Chapter 1. The Boy Who Was a Girl

Synopsis

Pauline Davey Zeece, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

What Are Little Children Made Of?

^{Are they boys or girls?}

What makes a child a boy or a girl? Around 1820, Robert Southey published the following nursery rhyme as part of a larger poem entitled What Folks Are Made Of:

What are little boys made of, made of?
What are little boys made of?
“Snips and snails and puppy dogs’ tails;
That's what little boys are made of.”

What are little girls made of, made of?
What are little girls made of?
“Sugar and spice and all things nice;
That's what little girls are made of.”

Gender Differences

Identity as a male or a female is a crucial component of self-concept and a major source of self-esteem. Social scientists typically distinguish between sex differences, which are biological, and gender differences, which are cultural. As with every nature-nurture distinction, social scientists recognize that the interaction between sex and gender sometimes makes it difficult to separate these influences from one another. Thus, experts, teachers, and parents may disagree about the various effects that biology and environment have on gender development. The number of theories of gender differences reflects the vast variety of views on gender and gender differences.

Theories of Gender Differences

Let us review a main aspect of each of five major theories about gender differences.

• Freudian theorists believe that gender differences are a result of unconscious, incestuous urges.

• Behaviorist theorists believe that gender differences are a result of social reinforcement.

• Cognitive theorists believe that gender differences may be attributed to immature categorization.

Gender Identity

Over the past 50 years, Erikson’s term, sexual identity, has been replaced by the term, gender identity. Gender identity refers to a person's self-definition as male or female and acceptance of the roles and behaviors that society associates with these biological categories. Gender identity often coincides with gender role and sexual orientation but not always.

David Reimer and and Dr. John Money

Another View

Dr. Milton Diamond, a professor of anatomy and reproductive biology, refuted Money’s Theory of Gender Neutrality with his findings on gender differences in rat brains. With the cooperation of Reimer's supervising psychiatrist, Dr. Diamond located the adult Reimer and found that Dr. Money’s sex reassignment of Reimer had failed. This case, which Diamond named “John/Joan” to protect Reimer's privacy, has become one of the most cited cases in the literature of psychiatry, psychology, women’s studies, child development, and biology of gender.

Play the video to learn about Brenda Reimer’s reaction to her gender identity and about Dr. Money’s response to reports on Brenda’s progress.

The End of the Story

Here are excerpts from David Reimer’s obituary as it was published in the Winnipeg Sun of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Monday, May 10, 2004.

A Winnipeg man who was born a boy but raised as a girl in a famous nurture-versus-nature experiment has died at the age of 38. David Reimer, who shared his story in the pages of a book and on the TV show Oprah, took his own life last Tuesday.

“He liked music. He liked jokes. He was a very funny guy,” said Janet, who spent Mother’s Day grieving the loss of her son. “He was so generous. He gave all he had.”

The funeral is today at 1 p.m. at Klassen Funeral Chapel.

Play the video to find out how David Reimer spent the last part of his life. As you watch the clip, think about the most important lessons that can be learned from his story.

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding