How the Clinic Made Gender

More about the book

The evolution of the concept of gender in American medicine is explored through its transformation from a pragmatic tool for classifying intersex children in the 1950s to a pivotal category in transgender healthcare by the 1960s, and its role in feminist discourse in the 1970s. Sandra Eder examines the complex and often contentious history surrounding gender, revealing that its meanings were shaped by clinical practices and patient experiences. The narrative highlights the messy interplay between medicalization and societal understanding of gender, emphasizing its lasting impact on contemporary views.