Thanks, Ron. Yes, peeing standing up is the criterion used. I was
referring to the remarks made by Ariel. Fausto-Sterling's book is
excellent. You might in addition wish to check out Suzanne Kessler's,
Lesson from the Intersexed (Rutger's, 1998). Are you doing work on
intersexuality at present? If so, I'd love to hear about it. You know
where I can be reached.
Best, Shelley
Ron Amundson wrote:
>
> Anne Fausto-Sterling's new book _Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the
> Construction of Sexuality_ is now out, mostly about intersexuality and the
> artificiality of the sexual dichotomy. I just got a copy, but I've read a
> lot of her earlier work on the subject. She reports that the criterion for
> whether to surgically remove a small penis is not its function in vaginal
> penetration, but peeing standing up! So "functioning as a male" means peeing
> against a wall. I suppose there is a certain height up the wall that one
> must be able to wet. There is a definite bias towards the "production" of
> (supposed) females in this practice, is summarized in the medical slogan
> "It's easier to poke a hole than to build a pole". (An actual quotation, not
> my crude joke.)
>
> Ron
> --
> Ron Amundson
> University of Hawaii at Hilo
> Hilo, HI 96720
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shelley Tremain" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, September 04, 2000 7:07 AM
> Subject: Re: transgender and disability
>
> > I hear ya, Laurence.
> >
> > I take it that in the remarks below "functioning as a male" means
> > performing in penile-vaginal penetration, that is, heterosexual
> > intercourse. I take it, furthermore, that "functioning as a woman"
> > means being the "receptor" in this exchange. The suggestion is that if
> > one can't 'properly' penetrate (i.e, function as a male), then, one
> > should be made into a receptor (i.e., a functioning woman). Thus,
> > resources should be mobilized to excise the pathetic penis and a vagina
> > should be constructed that will do the trick. This surgical mutilation,
> > furthermore, should be complemented with a life-long regimen of chemical
> > control.
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