textbook photos

[Betsy]

About a month ago I received a call from someone updating a human sexuality textbook used in undergrad studies. They called looking for "medicalized" photos...you know the kind: eyes blacked out, big adult hands holding down a little reluctant body.

Ironically, the caller said the new chapter is very sympathetic to intersex people and the need to eliminate shame and secrecy.

I explained to the publisher that I felt those types of photos were totally inappropriate, particularly given what they indicated about the chapter. Photos like that only serve to further marginalize, and fail to illustrate who intersexed people are: real people with real lives and real concerns. The conversation wrapped up with me suggesting they use regular photos of intersex people, much like the ones we use for ourselves in our avatars and in our lives. My point was that we are regular people simply trying to get past the shame and secrecy and damage medicine has done to us. Thankfully, the person who was working on tracking down the medicalized photos saw my point during that conversation.

Well, she called back this evening and the editors of the book finally agree that my suggestion is better than ugly medicalized photos. So...you know where I am heading here:

Got photos?

Want to be in a college level textbook representing real intersex people? I haven't actually returned her call yet as I got it late this evening but expect that's what she is looking for. Think about it, and if you are interested, let me know and I will forward you the details once I have them. I imagine it wll involve signing a form indicating that any photo you submit is of you, and you have permission to use it, and give them reprint rights, blah blah blah.

Betsy

[lost]

hi betsy ,
I read somewhere recently , maybe even here , that in old medical texts , intersexed people had there faces blotted out .
this article went on to say that the only photos with blotted out faces were of intersexed people.
Is that true?
If that is true ,,,it would explain why I wasn't treated like a real person by doctors.
If they don't have faces,,,,, I will gladly give them mine .
I'm ready for my close-up mr.divil ,,,, lol :)

[miriam]

Well said, Betsy. I love the idea but I want to read that ‘very sympathetic’ chapter before I can say yes.

Groeten, Miriam

http://www.mvdh.org/mir/

[Billie Q.]

Originally posted by lost
I read somewhere recently , maybe even here , that in old medical texts , intersexed people had there[their] faces blotted out .


Yes, "lost," it's true. I remember as a child, when my mom entered nursing school, perusing her old text books.

I remember that the faces of IS people, pictured with just a black strip over the eyes, relegated the "hermaphrodites" to a sexual area, not occupied by the other "freaks." Giants, then-called "dwarfs," and other people born with different hormonal/endocrinal effects, were shown full-face. All except the IS people. Made one feel "sneaky" or "dirty" for looking at such photos.

Bets, the direction you steered that textbook in is great. Show IS people as being just that -- people! People we all know, and love.

[lost]

hiya billie,,,
how's it going today? I am great.
wow the texts. unbelievable hey ? But it makes me feel good about hearing that . just for the simple fact that it explains why things are the way they are , today. I wonder how it all got started? when was the first medical text printed , showing intersexed people?And why did they do that to only us?

I am so glad we have betsy up front speaking for us.:)

p.s. - i will try to be better at spelling , I'm sure I will improve once I can type with more than two fingers and don't have to stare at the keyboard ,,,lol :) , but thank-you for the spelling lesson anyway.
Have a great day all.............

[Billie Q.]

Originally posted by lost
hiya billie,,,
how's it going today? I am great.
wow the texts. unbelievable hey ?. . .
I am so glad we have betsy up front speaking for us.:). . . thank-you for the spelling lesson. . .


Hi Jesse! I'm better, recuperating from knee surgery twelve days ago, and thanks very much for asking. Hope this note finds you well. It wasn't fun, but it had to be done (Hey! I made a rhyme!)

As for a spelling lesson, it wasn't intended that way. Quoted remarks become part of my written remarks, and I'm loathe to let any spelling/grammatical errors get past me, if I can help it (and I make plenty, you can be sure!).

Yes, Betsy is a very special woman. The historian in me really appreciates the work she and Bodies is doing -- it's making history, I think; changing the dreadful, dark "freak-show" past to something bright and hopeful.

PS I should have expressed in my earlier post that those old textbooks sought to protect the privacy and identity of IS people through using those black strips. The only other group that got the "black stripe treatment" were those with venereal diseases.

[Betsy]

I've read a copy of the chapter and it is fine...there are a couple of odd things about it that makes it seem like the chapter is dated but their focus on eliminating IGM and changing the concealment centered protocol is right-on.

It's only one photo they are looking for. If you are still interested, let me know off line and send a hi-res photo when you do.

Betsy

[lost]

hiya billie ,
first thing I want to say is sorry about the" teaching lesson " , comment.
i'm so defencive sometimes, but mainly was just making fun of my two finger typing . no biggie.
sorry to hear about your knee, hope it doesn't hurt to much .

Yes , I realize that the stripes where there to protect identities of the intersexed people.but who wanted them put there ? Protect their identities from what?
And if medical students are learning from those textbooks , about us , and we are depicted as people that should be hidden.then they will try to hide us , or "fix us ".
Here's a thought. You know those commercials about starving children in eastern countries ? have you ever noticed how they make sure those kids are looking straight into the camera, and when I start to feel compassion for them is when I am looking straight into those big beautiful brown eyes....and that connection is made that this is a real little person ,,, and she is hurting and needs help.i don't think I'd be half as compassionate if i couldn't see their faces.
watch for one when your watchin tv. and make a donation while your at it lol....

[Billie Q.]

Originally posted by lost
hiya billie ,
first thing I want to say is sorry about the" teaching lesson " , comment.
i'm so defencive sometimes, but mainly was just making fun of my two finger typing . no biggie.
sorry to hear about your knee, hope it doesn't hurt to much .

Yes , I realize that the stripes where there to protect identities of the intersexed people.but who wanted them put there ? Protect their identities from what?
And if medical students are learning from those textbooks , about us , and we are depicted as people that should be hidden.then they will try to hide us , or "fix us ". . .


Hi Jesse! I am a little late getting to this, but there are great lessons and tests at:

Thanks for the good wishes about my knee. Your question concerning the history of "black-stripe" medical photos is an interesting one; perhaps I'll dig into that one of these days.

PS I'm too poor to donate to the E. Europe kids; I can only donate to "Bodies," right now:)

[Wyn]

If they want REAL photos of REAL IS people, I'll volunteer. As long as I get to keep my clothes on. I believe that I was photographed - naked - as a child for a 'follow up' examination (to 'prove' that my assignment was correct - *NOT*) - who knows where they ended up! So now is the time to set the record straight!