Queer Embodiment: Monstrosity, Medical Violence, and Intersex Experience

Merging critical theory, autobiography, and sexological archival research, Hil Malatino explores how and why intersexuality became an anomalous embodiment requiring correction and how contesting this pathologization can promote medical reform and human rights for intersex and trans people.
 

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Queer Embodiment is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complex and multifaceted concept of queer embodiment. By merging critical theory, autobiography, and sexological archival research, the book offers insightful perspectives on what it means to have a legible body in the Western world. In her exploration, Hil Malatino uncovers the historical trajectory of intersexuality, revealing how it has been perceived as an anomalous embodiment that necessitates correction. Through her compelling narrative, Malatino challenges this pathologization and advocates for medical reform and human rights for intersex and trans individuals.

Malatino meticulously traces the institutional and interpersonal failures to dignify non-sexually dimorphic bodies, highlighting how the ontology of gender difference developed by modern sexologists conflicts with embodied experiences. She exposes how gender-normalizing practices, initiated within clinical settings, are further amplified through mechanisms of institutional exclusion and Eurocentric cultures' cis-centric and bio-normative notions of sexuality, reproductive capacity, romantic partnerships, and kinship. Queer Embodiment presents intersexuality as the conceptual center of queerness, serving as a framework through which nonnormative genders and desires have been historically understood. By combining personal accounts with archival evidence, the book offers a comprehensive portrayal of intersexuality, challenging prevailing notions of sexed selfhood and advocating for a reimagining of gender as a fluid and dynamic process that transcends restrictive binary logic.

Through her profound analysis, Malatino sheds light on the intricate ways in which societal norms, medical practices, and philosophical frameworks have perpetuated discrimination and marginalization against intersex and trans individuals. Queer Embodiment serves as a powerful call to action, urging readers to reconsider the medical, scientific, and philosophical discourse on intersexuality that underpins contemporary understandings of sexed selfhood. By embracing a more inclusive and nuanced perspective, we can cultivate a deeper understanding of gender as a process of becoming that exceeds rigid binary constructs.

In conclusion, Queer Embodiment is a groundbreaking work that offers a profound exploration of queer embodiment. By merging critical theory, autobiography, and sexological archival research, Hil Malatino provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding intersexuality and gender identity. Through her compelling narrative and insightful analysis, the book challenges prevailing notions of sexed selfhood and advocates for a more inclusive and equitable society. Queer Embodiment is a must-read for anyone interested in gender studies, queer theory, and the intersection of medicine, science, and philosophy.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496229076