In this Book
- Sex Science Self: A Social History of Estrogen, Testosterone, and Identity
- Book
- 2016
- Published by: University of Massachusetts Press
summary
In Sex Science Self, Bob Ostertag cautions against accepting and defending any technology uncritically—even, maybe even especially, a technology that has become integrally related to identity. Specifically, he examines the development of estrogen and testosterone as pharmaceuticals.
Ostertag situates this history alongside the story of an increasingly visible and political lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population. He persuasively argues that scholarship on the development of sex hormone chemicals does not take into account LGBT history and activism, nor has work in LGBT history fully considered the scientific research that has long attempted to declare a chemical essence of gender. In combining these histories, Ostertag reveals the complex motivations behind hormone research over generations and expresses concern about the growing profits from estrogen and testosterone, which now are marketed with savvy ad campaigns to increase their use across multiple demographics.
Ostertag does not argue against the use of pharmaceutical hormones. Instead he points out that at a time when they are increasingly available, it is more important than ever to understand the history and current use of these powerful chemicals so that everyone—within the LGBT community and beyond—can make informed choices.
In this short, thoughtful, and engaging book, Ostertag tells a fascinating story while opening up a wealth of new questions and debates about gender, sexuality, and medical treatments.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Acknowledgments
- pp. ix-x
- Introduction
- pp. 1-21
- 1. Before Pharmaceuticals
- pp. 22-49
- 4. The Estrogen Mess
- pp. 73-84
- 5. The Testosterone Comeback
- pp. 85-93
- 7. Brain Organization Theory
- pp. 108-133
- 8. The Contemporary Landscape
- pp. 134-144
- Conclusion
- pp. 145-168
Additional Information
ISBN
9781613764213
Related ISBN(s)
9781625342126
MARC Record
OCLC
963580306
Pages
208
Launched on MUSE
2016-11-24
Language
English
Open Access
No