Anatomical Expertise and the Hermaphroditic Body

Abstract

Her research interests include the history of the life sciences from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the history of sexuality, and the history of the book and of visual representations.

Gender reassignment surgery in the 18th century: A case study

“…In the 18th century, anatomists developed their skills in the search for the meaning of ambiguous genitalia, seeking to assign male or female bodies and legal rights to persons. There was skepticism about the category, although some anatomical evidence argued for its existence: one 18th-century dissection was of a body ‘female on the right side… male on the left’ (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 83). Other scholars denied the existence of hermaphrodites, regarding all such cases as women with ‘deformed genitals’ (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 80).…”

“…There was skepticism about the category, although some anatomical evidence argued for its existence: one 18th-century dissection was of a body ‘female on the right side… male on the left’ (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 83). Other scholars denied the existence of hermaphrodites, regarding all such cases as women with ‘deformed genitals’ (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 80). Mr Brand continued in this skeptical tradition, but with a novel claim: a child with erroneous female genitalia—a secret, hidden male.…”

“…Although some 18th-century anatomists allowed for the possibility of human hermaphrodites, others sought to distance themselves from ancient mythologies and ‘erase the concept and the figure of the hermaphrodite’ from the Enlightenment (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 81). Both surgeons and physicians could profit from successful anatomical demonstrations of ambiguous gender, and ‘these opportunities could have significant implications for their professional status and credibility’ (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 79). The theme of practice vs. theory informs Mr Brand’s views of hermaphrodism, which, for him, is based on empirical observation rather than Galenic or other models of gender.…”

“…Bell,’ and published in London in 1787 (Brand, 1787a). It is one of many 18th-century ‘meticulous anatomical descriptions of specific case histories associated with sexual ambiguity, often accompanied by visual representations.’ (Fontes da Costa, 2007: 79).…”