Re: John/Joan case

[Beth Benoit]

Title: Re: John/Joan case

This summer I saw the film called "The Remarkable Story of John/Joan" at the APA.  It was packed, as you can imagine, and was interesting, with interviews with John (he rejected the "Joan"), and a very, very critical view of John Money, saying he wrote papers about how well adjusted "Joan" was, when in fact, Money treated the child with no sensitivity, interest or attention to incidents such as several adolescent suicide attempts.  As I recall, there was no interview with Money himself on the subject (although I am writing from an ever-more faulty memory!), but rather still shots and a few older interviews with him on the subject of gender changing. My impression of the film (for what it's worth) was that it was a little "light," with no pictures of John (his face was camouflaged).  The story was told with voice-overs showing a child model staging the peer rejection of poor "Joan," a very sad interview with John's mother, and some shots at the end of the movie showing John and his wife and adopted children (from behind and above, walking away from the camera).  There were still pictures of John Money and that "Hard Copy" technique of "walking" the camera down the halls of Johns Hopkins, to give the feeling John had when he had to return for examinations. Overall, it would be a thought-provoking addition to a class on gender, with stress on the nature/nurture controversy.  But I think the constraints of the characters involved hindered the presentation and prevented it from being a very strong film. I'm looking forward to seeing "Oprah" and "Good Morning America" that week.  But BEST OF ALL will be to see "our own" Stephen, et al., on "Dateline."  Thanks for the "heads up," Stephen!!  There will be a lot of VCRs set that night!! Beth Benoit University of Massachusetts Lowell Here's the info about the film: "The Remarkable Story of John/Joan" 30 minutes Produced by Canadian Broadcasting System. Distributed by Filmakers Library 124 E. 40th St. New York, NY 10016 Here's the APA scrib: "This films is a must see for anyone interested in gender and sexuality studies.  An 8-month-old baby, John, was the victim of an accidental circmcision that left him without a penis.  After consultation at Johns Hopkins, the family was encouraged to remove the testicles and raise the child as a girl believing nurture rather than nature created sexual identity.  The incredible struggle to find himself is a complex and touching story." ---------- From: Stephen Black <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: TIPS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: John/Joan case Date: Wed, Jan 26, 2000, 3:08 PM The John/Joan case is one of the most unusual and important in the field of sex research. John/Joan was a Canadian baby who had his penis burned off accidentally. Although a normal biological male, he was subsequently raised as a girl on the advice of the eminent sexologist, John Money. The apparent success of the case had an enormous influence on the clinical treatment of transsexuals. But it wasn't a success. As detailed in a follow-up paper by Milton Diamond and in a long article by John Colapinto in Rolling Stone magazine (I have references if anyone wants them), Joan was extremely unhappy in his female role. He eventually reverted to living as a male. This note is introduction to my reposting a note from Milton Diamond on the publication by Colapinto of a book expanding on his Rolling Stone article. Some might want to catch the rare TV appearances of the people involved. John Money is a notable exception. -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 21:12:13 -1000 From: Milton Diamond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For anyone interested in more on the John/Joan story. 1. John Colapinto, author of the Rolling Stone article will have his book on the case published 1 February by Harper Collins. [Title: As Nature Made Him] As part of the P.R. for the book: 2. Both Johns (J/J and Colapinto) will be interviewed on the Oprah show on 3 February (exact airing date may change).  J/J's wife and brother too might be on the program. 3. They will both be interviewed on Good Morning America also sometime that same or the following week. 4. They, Keith Sigmundson and I  will be interviewed on a  DateLine program airing the evening of 8 February. As far as I know, John Money was invited to participate and declined. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D.                      tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology                  fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University                    e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC            J1M 1Z7                       Canada     Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy            Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at:            http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/            ------------------------------------------------------------------------