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

How Sex Changed charts the medical, social, and cultural history of transsexuality in 20th century America. The book begins in the 1930s with early medical cases and scientific research, then tracks developments through the post-WWII era into the 1990s. Dr. Meyerowitz examines the complex interactions between medical professionals, trans individuals, media coverage, and shifting public attitudes. She draws from medical archives, popular press accounts, correspondence between doctors and patients, and interviews with key figures from the trans community. Legal battles, scientific advances, changing views on gender, and the growth of trans activism form core narrative threads. The emergence of gender identity clinics, hormone treatments, and surgical procedures receive particular focus through a historical lens. This scholarly work explores fundamental questions about the nature of sex, gender, and identity while documenting how medical technology and cultural understanding evolved in tandem. The research illuminates broader themes about science, society, and human rights in modern America.

Readers value this book's detailed research and academic approach to trans history in America. Many note it provides context missing from other works, particularly around medical advances and social movements from 1950-1990. Positives from reviews: - Clear documentation of historical records and primary sources - Balanced coverage of medical, legal, and social aspects - Thorough examination of Christine Jorgensen's impact Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be difficult to follow - Limited coverage of trans men and non-binary people - Some readers wanted more personal narratives Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (128 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (22 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Fills gaps in LGBTQ history that needed addressing" - Goodreads reviewer "Too focused on medical institutions rather than lived experiences" - Amazon reviewer "Best historical overview of the subject, but not for casual readers" - LibraryThing review

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🔹 Christine Jorgensen, one of the first widely known American trans women, received over 20,000 letters from people seeking advice about gender identity after her story became public in 1952. 🔹 Author Joanne Meyerowitz discovered that as early as the 1930s, some American physicians were already performing gender-affirming surgeries, decades before it was commonly known. 🔹 The book reveals how World War II veterans played a crucial role in advancing transgender healthcare, as their demands for reconstructive surgery helped establish medical precedents. 🔹 The term "transsexual" was first popularized in English by Dr. David Cauldwell in 1949, though the concept existed in medical literature much earlier under different names. 🔹 Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin, which pioneered early transgender healthcare, was destroyed by the Nazis in 1933, setting back transgender medicine and research by decades.