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Sex Variants: A Study of Homosexual Patterns
- GenresQueer
1130 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1948
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December 6, 2021
If you are someone with an interest in general GLBT history as well as the medical treatment of the community over time, this book is essential. Yes, it’s a dictionary-sized medical textbook, but the case studies are so fascinating, I zipped through it like a good novel. And I do not formally study science.
First, you get detailed snapshots of the lives of gays, lesbians, & bisexuals in the 1930s. Each subject has a section on general impressions, family background, personal history, physical examination, and doctor’s comments. The histories are written in first person, almost transcript style, so at times it really feels as if you are sitting in a room with a queer person in the 1930s. You also get a vivid snapshot of medical views and treatment of queer people in the early 20th century. Lots of Freudian stuff, lots of evaluating levels of supposed masculinity and femininity, & lots of patriarchal bias that the clinicians seem blind to.
The actual “scientific” value of the book is pretty non-existent, but its historical value is priceless. Especially considering the dearth of material about the regular lives of queer people in the early 20th century. There are also many disturbing things here, especially in the physical exams. For some reason the women’s genitals were paid MUCH more attention than the men’s. (Hmmm....) Each woman’s vulva was intricately measured and sketched. Do lesbians have larger clitorises? How many fingers can a doctor fit inside the average lesbian or bi lady? Yeah, it gets very very uncomfortable. But despite its flaws, or even sometimes because of them, this is a book I continue to find fascinating.
First, you get detailed snapshots of the lives of gays, lesbians, & bisexuals in the 1930s. Each subject has a section on general impressions, family background, personal history, physical examination, and doctor’s comments. The histories are written in first person, almost transcript style, so at times it really feels as if you are sitting in a room with a queer person in the 1930s. You also get a vivid snapshot of medical views and treatment of queer people in the early 20th century. Lots of Freudian stuff, lots of evaluating levels of supposed masculinity and femininity, & lots of patriarchal bias that the clinicians seem blind to.
The actual “scientific” value of the book is pretty non-existent, but its historical value is priceless. Especially considering the dearth of material about the regular lives of queer people in the early 20th century. There are also many disturbing things here, especially in the physical exams. For some reason the women’s genitals were paid MUCH more attention than the men’s. (Hmmm....) Each woman’s vulva was intricately measured and sketched. Do lesbians have larger clitorises? How many fingers can a doctor fit inside the average lesbian or bi lady? Yeah, it gets very very uncomfortable. But despite its flaws, or even sometimes because of them, this is a book I continue to find fascinating.
Displaying 1 of 1 review