As Nature Made Him

[Silver]

Just went to my library and well, sat there and read for a few hours. Found As Nature Made Him by John Colapinto.

I thought it was interesting, and feel (like he did, but most likely with less severity than he) like a great injustice was done to me. Recommend it for FTMs, and anyone else read it?

[Renate]

... anyone else read it?

Of course, that's quite a famous book.
It was a big black mark for John Money and the "nurture over nature" gang.

As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl (2001) - John Colapinto * Amazon * WorldCat

[Silver]

Of course, that's quite a famous book.
It was a big black mark for John Money and the "nurture over nature" gang.

I should've expected that. Oh well, it was still a good read. I didn't find anything about it on the boards.

[Arch]

One thing that bothers me about this book is how transphobes used it to justify their position that you can't change people's sex (genitals) and make them over into the opposite sex. Therefore, transsexuals are sicko perverts who are meddling with nature.

Is there an updated edition with a coda about his death?

[Cowboi]

One thing that bothers me about this book is how transphobes used it to justify their position that you can't change people's sex (genitals) and make them over into the opposite sex. Therefore, transsexuals are sicko perverts who are meddling with nature.

Is there an updated edition with a coda about his death?

Good point, that is annoying how they use that to justify their position. In reality it doesn't even make sense to use this against trans people. If the idea is that you can't change someone's genitals to make them a certain sex then that has to come from the fact that the author was "mentally" male. Wouldn't that mean that we are just as likely mentally male/female and so changing our bodies is actually correcting the issue? Silly one sided people.

I too am interested in rather or not an updated edition was put out. Where the heck would you look to find something like that out? A basic internet search or or is there something easier than wadding through one million websites lol.

[Just Kate]

The book (well the experiment itself) has been used to justify both ends of the trans spectrum for those advocating a genetic component to those who believe it to be environmental.

I just feel terribly for the guy - doctors should not play god.  It is too bad he couldn't fully recover from the psychological damage it did to him.

[LordKAT]

Yes, suicide is a very sad ending for what could have been a very different ending without the meddling.

[Hurtfulsplash]

Hmm, I gotta read this book.