The Story
In 1965, healthy twin boys Brian and Bruce were born
At 7 months old the boys were sent in for a routine circumcision, however, the electrical equipment used malfunctioned and Bruce's entire penis was burnt off
Months later the boys' mother Janet Reimer contacts renowned sexologist, Dr Money, who suggested the Reimers bring up their son as a girl
Bruce was castrated, a vulva was created for him and Bruce became Brenda
However, Brenda behaved in a 'masculine' fashion and portrayed stereotypically 'masculine' traits such as liking fighting and hated playing with dolls and as a result, did not have many friends
This, along with the unethical methods of Dr Money left Brenda feeling suicidal
At 13, the twins learnt the truth and Brenda became a boy again, calling herself David
David received compensation money for his circumcision and paid for penis reconstruction
The twins in adulthood
Brian was angry with the news, leading to a mental disturbance which later developed into schizophrenia. After two failed marriages Brian overdosed on drugs (possibly a suicide attempt)
David was broke with no money and no education. As he grieved for Brian his wife asked for a short separation period leading David to shoot himself in a car park at 38 years old
Ethics
Dr Money was very unethical
He frequently spoke to her about her genitalia
He took photographs of the twins naked
He tried to persuade her to have a vagina constructed and have a 'baby-hole' made
At 7, he showed her graphic photographs of a woman giving birth
At 12, he strongly suggested that she take hormones to grow breasts
Gender Gate
Dr Money used Bruce/Brenda/David and other case studies to argue for a 'gender gate' up until the age of two where parents may choose the sex of the child as the upbringing of the child would affect the gender more than the physical characteristics
Dr Money received regular updates and the whole family would visit him once a year
Bruce/Brenda/David case was published as the Joan/John case when Brenda was five and the case became a sensation
Dr Money argues he was not responsible for the outcomes of David and Brian because the family did not make the decision until Bruce/Brenda/David was 18 months old, the end of the 'gender gate'
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