves. Uh?
(As someone raising a stepchild, this has definitely been my experience. For the record, my child told me I was "mommy", "daddy" and "chicken"! Now you know. :D )
There is very little on related (and unrelated!) health problems, for which sometimes it can be extremely difficult to get care. There is no distinction between "I am not fine this way" and "I have these related issues I would like help with". People can be fine with themselves but still need medical care. The options are presented as: you either have a lot of medical interventions forced on you (at least this is described as bad!), or you let things take their course without doing anything. There is very little about what intersex people, even as adults, actually want - the book does mention that some people transition, some get elective surgery as adults, some people go from one set of hormones to another, etc. but these facts are minimized and not presented in the final discussion.
I'd say the solution is to discuss things with a doctor while having informed consent and making your decisions, but I guess that is not so titillating, and put that way, it just comes across as yet another health/body thing and not something Amazingly Exotic and a Capital-R Revelation. (In my experience, it can also be extremely difficult to find a doctor who does not want to enforce your birth assignment as something to be policed... which could've been discussed. Alas.)
There is so much low-hanging fruit among potential topics - for example that getting sex hormones while intersex can be more, not less difficult, compared to getting sex hormones while trans but not intersex (contrary to what most trans people who are not intersex seem to think!). The book by and large doesn't quite explain the difference between "trans" and "intersex" very well.
I have this plan to review one intersex-related book a month, but I'm not sure I'll manage to actually stick to it. I guess the above explain why...
In my experience, this is THE book on the shelves of American public libraries about intersex variations, so I finally gave in and read it - not because anything in it would be new to me, but to see what kind of conceptions are promulgated and what someone new to the topic might find. Can I give this book to people and save the effort of educating them?
It...... wasn't a very good experience, and I won't be giving this book to anyone.
The book is very sensationalistic, especially at the beginning; it starts with an unexplained sucide scene that comes across as if the author was saying 'Look, an intersex person tries to commit suicide! Why is it So Horribbbble to be intersex? Read the book and find out!!' It made me really aggravated.
Between XX and XY is totally written from an outsider perspective, to people with an outsider perspective. Sadly a lot of the "intersex books" are like this, and they also often regurgitate the same - sometimes incorrect - information; for example, most intersex people really dislike the term "DSD", unlike what the book states. (It is also very sad that for any kind of useful intersex self-help information that is for YOU, not for outsiders or - at most - parents, basically the only place you can go is Tumblr, Twitter etc.)
The author is Trying, with a capital T. Yes, intersex people are human and should be treated as human! Yes, sex is not a binary variable! Do these statements seriously deserve a cookie? Only if our bar for allyship and supportive behavior is really low.
The book has a lot of animal examples. These seem extraneous, and they aren't like human intersex variations at all, so thir inclusion comes across as somewhat bizarre. Does it legitimize the existence of intersex people that female spotted hyenas have a male-looking sex organ? Or that some fish change sex? No, intersex people would still exist even if these completely different animals with completely different sex configurations would not exist at all. The book is very short, so I wondered how much of this was just padding to increase the length. I wished the author would've increased the length by adding more personal narratives.
I liked the personal narratives a lot, though I did notice that all of the people the author interviewed currently lived as women. No men (!), no non-binary-gendered people. This feeds into the tropes that all sex- and/or gender-nonconforming people are somehow women.
Having a nonbinary gender identity in addition to a nonbinary sex is only discussed as something for other cultures, not for garden-variety Americans (interestingly, my own culture's terms are missing, though I am sadly somewhat relieved by that). There is one throwaway sentence that it is very hard to live as a non-binary-gendered person, and an obligatory Dreger quote stating that it is very cruel to raise children without assigning them a gender - right after the book mentions that most children readily assign gender to other people and themselves. Uh?
(As someone raising a stepchild, this has definitely been my experience. For the record, my child told me I was "mommy", "daddy" and "chicken"! Now you know. :D )
There is very little on related (and unrelated!) health problems, for which sometimes it can be extremely difficult to get care. There is no distinction between "I am not fine this way" and "I have these related issues I would like help with". People can be fine with themselves but still need medical care. The options are presented as: you either have a lot of medical interventions forced on you (at least this is described as bad!), or you let things take their course without doing anything. There is very little about what intersex people, even as adults, actually want - the book does mention that some people transition, some get elective surgery as adults, some people go from one set of hormones to another, etc. but these facts are minimized and not presented in the final discussion.
I'd say the solution is to discuss things with a doctor while having informed consent and making your decisions, but I guess that is not so titillating, and put that way, it just comes across as yet another health/body thing and not something Amazingly Exotic and a Capital-R Revelation. (In my experience, it can also be extremely difficult to find a doctor who does not want to enforce your birth assignment as something to be policed... which could've been discussed. Alas.)
There is so much low-hanging fruit among potential topics - for example that getting sex hormones while intersex can be more, not less difficult, compared to getting sex hormones while trans but not intersex (contrary to what most trans people who are not intersex seem to think!). The book by and large doesn't quite explain the difference between "trans" and "intersex" very well.
I have this plan to review one intersex-related book a month, but I'm not sure I'll manage to actually stick to it. I guess the above explain why...
July 9, 2009
If you've never thought beyond the concept of "opposite sexes" this is a really great primer. If you're a gender and sexuality nerd like me, you won't learn a whole lot of brand new stuff from this book.
Callahan spends a lot of time debunking the myth of the two sexes - there's slightly more in the book about that than there is about disorders of sexual development or intersex. If you're looking for a really in-depth read that focuses on intersex, this isn't that book. But if you're looking for some more general stuff about the science of the differences between men and women and genetic variations that will tweak your concepts of "men" and "women", this book is very much worth your time.
Callahan was able to write a very readable book that didn't bore me or confuse me at all, even when he writes about chromosomes and karyotypes and stuff. In addition to good content about human sexuality, he devotes a good amount of time to writing about hermaphroditic animals, which is fascinating stuff and will further erode your notions of a two-sex model. The case studies of intersex people included in the book are also engaging, though also pretty heartbreaking.
If you are up for something heavier, more theory-laden and more advanced about the differences among the sexes (see what I did there? implying that there are more than two sexes with grammar?), check out Anne Fausto-Sterling's Myths of Gender: Biological Theories About Women and Men. That book was originally published in 1987, updated in 1992 - so some of the science is a little our of date, but it's a really great and challenging read.
Callahan spends a lot of time debunking the myth of the two sexes - there's slightly more in the book about that than there is about disorders of sexual development or intersex. If you're looking for a really in-depth read that focuses on intersex, this isn't that book. But if you're looking for some more general stuff about the science of the differences between men and women and genetic variations that will tweak your concepts of "men" and "women", this book is very much worth your time.
Callahan was able to write a very readable book that didn't bore me or confuse me at all, even when he writes about chromosomes and karyotypes and stuff. In addition to good content about human sexuality, he devotes a good amount of time to writing about hermaphroditic animals, which is fascinating stuff and will further erode your notions of a two-sex model. The case studies of intersex people included in the book are also engaging, though also pretty heartbreaking.
If you are up for something heavier, more theory-laden and more advanced about the differences among the sexes (see what I did there? implying that there are more than two sexes with grammar?), check out Anne Fausto-Sterling's Myths of Gender: Biological Theories About Women and Men. That book was originally published in 1987, updated in 1992 - so some of the science is a little our of date, but it's a really great and challenging read.
November 25, 2023
would have been 4 stars, except I wish he just did a bit more with the data in terms of establishing what he put in the conclusion in the very beginning and building from there
June 20, 2021
This book was interesting I like the way it was written and a lot of the metaphors were very compelling, however it is a biology book like it’s not really a “social issues” book so be prepared for a lot of talk about specific enzymes and karyotypes. There were some tangents about bonobos I didn’t really understand but I enjoyed the “case study” approach to talking to intersex people and presenting information that way.
February 1, 2022
I've done a bit of research in the last few years about intersex people and I'm familiar with different aspects of queerness, so I don't think I can say I learned anything new from reading this book. A bit disappointing as I definitely know there's a lot more to learn. Some of the language seems outdated (then again I'm also not sure what some of the current accepted terminology is). I'm not sure how much of this is due to the author's ignorance or because it was published in 2009.
Overall I'd call this a decent starting point for someone with very little familiarity with intersex issues wanting to learn more.
Overall I'd call this a decent starting point for someone with very little familiarity with intersex issues wanting to learn more.
October 30, 2014
As an overview of intersex biological conditions and possible treatments/surveys, Between XX and XY does the job, but it's nothing that you couldn't otherwise glean from similar sources. The tone of the book really turned me off, though - it was a bit too sensational, and hammered the 'fluidity of the sexes' point too hard and amateurishly (even though he's clearly right that a binary sex system is an illusion).
September 5, 2010
"sex is not an either/or proposition, switching between two poles like an onn/off switch on a radio. rather, sex is like the bass & treble knobs on that radio."
April 14, 2019
a very informative and enlightening book - with some issues. i was greatly looking forward to reading it, and while i definitely don’t *regret it*, per se, i will say that i am disappointed. it’s definitely a good run-down of intersex issues in general. but...
even though the author interviews / discusses multiple transgender individuals, the way he talks about them is far less than ideal: when referring to events in a person’s life prior to that person’s social transition, he uses the name and pronouns that the person used at the time, rather than the name and pronouns they now prefer. (for example, stuff like this: “dave was born a boy, but realized he was a girl, and then she was named mary”). sure, some trans people are fine with referring to themselves this way, or being referred to by others this way, but many of us (increasingly many, especially today’s youngest generations of trans people) prefer - REQUIRE - that you refer to us with our CURRENT name and pronouns, regardless of what period of our lives you’re discussing. as a cis person - hopefully, one who wishes to be an ally to the transgender community much like he’s an ally to the intersex community - his job is to learn how to respectfully refer to trans people.
he makes a point of saying multiple times throughout the book that the sex someone is assigned at birth may not speak the full story of what their sex actually is, and someone’s apparent sex isn’t always indicative of the gender identity they’ll grow into when they’re older. this is very true, and i’m glad he says this so much. however, confusingly, at many points he also uses the words “sex” and “gender” interchangeably, when in reality they’re not synonyms at all.
and my final issue with the book is perhaps the most baffling one: throughout the entirety of the book, he uses a certain thirteen-letter word, beginning with H, derived from the name of an androgynous greek god. among much of the intersex community, this word is considered outdated and rude at best, or a slur at worst. i was very surprised at his repeated use of the word, and disappointed / bewildered at the fact that it wasnt until more than halfway through the book that he discussed the negative connotations of the word in question. i can’t quite remember, but i believe it was given less than one page of discussion: he mentioned how the language that we use to talk about certain things can affect how we think and feel about those things, and as a result we should reconsider our use of such a stigmatizing word....... and the real kicker? he still continues to use the same word throughout the rest of the book.
even though the author interviews / discusses multiple transgender individuals, the way he talks about them is far less than ideal: when referring to events in a person’s life prior to that person’s social transition, he uses the name and pronouns that the person used at the time, rather than the name and pronouns they now prefer. (for example, stuff like this: “dave was born a boy, but realized he was a girl, and then she was named mary”). sure, some trans people are fine with referring to themselves this way, or being referred to by others this way, but many of us (increasingly many, especially today’s youngest generations of trans people) prefer - REQUIRE - that you refer to us with our CURRENT name and pronouns, regardless of what period of our lives you’re discussing. as a cis person - hopefully, one who wishes to be an ally to the transgender community much like he’s an ally to the intersex community - his job is to learn how to respectfully refer to trans people.
he makes a point of saying multiple times throughout the book that the sex someone is assigned at birth may not speak the full story of what their sex actually is, and someone’s apparent sex isn’t always indicative of the gender identity they’ll grow into when they’re older. this is very true, and i’m glad he says this so much. however, confusingly, at many points he also uses the words “sex” and “gender” interchangeably, when in reality they’re not synonyms at all.
and my final issue with the book is perhaps the most baffling one: throughout the entirety of the book, he uses a certain thirteen-letter word, beginning with H, derived from the name of an androgynous greek god. among much of the intersex community, this word is considered outdated and rude at best, or a slur at worst. i was very surprised at his repeated use of the word, and disappointed / bewildered at the fact that it wasnt until more than halfway through the book that he discussed the negative connotations of the word in question. i can’t quite remember, but i believe it was given less than one page of discussion: he mentioned how the language that we use to talk about certain things can affect how we think and feel about those things, and as a result we should reconsider our use of such a stigmatizing word....... and the real kicker? he still continues to use the same word throughout the rest of the book.
July 23, 2020
Quite heavy going, as the book goes into great detail about genetics, hormones and DNA, as well as touching on the impact culture and society has on decision-making. There are a number of cases studies discussed throughout the book but it does use language that is likely to offend, although that is not the intention of the author.
Quote: "Sex isn’t a switch we can easily flip between two poles. Between those two imaginary poles lies an infinite number of possibilities. Somewhere within that infinity is where you will find each of us. Intersex people have shown us that. We should be grateful. Because they are not bound by the traditional ropes of our traditions, they have shown us that we can untie the knots that bind us to our own preconceptions and begin to live freer lives."; Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes - Gerald N. Callahan
Quote: "Sex isn’t a switch we can easily flip between two poles. Between those two imaginary poles lies an infinite number of possibilities. Somewhere within that infinity is where you will find each of us. Intersex people have shown us that. We should be grateful. Because they are not bound by the traditional ropes of our traditions, they have shown us that we can untie the knots that bind us to our own preconceptions and begin to live freer lives."; Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes - Gerald N. Callahan
July 9, 2019
Interesting read. While I had read some of its material before, there is a lot for people, especially cisgender, gender-conforming people, to learn in this book.
I noticed some editing mistakes - some repetition, and an intended page reference that didn't exist. However, the book detailed a lot of historical references, personal stories, cultural legends, and scientific studies that kept my attention.
I appreciate the discussion about those with disorders of sexual development and how our 2-gender binary system puts them in a difficult position. I wish our society would show more compassion, especially for people with ambiguous genitalia who identify with the gender they were not assigned at birth.
I noticed some editing mistakes - some repetition, and an intended page reference that didn't exist. However, the book detailed a lot of historical references, personal stories, cultural legends, and scientific studies that kept my attention.
I appreciate the discussion about those with disorders of sexual development and how our 2-gender binary system puts them in a difficult position. I wish our society would show more compassion, especially for people with ambiguous genitalia who identify with the gender they were not assigned at birth.
June 5, 2025
This was a very interesting and difficult read.
Some of the scientific information was challenging to truly understand, but it was still very interesting.
I do understand that science has likely evolved even more in this area in the past 20 years, and not everything is the latest research.
The real stories of what people have gone through were heartbreaking.
I learned much more about Bonobos and spotted hyenas than I ever thought possible.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a non-fiction book on intersex.
Some of the scientific information was challenging to truly understand, but it was still very interesting.
I do understand that science has likely evolved even more in this area in the past 20 years, and not everything is the latest research.
The real stories of what people have gone through were heartbreaking.
I learned much more about Bonobos and spotted hyenas than I ever thought possible.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a non-fiction book on intersex.
May 21, 2018
Two quantities with a long and sordid history are biology and ideology. I imagine we all have some familiarity with their children: racism, sexism, eugenics, social darwinism. That was why when it came to educating myself about this controversial topic I tried to select a book that was as free from ideological slanting as possible. Just the facts, ma'am, please.
I think this book mostly succeeded in that respect.
In my opinion the subtitle 'the myth of two sexes' is unnecessarily clickbaity. It isn't so much that there are more than two sexes as it is that between the two mythological ideals – the so- called 'real man' and the female counterpart – there exists a continuum, a line is made of dots. At one end, there is a dot. At the other end is a dot. And in between, composing the entire line, are a whole lot of other dots. Each dot that is farther removed from one pole is necessarily closer to the other pole. Right in the middle of the line there is also a dot. So it is with human sexuality. There are people diametrically opposed to each other on ideological grounds that would deny this. People who reduce sexuality to a simple matter of what you have under the hood (everything is determined by genetics) and people who deny that what you have under the hood in any way, shape, or form impacts your cognition and sexuality (everything is determined by culture). This book argues that neither of these positions are in keeping with the empirical evidence.
For example, consider the simple notion that your sexual organs are the be all and end all of your identity. What happens when a child is born with ambiguous genitalia then? The common practice has been to assign a designation to the child – either male or female – and then begin a series of surgeries to bring them in line with that particular choice. The parents then raise the child as if they were the sex they have been assigned.
Problem solved.
Well, no. What if the child genetically skews more to male than female and they were arbitrarily designated as female and surgically altered to fit that designation? Would there be some disconnect between their biology (nature) and the way they are being raised (nurture)? Would they feel comfortable in their skin? These are the kinds of questions that this book prompts, questions for which there are no easy answers.
Sometimes it isn't even as obvious as external genitalia. Some people have one set of external genitalia and a second underdeveloped set of internal genitalia. Some people have an extra chromosome. Some people are missing a chromosome. Some people, due to the onset of puberty and the surge in hormones it precipitates, suddenly begin to exhibit physiological and behavioural changes that cause them to make a sudden jump further away from one sexual pole and closer to the other. This book presents many of the different conditions along the sexual spectrum in a clear and easy to understand way. One of the most interesting and perhaps thought provoking for those who wonder what it means to be a human being is the chimera. Most people develop from a single zygote. A chimera is the result of two zygotes fusing and developing into a single fetus. Two distinct sets of cells with their own set of chromosomes inhabiting a single body. What could have potentially been two distinct humans with differing bodies and minds actually existing as one distinct human with one body and one mind.
I expect that this is a book that may make some people uncomfortable. It is understandable. As humans we like to keep things within nicely compartmentalized borders. We don't like chaos, we desire order. It is either this or that. You are either this or that. Woe betide the unfortunate individual who does not fit within those simple parameters. Life, however, is far messier than that. Any artist can tell you that between black and white there are far more than..... well, fifty shades of grey. Indeed, a black and white picture is only a representation of reality. No subtlety, no nuance, just a skeleton of the real.
Last word to Nicky Philips, a sixty four year old lady with a condition known as androgen insensitivity syndrome:
I happen to have AIS, which is a condition passed down through the X chromosone. If it were color blindness, which is passed the same way, no one would think it is a big deal. Because it is tied to issues of sexuality and gender, it becomes something to be laughed about or discussed with discomfort.
This book made me realize how decidedly uncomplicated my own life is.
I think this book mostly succeeded in that respect.
In my opinion the subtitle 'the myth of two sexes' is unnecessarily clickbaity. It isn't so much that there are more than two sexes as it is that between the two mythological ideals – the so- called 'real man' and the female counterpart – there exists a continuum, a line is made of dots. At one end, there is a dot. At the other end is a dot. And in between, composing the entire line, are a whole lot of other dots. Each dot that is farther removed from one pole is necessarily closer to the other pole. Right in the middle of the line there is also a dot. So it is with human sexuality. There are people diametrically opposed to each other on ideological grounds that would deny this. People who reduce sexuality to a simple matter of what you have under the hood (everything is determined by genetics) and people who deny that what you have under the hood in any way, shape, or form impacts your cognition and sexuality (everything is determined by culture). This book argues that neither of these positions are in keeping with the empirical evidence.
For example, consider the simple notion that your sexual organs are the be all and end all of your identity. What happens when a child is born with ambiguous genitalia then? The common practice has been to assign a designation to the child – either male or female – and then begin a series of surgeries to bring them in line with that particular choice. The parents then raise the child as if they were the sex they have been assigned.
Problem solved.
Well, no. What if the child genetically skews more to male than female and they were arbitrarily designated as female and surgically altered to fit that designation? Would there be some disconnect between their biology (nature) and the way they are being raised (nurture)? Would they feel comfortable in their skin? These are the kinds of questions that this book prompts, questions for which there are no easy answers.
Sometimes it isn't even as obvious as external genitalia. Some people have one set of external genitalia and a second underdeveloped set of internal genitalia. Some people have an extra chromosome. Some people are missing a chromosome. Some people, due to the onset of puberty and the surge in hormones it precipitates, suddenly begin to exhibit physiological and behavioural changes that cause them to make a sudden jump further away from one sexual pole and closer to the other. This book presents many of the different conditions along the sexual spectrum in a clear and easy to understand way. One of the most interesting and perhaps thought provoking for those who wonder what it means to be a human being is the chimera. Most people develop from a single zygote. A chimera is the result of two zygotes fusing and developing into a single fetus. Two distinct sets of cells with their own set of chromosomes inhabiting a single body. What could have potentially been two distinct humans with differing bodies and minds actually existing as one distinct human with one body and one mind.
I expect that this is a book that may make some people uncomfortable. It is understandable. As humans we like to keep things within nicely compartmentalized borders. We don't like chaos, we desire order. It is either this or that. You are either this or that. Woe betide the unfortunate individual who does not fit within those simple parameters. Life, however, is far messier than that. Any artist can tell you that between black and white there are far more than..... well, fifty shades of grey. Indeed, a black and white picture is only a representation of reality. No subtlety, no nuance, just a skeleton of the real.
Last word to Nicky Philips, a sixty four year old lady with a condition known as androgen insensitivity syndrome:
I happen to have AIS, which is a condition passed down through the X chromosone. If it were color blindness, which is passed the same way, no one would think it is a big deal. Because it is tied to issues of sexuality and gender, it becomes something to be laughed about or discussed with discomfort.
This book made me realize how decidedly uncomplicated my own life is.
April 3, 2019
"Between XX and XY" is a nice introduction to intersexuality and the variability when it comes to the human sexes.
I was especially interested to read about the differences between the various karyotypes.
What I didn't really like was how sensationalist the book was in certain sections. Those parts felt rather out of place.
I was especially interested to read about the differences between the various karyotypes.
What I didn't really like was how sensationalist the book was in certain sections. Those parts felt rather out of place.
June 21, 2021
great, very educational and lots of food for thought but i didnt really care so much for the personal stories
July 13, 2022
Kinda sensational at times and the verbiage isn’t always the nicest or the most politically correct which was surprising. But overall informative.
November 18, 2016
L'intersessualità e il mito dei due sessi
La lettura di questo libro mi ha interessato per varie ragioni. La prima è che ormai so per certo che non sono quello che pensavo di essere. A dire il vero, non ci ho mai creduto, ma non ne avevo le prove. Almeno quelle scientifiche. La seconda riguarda gli altri. Intendo le altre persone con le quali ho avuto a che fare nel corso di questi anni vissuti sempre alla ricerca di una identità precisa. La terza è quella decisiva e concerne tutti gli uomini, intesi come esseri umani. Mai come in questo caso, infatti, le donne devono essere chiaramente citate e coinvolte: possiamo dare una risposta alla primordiale domanda di base:"chi siamo?". E la risposta ci spiazza, per così dire. Vale a dire "non" possiamo dire con certezza "chi" veramente siamo. Almeno per quanto riguarda il sesso.
Maschile/femminile, due opzioni di casella, ma una sola scelta. Tutto sbagliato, almeno secondo quanto pensa l’autore di questo recente libro Gerald N. Callahan , che oltre a scrivere libri è anche un patologo ed immunologo, ricercatore da trenta anni nel campo della biomedicina, nonchè professore alla State University dello stato americano del Colorado. Egli sostiene che la risposta alla domanda della casella non può essere univoca, maschio o femmina, deve essere multipla in quanto l’assetto sessuale binario è solo una errata presunzione, non un fatto. Dovrebbe essercene, insomma, un’altra: quella della “intersessualità”.
Si sa che nella teoria dei generi il concetto biologico e quello di genere sono due cose separate. Mentre i nostri sessi biologici sono fissati alla nascita, l’identità di genere “risulta dalla interazione di diversi fattori, quali la genetica, l’ambiente prenatale, gli ormoni pre e post natali, oltre ai fattori psico-sociali del periodo infantile e i fattori ambientali”, secondo quanto afferma l’autore. Non ci sono soltanto più di due generi, ma si può pensare e sostenere che addirittura ci siano tanti generi quante sono le stelle in cielo. E questo vale non solo per i generi ma anche per i sessi.
L’autore sostiene che negli USA ogni anno nascono circa 2000 bambini “intersessuali” a causa di varie combinazioni cromosomiche, non solo del tipo XX XY, oppure a varie dificienze ormonali o enzematiche. Callaghan spiega i diversi tipi e profili di intersessualità facendo anche precisi riferimenti ad un ambiente sociale in cui è presente il costante discrimine tra generi e ruoli. I soggetti intersessuali sono persone che sono costrette a fronteggiare fraintendimenti, errori di diagnosi, abbandoni e saparazioni coniugali, violenze fisiche e psicologiche, depressione. Eppure molti dei soggetti di cui Callaghan scrive sono soggetti che riescono a fare fronte a problemi del genere conservando speranze e certezze.
Gli esseri umani non hanno mai, comunque, fatta una netta divisione tra le due condizioni, nè hanno marginalizzato chi si colloca al di fuori dei queste due categorie. Callaghan nel suo libro indica una specie di alternativa alla netta distinzione tra i due sessi. Com’era il caso dell’antica cultura greca e del rinascimento, allorquando si sosteneva che i due sessi condividevano più caratteristiche comuni che differenze. In alcune culture non occidentali i soggetti intersessuali hanno ruoli specifici e svolgono funzioni ben precise, convivendo in armonia con il resto della società o, addirittura, hanno dei privilegi.
E’ inutile dire a questo punto che tutte le certezze a cui mi riferivo all’inizio di questo post vengono definitivamente abbattute. O almeno messe in discussione. Sono state mescolate e passate dal tavolo della scienza, con la quale Callaghan argomenta a pieno titolo, su altri tavoli, quali quello della religione, della famiglia, della società, dello stato, della morale e via dubitando. Se non sono affatto le apparenze esterne a fare tali un uomo o una donna, e se possiamo aspettarci interconnessioni impreviste ed imprevedibili, mi viene in mente allora che anche l’antica certezza di mia madre viene a cadere. La povera donna semplice e contadina, appartenente ad un altro secolo ed un altro millennio, soleva dire, quando voleva affermare certezze che la aiutassero a vivere: “Tutto è possibile su questa terra, tranne l’uomo incinto!”. “Mamma, non è più così. Ti sei sempre sbagliata. Oggi tutto è sempre possibile …”
La lettura di questo libro mi ha interessato per varie ragioni. La prima è che ormai so per certo che non sono quello che pensavo di essere. A dire il vero, non ci ho mai creduto, ma non ne avevo le prove. Almeno quelle scientifiche. La seconda riguarda gli altri. Intendo le altre persone con le quali ho avuto a che fare nel corso di questi anni vissuti sempre alla ricerca di una identità precisa. La terza è quella decisiva e concerne tutti gli uomini, intesi come esseri umani. Mai come in questo caso, infatti, le donne devono essere chiaramente citate e coinvolte: possiamo dare una risposta alla primordiale domanda di base:"chi siamo?". E la risposta ci spiazza, per così dire. Vale a dire "non" possiamo dire con certezza "chi" veramente siamo. Almeno per quanto riguarda il sesso.
Maschile/femminile, due opzioni di casella, ma una sola scelta. Tutto sbagliato, almeno secondo quanto pensa l’autore di questo recente libro Gerald N. Callahan , che oltre a scrivere libri è anche un patologo ed immunologo, ricercatore da trenta anni nel campo della biomedicina, nonchè professore alla State University dello stato americano del Colorado. Egli sostiene che la risposta alla domanda della casella non può essere univoca, maschio o femmina, deve essere multipla in quanto l’assetto sessuale binario è solo una errata presunzione, non un fatto. Dovrebbe essercene, insomma, un’altra: quella della “intersessualità”.
Si sa che nella teoria dei generi il concetto biologico e quello di genere sono due cose separate. Mentre i nostri sessi biologici sono fissati alla nascita, l’identità di genere “risulta dalla interazione di diversi fattori, quali la genetica, l’ambiente prenatale, gli ormoni pre e post natali, oltre ai fattori psico-sociali del periodo infantile e i fattori ambientali”, secondo quanto afferma l’autore. Non ci sono soltanto più di due generi, ma si può pensare e sostenere che addirittura ci siano tanti generi quante sono le stelle in cielo. E questo vale non solo per i generi ma anche per i sessi.
L’autore sostiene che negli USA ogni anno nascono circa 2000 bambini “intersessuali” a causa di varie combinazioni cromosomiche, non solo del tipo XX XY, oppure a varie dificienze ormonali o enzematiche. Callaghan spiega i diversi tipi e profili di intersessualità facendo anche precisi riferimenti ad un ambiente sociale in cui è presente il costante discrimine tra generi e ruoli. I soggetti intersessuali sono persone che sono costrette a fronteggiare fraintendimenti, errori di diagnosi, abbandoni e saparazioni coniugali, violenze fisiche e psicologiche, depressione. Eppure molti dei soggetti di cui Callaghan scrive sono soggetti che riescono a fare fronte a problemi del genere conservando speranze e certezze.
Gli esseri umani non hanno mai, comunque, fatta una netta divisione tra le due condizioni, nè hanno marginalizzato chi si colloca al di fuori dei queste due categorie. Callaghan nel suo libro indica una specie di alternativa alla netta distinzione tra i due sessi. Com’era il caso dell’antica cultura greca e del rinascimento, allorquando si sosteneva che i due sessi condividevano più caratteristiche comuni che differenze. In alcune culture non occidentali i soggetti intersessuali hanno ruoli specifici e svolgono funzioni ben precise, convivendo in armonia con il resto della società o, addirittura, hanno dei privilegi.
E’ inutile dire a questo punto che tutte le certezze a cui mi riferivo all’inizio di questo post vengono definitivamente abbattute. O almeno messe in discussione. Sono state mescolate e passate dal tavolo della scienza, con la quale Callaghan argomenta a pieno titolo, su altri tavoli, quali quello della religione, della famiglia, della società, dello stato, della morale e via dubitando. Se non sono affatto le apparenze esterne a fare tali un uomo o una donna, e se possiamo aspettarci interconnessioni impreviste ed imprevedibili, mi viene in mente allora che anche l’antica certezza di mia madre viene a cadere. La povera donna semplice e contadina, appartenente ad un altro secolo ed un altro millennio, soleva dire, quando voleva affermare certezze che la aiutassero a vivere: “Tutto è possibile su questa terra, tranne l’uomo incinto!”. “Mamma, non è più così. Ti sei sempre sbagliata. Oggi tutto è sempre possibile …”
November 19, 2009
This is a short read and I did learn some new things from this book. For a long time I've had a sort of fascination with (and doubt about) "gender" and that's grown since I was a child.
I don't remember how long it's been, but at some point I also became fascinated with hermaphrodites. Even though I've learned of the reality of hermaphrodites, human and otherwise, I understood it more as a sort of symbolism that was free of the confines of man or woman. I know my fascination with hermaphrodites didn't reflect reality and I sometimes wonder how normal people think of it. My main reason for looking into this book was to gain a more realistic idea of what intersex is (socially and emotionally).
The stories relayed in the book were very moving. One to a point I got so angry I was almost physically ill.
There was new knowledge in the book for me, but I was already more or less familiar with the genetic conditions. I've also already read Middlesex, which was mentioned in this book.
Since I'm already interested in the subject and just wanted to know more, the tone the author sometimes took didn't suit my tastes. Obviously, he wrote from the expectation of his readers being very new to the idea of more than two sexes. If there was any goal for this book it was to destroy the "two sexes". He wrote feeling, maybe knowing, that some people would still reject the notion.
Overall, I think he did do a great job. I got what I wanted out of the book. And, previously, I've read scattered information about intersex and genetic differences, but this kind of puts it all in one place. This book has a lot in it for how short it is.
I ended up giving it three stars. I may change my mind later. I just finished the book and I think I need more time to digest before I can decide. His tone in the book did get a little tiresome. There was also maybe more information than I was looking for. I sometimes felt like "this is overdoing it". I feel thoroughly educated though.
I don't remember how long it's been, but at some point I also became fascinated with hermaphrodites. Even though I've learned of the reality of hermaphrodites, human and otherwise, I understood it more as a sort of symbolism that was free of the confines of man or woman. I know my fascination with hermaphrodites didn't reflect reality and I sometimes wonder how normal people think of it. My main reason for looking into this book was to gain a more realistic idea of what intersex is (socially and emotionally).
The stories relayed in the book were very moving. One to a point I got so angry I was almost physically ill.
There was new knowledge in the book for me, but I was already more or less familiar with the genetic conditions. I've also already read Middlesex, which was mentioned in this book.
Since I'm already interested in the subject and just wanted to know more, the tone the author sometimes took didn't suit my tastes. Obviously, he wrote from the expectation of his readers being very new to the idea of more than two sexes. If there was any goal for this book it was to destroy the "two sexes". He wrote feeling, maybe knowing, that some people would still reject the notion.
Overall, I think he did do a great job. I got what I wanted out of the book. And, previously, I've read scattered information about intersex and genetic differences, but this kind of puts it all in one place. This book has a lot in it for how short it is.
I ended up giving it three stars. I may change my mind later. I just finished the book and I think I need more time to digest before I can decide. His tone in the book did get a little tiresome. There was also maybe more information than I was looking for. I sometimes felt like "this is overdoing it". I feel thoroughly educated though.
September 26, 2012
As an aspiring sex therapist, it is really important for me to be aware of the many issues people face with their sexual identities and identifications. I immediately appreciated Callahan’s tone as he described this “myth” that we are all born either male or female. This is so obviously untrue, but as a society we have worked hard to maintain this image, and because of this, many people have suffered.
I honestly had no idea that intersexuality was as common as it is. I also never knew that there were so many ways in which a person can be intersex, and that the spectrum was so wide and varied. At times the book became a little too technical for me, so the parts I enjoyed most were the stories from people with various intersex backgrounds as well as Callahan’s discussions of how different cultures understand intersexuality.
I will leave you with the following quote from Callahan:
“Intersex people are not a few freakish, unfortunate outliers. They are instead the most complete demonstration of our humanity… We, as a society, are very hard on people who don’t fit out preconceptions, especially our preconceptions about sex. What intersex people have shown us is the truth about ll of us. There are infinite chemical and cellular pathways to becoming human. Because of that, no two of us are now, or ever were, identical. Sex isn’t a switch we can easily flip between two poles. Between those two imaginary poles lies an infinite number of possibilities. Somewhere within that infinity is where you will find each of us. Intersex people have shown us that. We should be grateful. Because they are not bound by the traditional ropes of our traditions, they have shown us that we can untie the knots that bind us to our own preconceptions and begin to live freer lives,” (Callahan, 2009, p. 163).
I honestly had no idea that intersexuality was as common as it is. I also never knew that there were so many ways in which a person can be intersex, and that the spectrum was so wide and varied. At times the book became a little too technical for me, so the parts I enjoyed most were the stories from people with various intersex backgrounds as well as Callahan’s discussions of how different cultures understand intersexuality.
I will leave you with the following quote from Callahan:
“Intersex people are not a few freakish, unfortunate outliers. They are instead the most complete demonstration of our humanity… We, as a society, are very hard on people who don’t fit out preconceptions, especially our preconceptions about sex. What intersex people have shown us is the truth about ll of us. There are infinite chemical and cellular pathways to becoming human. Because of that, no two of us are now, or ever were, identical. Sex isn’t a switch we can easily flip between two poles. Between those two imaginary poles lies an infinite number of possibilities. Somewhere within that infinity is where you will find each of us. Intersex people have shown us that. We should be grateful. Because they are not bound by the traditional ropes of our traditions, they have shown us that we can untie the knots that bind us to our own preconceptions and begin to live freer lives,” (Callahan, 2009, p. 163).
November 2, 2016
I received this book from Net Galley exchange for a fair review.
This book was a reasonable attempt to tackle a hard subject, especially at this juncture, in the USA. Embracing the many possible scientific intricacies of intersex individuals, the uneducated absurdities of laws like the bathroom laws in North Carolina will be easily appreciated by anyone reading the book.
I enjoyed the cultural examples of acceptance of non-binary gender perceptions in South Asia and Native American/Indigenous peoples, although I'm not sure that I agree with the almost Disney World version of hijiras presented here. (Yes, hijiras are legally a third gender in Indian subcontinent countries. But does that help you if you can only vote if you are male or female?)
The case studies, some already well known, were interesting but I longed for some examples of a happy outcome, of a family that gave a child a gender neutral name, didn't do surgery, let the child figure themselves out. Surely by now there are such cases. I think families trying to understand an intersex child also need case studies of successes. It's that lack that bothered me. The dramatic stories of hardship garner our sympathy but I wanted this book to shine light on a better path. And with that in mind, I was saddened to arrive at the end and find there were still statements that seemed inherently conflictual with all Callahan had shown us. After all this, it's still an expert opinion to (paraphrasing) "make a choice as to male or female, but don't choose wrong, because many people choose wrong and mess up their child emotionally and physically." Wasn't the message all along to let your child decide? That the child knows who they are?
This book was a reasonable attempt to tackle a hard subject, especially at this juncture, in the USA. Embracing the many possible scientific intricacies of intersex individuals, the uneducated absurdities of laws like the bathroom laws in North Carolina will be easily appreciated by anyone reading the book.
I enjoyed the cultural examples of acceptance of non-binary gender perceptions in South Asia and Native American/Indigenous peoples, although I'm not sure that I agree with the almost Disney World version of hijiras presented here. (Yes, hijiras are legally a third gender in Indian subcontinent countries. But does that help you if you can only vote if you are male or female?)
The case studies, some already well known, were interesting but I longed for some examples of a happy outcome, of a family that gave a child a gender neutral name, didn't do surgery, let the child figure themselves out. Surely by now there are such cases. I think families trying to understand an intersex child also need case studies of successes. It's that lack that bothered me. The dramatic stories of hardship garner our sympathy but I wanted this book to shine light on a better path. And with that in mind, I was saddened to arrive at the end and find there were still statements that seemed inherently conflictual with all Callahan had shown us. After all this, it's still an expert opinion to (paraphrasing) "make a choice as to male or female, but don't choose wrong, because many people choose wrong and mess up their child emotionally and physically." Wasn't the message all along to let your child decide? That the child knows who they are?
Read
September 4, 2009Between XX and XY - Gerald Callahan
We read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides in book club. What defines a person's gender? This book details a range of 'intersex' gender that is far wider and more common than is usually understood.
The book is an interesting mix by turns of biology, history, human behavior, medical and surgical text, personal history, animal behavior, cultural anthropology, medical ethics and opinion, all in one compact package. This is a good reference source, clear as an introduction that can get pretty technical at times. The science portions of this book were very strong, with the author showing how today's scientific 'fact' is often soon replaced with a better understanding. I was astounded with all of the things that have only recently been learned.
The author does have a perspective, largely balanced, and always clear in the few parts where he expresses a point of view.
If you have an interest in an open examination of the continuum of human sexual existence give this book a look. I found it an important read.
My one small request for a later addition would be to have a few pages about the variety of sexuality that exist in what has traditionally been put in the category of 'normal'.
We read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides in book club. What defines a person's gender? This book details a range of 'intersex' gender that is far wider and more common than is usually understood.
The book is an interesting mix by turns of biology, history, human behavior, medical and surgical text, personal history, animal behavior, cultural anthropology, medical ethics and opinion, all in one compact package. This is a good reference source, clear as an introduction that can get pretty technical at times. The science portions of this book were very strong, with the author showing how today's scientific 'fact' is often soon replaced with a better understanding. I was astounded with all of the things that have only recently been learned.
The author does have a perspective, largely balanced, and always clear in the few parts where he expresses a point of view.
If you have an interest in an open examination of the continuum of human sexual existence give this book a look. I found it an important read.
My one small request for a later addition would be to have a few pages about the variety of sexuality that exist in what has traditionally been put in the category of 'normal'.
May 6, 2015
This somewhat recent book gives a good overview of intersexuality, especially given its short length. Well, let me qualify that by saying I'm a cis-male who had nearly no prior knowledge of the topic.
Of course, it suffers in places. For example, most of the real life examples fall under the umbrella of the "tragic trans" narrative. Still, they provide understanding, hope, and sometimes horror at way some people can so completely dehumanize others.
An early chapter on human development struck me as a great chapter to stick in high school sex-ed textbook.
The strengths of this book outweigh the little weaknesses. My overall takeaway was one of better understanding, and complete confusion at how anyone who looks into the diversity of human life can dismess others based on gender or sexuality.
Of course, it suffers in places. For example, most of the real life examples fall under the umbrella of the "tragic trans" narrative. Still, they provide understanding, hope, and sometimes horror at way some people can so completely dehumanize others.
An early chapter on human development struck me as a great chapter to stick in high school sex-ed textbook.
The strengths of this book outweigh the little weaknesses. My overall takeaway was one of better understanding, and complete confusion at how anyone who looks into the diversity of human life can dismess others based on gender or sexuality.
December 3, 2016
We were away over Thanksgiving week. When our accumulated mail was delivered, it included this book as a goodreads win and our weekly copy of the magazine Nature. The Nature had a article titled "A Bird with Four Sexes." I guess this was the week for me to learn that there are more possibilities than male and female.
This is a short book probably written with a person like me in mind-- someone who is open minded but knows almost nothing about intersexuality. The book is a bit choppy without a smooth story arc, but Gerald Callahan imparts a lot of information in 163 pages of narration. It is well worth the short time it takes to read it. The "Resources" section at the back points the reader to books and websites where the reader can learn more.
This is a short book probably written with a person like me in mind-- someone who is open minded but knows almost nothing about intersexuality. The book is a bit choppy without a smooth story arc, but Gerald Callahan imparts a lot of information in 163 pages of narration. It is well worth the short time it takes to read it. The "Resources" section at the back points the reader to books and websites where the reader can learn more.
August 21, 2009
I want to give this more stars - it is a very readable, very interesting introduction to many forms of intersex conditions. Unfortunately, some of the scientific information is incorrect and/or poorly written throughout. For someone who is interested in learning about intersex conditions, and won't likely remember every scientific detail, this would be a good book. I wanted it to be great, as I really wanted to use it in a class I teach. Unfortunately, the factual errors will prevent me from assigning it to students. Hopefully a second printing will include factual corrections.
It IS a highly readable, very interesting book on an important topic that everyone should be aware of.
It IS a highly readable, very interesting book on an important topic that everyone should be aware of.
September 16, 2009
I loved this book. It was very interesting to not only read about different variations of sex chromosomes in people, but to read first-hand accounts from people with these variations. Seeing how these people were affected by decisions made for them by surgeons and parents and how these decisions shaped their lives physically and mentally was very eye-opening.
I also enjoyed reading about other cultures and how they view intersex people compared to our culture. The sections on the role of sex in other species was also very interesting.
Really makes you re-think how we look at gender. How is gender really determined?
I also enjoyed reading about other cultures and how they view intersex people compared to our culture. The sections on the role of sex in other species was also very interesting.
Really makes you re-think how we look at gender. How is gender really determined?
September 21, 2009
This book really opened my eyes to the amazing genetic and physical diversity that exists in the human sexes . There were also interesting chapters on how other cultures perceive the sexes and how intersex people feel about their own situations. The book is very clearly written and not overly technical. I gave it five stars because this is an area I knew very little about and I came away from this book thinking, "Wow!" I don't think anyone could read this and not be amazed at how little is openly discussed in our culture about gender/sex variability and how damaging this is, to the people who have such differences and even to those of us who are supposedly "normal."
November 30, 2016
This book is very problematic. The author is obviously an outsider, who lacks gender and sexuality 101 knowledge. The first part of the book was devoted to sex (the act) and the author could really use some education on the different between intersex/ transgender and sex/ gender. The "personal stories" throughout the book felt clinical and not personal at all. Quite frankly, this book made me sick to read and I would not recommend it. I think this book would be triggering to a lot of people and there's much better books to get (more researched and accurate) information from.
August 3, 2009
An informative, positive primer on intersexuality. After a historical survey of Western ideas toward the two sexes since the ancient Greeks, it gives the causes, common responses to, and results of many conditions of ambiguous sexuality, drawing also of interviews which personalize the subject. As a pathologist, the author explains the medical and genetic material very clearly. There are also some examples of the ways different cultures have dealt with intersexual people.
March 31, 2016
Students LOVED this book- everyone should read this...if you think that there are only 2 sexes out there and everyone fits into one or the other...
You'd be surprised to know that intersex conditions are more common than colorblindness, more common than cystic fibrosis...they're just talked about much less often. This book discusses both the biological and psychological factors involved in the 'making of gender' and addresses why our society has such a hard time with anomalies. Great read!
You'd be surprised to know that intersex conditions are more common than colorblindness, more common than cystic fibrosis...they're just talked about much less often. This book discusses both the biological and psychological factors involved in the 'making of gender' and addresses why our society has such a hard time with anomalies. Great read!
August 29, 2013
I have mixed feelings about this book.
At times the author acts like you've never had a single biology class in high school, and that you believe obvious metaphors and hyperbole about the sexes as literal truth. He plays along with what "you" believe before explaining why "you" are wrong.
Once it got to things I did not already know, the authors presumption of my total ignorance was nowhere near as grating and his information and explanations were interesting and informative.
At times the author acts like you've never had a single biology class in high school, and that you believe obvious metaphors and hyperbole about the sexes as literal truth. He plays along with what "you" believe before explaining why "you" are wrong.
Once it got to things I did not already know, the authors presumption of my total ignorance was nowhere near as grating and his information and explanations were interesting and informative.
February 15, 2014
This book successfully accomplishes its desired goal, which is basically to convey the complexity of biological sex. It explains different genetic origins which lead to offspring of ambiguous sex, and the problems with how modern medicine/society acts in the face of this ambiguity. I previously felt that I had no knowledge about trans issues, but I now feel that I have enough knowledge to state my arguments with confidence. Definitely worthwhile to anyone who's curious on this topic.
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