How Sex Changes: A History of Transsexuality in the United States

"How Sex Changes" traces the history of transsexuality and medical transitions in the United States from the mid-20th century through modern times. The book examines the social, medical, and legal developments that shaped transgender healthcare and identity formation. Through extensive research and primary sources, Fausto-Sterling documents key figures in trans history and the evolution of gender confirmation procedures. The narrative follows the emergence of gender clinics, hormone therapies, and surgical techniques, while exploring the complex relationships between doctors, patients, and medical institutions. The book analyzes shifting cultural attitudes toward gender identity and the role of medical authorities in defining and treating gender variance. Beyond mere chronology, it reveals how scientific understanding of sex and gender has transformed alongside social movements and changing paradigms of human identity. The work raises fundamental questions about the nature of gender, the authority of medicine, and the interplay between biology and identity. Its examination of these themes continues to resonate in contemporary discussions of transgender rights and healthcare.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Anne Fausto-Sterling's overall work: Readers appreciate Fausto-Sterling's ability to break down complex scientific concepts about sex and gender into understandable terms. Many cite her thorough research and extensive citations as key strengths, particularly in "Sexing the Body." Common praise focuses on how she exposes biases in scientific research about gender. One Goodreads reviewer noted: "She demonstrates how cultural assumptions shape the questions scientists ask and how they interpret data." Critics say her writing can be dense and academic, making it challenging for non-scholarly readers. Some reviewers found "Myths of Gender" repetitive and dated. A few readers disagree with her challenges to binary sex classification, viewing her positions as too radical. Ratings across platforms: - Sexing the Body: 4.2/5 on Goodreads (2,800+ ratings), 4.5/5 on Amazon (120+ ratings) - Myths of Gender: 4.1/5 on Goodreads (1,200+ ratings), 4.3/5 on Amazon (40+ ratings) - Sex/Gender: 4.0/5 on Goodreads (300+ ratings)

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Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community by Laura Erickson-Schroth A comprehensive resource covering medical, legal, cultural, and social aspects of transgender lives through firsthand accounts and expert contributions.

Second Skins: The Body Narratives of Transsexuality by Jay Prosser An analysis of transsexual narratives and autobiographies that explores the relationship between bodily experience and identity formation.

The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism, and Transgender Rights by Deborah Rudacille A blend of scientific research, historical documentation, and personal narratives that traces the evolution of gender identity concepts in medicine and society.

🔍 Author Anne Fausto-Sterling is a Brown University professor emerita who has devoted much of her career to challenging traditional scientific views about gender and sexuality. 💡 The book traces the medicalization of transgender identity from the early 20th century through the development of gender reassignment surgery and hormone treatments. 📚 Published in 2000, it was one of the first comprehensive academic works to examine both the medical and social history of transsexuality in America. 🏥 The book details how Johns Hopkins Hospital became the first American institution to perform gender reassignment surgeries in 1966, but later controversially closed its gender identity clinic in 1979. 🔬 Fausto-Sterling explores how the development of endocrinology and plastic surgery in the early-to-mid 1900s made medical transition possible, fundamentally changing how society viewed gender identity.