Law, Gender Identity, and the Brain

Aileen Kennedy is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney and the Chair of Intersex Human Rights Australia.

• Acknowledgements ix1 Introduction 1Introduction 1Legal Focus: Why These Cases? 2Structure 4Terminology 7Comparing Trans and Intersex Issues 11Critiquing Biomedical Research 14Conclusion 15Reference List 16Articles/Books/Reports 16Cases 17Legislation 17Other 172 Sex, Gender, and Gender Identity 18Introduction 18Biological Determinism 19The Sex/Gender Distinction 21Current Clashes 23Examining the Sex/Gender Gap 30Embodiment and Feminism 32Static Biology and Dynamic Culture 33The Search for ‘True Sex’ in the Body 37The Move From a One-Sex to a Two-Sex Body 37Finding Sex in the Hermaphroditic Body 38Conclusion 50Reference List 51Articles/Books/Reports 51Cases 55Other 553 Brain-Sex Binary Theories 57Introduction 57Brain Sex and Gender Identity 59What is Gender Identity? 61Brain-Sex Binary and Brain Organisation Theories 70Sex Differences in the Brain 77Introduction 77Brain Plasticity 78Inconsistencies and False-Positive Findings 82The Resilience of Stereotypes 85Research on Animals 88Understanding Difference 89Neuroculture and the Cerebral Subject 93Conclusion 95Reference List 96Articles/Books/Reports 96Cases 103Other 1034 Intersex Variations 104Introduction 104What is Intersex? 106Intersex and Medicalisation 110DSD Protocols 111Gender Identity 113Introduction 113Optimal Gender Theory and Practice 116Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia 121Intersex Variations That Impact on Fetal Androgens 123Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome 126Conclusion 127Current Medical Practices 129Introduction 129Genital Surgery 133‘Once and for All’ Treatments 143Sterilisation 144Medical Intervention and Gender Identity 148Conclusion 152Reference List 153Articles/Books/Reports 153Cases 159Legislation 159Other 1595 Transgender in the Australian Family Court 161Introduction 161Legal Framework: Consent 163Special Medical Jurisdiction 164Coercive Sterilisation Cases 167Marion’s Case 167Gender Identity and Gender Dysphoria 170Medical Approaches to Trans Identity in Minors 174The ‘Born This Way’ Narrative 178Re Alex 180Competing Theories of Trans 181Treatment: Therapeutic or Non-Therapeutic? 183Re Jamie 186Treatment: Therapeutic or Non-Therapeutic? 186Gender Dysphoria and Neurology 188Re Kelvin 189New Medical Evidence or Ideological Shifts? 191Conclusion 195Reference List 196Articles/Books/Reports 196Cases 200Legislation 201Other 2016 Intersex in the Australian Family Court 203Introduction 203The Principles and Values From Marion’s Case 204 Intersex and Gender Identity 208The Cases 211Re A (A Child) 211Re Lesley 213Re Sally 216Re Dylan 219Re Carla 219Re Kaitlin 222Conclusions on Judicial Attitudes to Gender Identity 223Fertility 225Judicial Process 228Conclusion 230Reference List 232Articles/Books/Reports 232Cases 234Other 2357 Conclusion 236Reference List 242Articles/Books/Reports 242Cases 242Index 243