HW #1: Amin Reading Response

[cmccraw]

Please answer the questions following the quotations below from Kaji Amin’s article, citing the essay for support.

Post your answer as a response to this GitHub issue!

(1) [Lili is] the wrong figure to be honored as a foremother of today’s transgender movement. ... These surgeries ... are as much about rejuvenation as they are a means of changing the markers of Lili’s bodily sex: by obtaining the ovaries of a woman in her twenties, Lili becomes young again. These plot elements had to be significantly distorted so that Lili might become a transsexual ancestor for the present. (Amin 590, 592)

Does Amin make a compelling case for reading this narrative as more about rejuvenation therapy than transgender history? What is the advantage, for scholarship on transgender, of not reading Man into Woman as one of the “foundational moments in transgender history” (590)?

(2) In the glandular era, health, vigor, and clearly dimorphic gender are inseparable from bio-racial fitness. While an invert might be a degenerate, and sickly Andreas is pronounced better off dead, Lili, as an exemplar of youthful, vigorous, feminine European womanhood, is worthy of medical enhancement and the right to reproduce. (Amin 598)

Explain Amin’s argument for seeing Man into Woman as subscribing to eugenic beliefs.

(3) The centrality of rejuvenation’s eugenicist imaginary to both sexology and the German homosexual emancipation movement, however, risks falling out of endochronological accounts of homosexual or transgender history. (Amin 598)

According to Amin, what is the relationship between rejuvenation therapy and eugenics, and between rejuvenation therapy and homosexuality?

(4) “Endochronological” is Amin’s coinage, combining “endocrinology” and “chronology.”

Explain what Amin means by this term and his criticism of it.

(5) What is one historical fact you learned from this article that you found surprising or disturbing?

[meehanjm]

1.) I think Amin does make a compelling argument and that Lili's case could be looked upon as a kind of fringe case of rejuvenation therapy. I think the advantage of looking at her case this way is that instead of looking to the past and finding people who fit the narrative today, we could get a less biased picture. 2.) Man into Woman could be read as subscribing to eugenics as "inversion" and transvestism were seen as defective at the time and Lili underwent what could have been seen as treatment for this. 3.) Weak testicular glands were posited as a possible cause of homosexuality and it was believed that a healthy transplant might "cure" homosexuality. It was also believed that those healthy glands could be heritable. 4.) Endochronology is a term that attempts to deal with the development of gay, lesbian and transgender as related to the conditions of endocrinology over time. 5.) I was kind of saddened by the fact that Dr. Wernerkros' clinic was burnt by the Nazis.

[coconnell22]

1. Amin does make a compelling case for reading this narrative as more about rejuvenation therapy, regeneration, eugenics, etc. Claiming that Lili is a foremother of today’s transgender movement implies that Lili’s narrative coincides with today’s understanding of transgender. Amin argues that the surgeries Lili underwent converted Lili “from an ill, aging, hermaphroditic, possibly sterile “creature” to a healthy, young, feminine, possibly fertile, woman,” (601). In Man into Woman, there is such a fixation on Lili’s body that Amin’s claim that Lili’s surgeries were meant to ‘“fix” an intersexual condition that caused disorders in sex, restoring, in the process, “healthy” sex polarity’ is very convincing (599). The advantage of not reading Man into Woman as one of the “foundational moments in transgender history” is understanding that there are multiple, insufficient origins to this history and that this book is not deterministic of gender variance.
2. Amin argues that Man into Woman subscribes to eugenic beliefs. Lili Elbe is the object of Hirschfeld and other sexologist’s theories. They believed that Elbe’s condition was caused by an endocrine imbalance related to the sex organs. By performing multiple surgeries on Lili (especially by giving her the ovaries of a twenty-seven-year-old), they were attempting to rejuvenate her. Amin writes that “in the glandular era, health, vigor, and clearly dimorphic gender are inseparable from bio-racial fitness,” (598). As Lili continually emphasized that she was a woman according to the era’s ideas, in addition to showing aversion to homosexuality, she “is worthy of medical enhancement and the right to reproduce,” (598). In other words, she is fit to live and reproduce – she is not degenerate.
3. The relationship between rejuvenation therapy and eugenics is the idea that certain surgeries (for those who displayed a specific gender variance) could “fix”/revitalize those fit to live and reproduce. In Lili’s case, she was being restored into a healthy woman. The relationship between rejuvenation therapy and homosexuality is the idea that ‘homosexuality was caused by “female” testicular secretions,’ (599). As this was considered the cause of homosexuality, there was an opportunity to rejuvenate inverts through testicular transplants.
4. Amin coins the term ‘endochronological’ to mean “an orderly and causal narrative of chronological development…out of the strange conditions of early endocrinological science,” (549). Amin criticizes endochronology because it links certain narratives to a history where medical transition is underpinned by eugenics (594).
5. I was disturbed to learn that Lili Elbe’s surgeon, Warnekros, joined the Nazi party and performed eugenic sterilizations. This made me question the ethics behind Lili’s operations. It also made me question Lili’s intent, for she had admired Warnekros in Man into Woman.

[d-bahe]

1. I believe Amin makes a compelling argument for viewing 'Man into Woman' as a piece depicting rejuvenation therapy. One advantage, in a scholarly sense, of reading the narrative in this way is that is provides readers with more of an incentive to expand their research on the topic of transgender history, since 'Man into Woman' can be seen as exclusive to just one aspect of transgender history, and even more when you consider Lili's almost esoteric experience (her performative qualities, for example). "The Danish Girl’s very visibility relies on the hierarchical structures of value and silent modes of normativity that render a relatively privileged white woman with access to doctors and surgery an appealing mainstream heroine." (Amin 590)
2. Amin touches on the fact that the narrative spends a lot of time focusing on the rejuvenation and "regenerative" qualities of Lili's transition, and argues that this view subscribes to eugenics because it hints at a potential "degenerative" quality of Andreas, or perhaps Lili pre-surgery. "Man into Woman’s focus on the regenerative effects of Lili’s surgeries might also be intended to deflate assumptions that, as an intersexed person, Lili must be degenerate." (Amin 598)
3. According to Amin, the relationship between rejuvenation therapy and eugenics stems from the fact that rejuvenation therapy goes hand in hand with eugenics, as it seeks to "rejuvenate" what one might call a "degenerative" quality of another person. The relationship between rejuvenation therapy and homosexuality came from a theory that homosexuality was caused by "female" testicular secretions. Some sexologists sought to prove this theory entirely congenital, because it could decriminalize homosexuality. Furthermore, Amin gives the example of Hirschfeld's diagnosis of homosexuality as a pathology in relation to raas he claimed it was "
4. Endochronology is a term coined by Amin, meaning to create a causal and orderly chronological development towards gay, lesbian, and transgender identity in regards to endocrinology. Amin criticizes this term by arguing that it might actually cause harm by demonstrating a more "disoriented history" in showing medical transition in relation to eugenics. (Amin 594)
5. Amin gives the example of Hirschfeld's diagnosis of homosexuality as a pathology in relation to racial fitness, as he theorized it was "a disorder of evolution." I found the comparisons between the views of homosexuality and eugenics disturbing, and even more so when reading this quote (Amin 599).

[natashaaranda]

[melezovic]

1.Amin makes a compelling argument as to why the narrative is more about rejuvenation therapy than it is about transgender history. Amin brings up the point that Lili gets ovaries transplanted in her, and wakes up from the surgery feeling younger. Amin also points out that Lili's "transition" is from a mixed sex to female. When you read Man Into Woman as not being one of the "foundational moments in transgender history," you get to see that a lot of what Lili goes through can also fit a rejuvenation therapy narrative.

2. A basic belief in eugenics that Amin quotes in the essay is that "The right to life belongs to the young and healthy." Andreas and Lili essentially battle for the same body. Andreas has these weird pains and nose bleeds, and that the male glands have stunted Lili's growth. Once Lili gets her ovaries transplanted she wakes up from surgery pointing out how much younger she feels. Lili feels young and healthy which is why she deserved life. 3.Eugenics is focused on improving the genetic quality of human life, so rejuvenation therapy was focused on "enhancing the fittest forms of life." Steinach claimed that homosexuality could be cured, but according to eugenics it should not be cured because then the whole family line would be degenerate. "In the eugenic line of reasoning, homosexuality, ought not to be cured, because that would permit the reproduction of a degenerate family line." 4.Endocrinology deals with the endocrine system and the hormones it secretes. These hormones were thought to be in control of a person's sexuality basically. Endochronological just deals with how this belief changed over time.
3. A fact I found quite surprising and a little disturbing was that Lili's ovaries may have come from a sterilization procedure that was performed on another woman during the Nazi regime.

[JBrockland]

1. Amin brings up some good points about about the people surrounding Lili and what their intentions were, but I don’t believe that’s a strong enough argument to just discount the experience of someone who went so far to become a woman. An advantage could be that you’re avoiding some of the more shady parts of the story, and can find a different text that better fits what we view as a trans narrative today.
2. Amin saying that the reason they made Andreas into Lili wasn’t because of anything Andreas believed, but rather that Andreas was sickly and old. Lili would be young and strong, and they believed more deserved the body more than the weakening Andreas. This is a key factor to eugenics, get rid of the weak so that the string can thrive.
3. They’re both seen as a way to fix an issue. In eugenics rejuvenation therapy is a way to fix weakening old people and make them young again. In terms of homosexuality they were trying to make homosexuals straight by giving them what they considered healthy replacements to their broken reproductive organs.
4. Amin uses describes it simply as a chronology of endocrinology. His criticism if it is that it would take into account people who weren’t trans, but rather just trying to get something like rejuvenation therapy.
5. We talked about how Warnekros became a Nazi, but it was surprising to learn Hirschefield’s history and beliefs when it came to eugenics and the such.

[lpatriciobellizzi]

My perspective-

No, Amin, does not make a "compelling case for reading this narrative as more about rejuvenation therapy than transgender history." His attempt to discredit the relevance of the fictional story (at best) stops at a historical intersection-utilizing overt criticism to indirectly shed light on the plausible, era-specific, foundational biomedical elements surrounding Lilly's transition. If anything, he judgementally supplies historically relevant supplements, that help the reader better understand the context of both medical and cultural constructs that only serve to reinforce Lilly's narrative.

Furthermore, no conceivable disadvantage exists in reading 'Man into Woman' (for scholarship) on Lilly's transgender narrative as a "foundational" moment in transgender history. Why? It is a critical, historically relevant bio-social pillar-One that may compel understanding therein (albeit contextual to the historical era). At a minimum the very reasons Amin attempt to discredit it, provide perspective as to the era-specific cultural, bio-medical, and social paradigms that encompass Lilly's narrative. While fictional, Lilly's story contains biographical elements relevant to the understanding of transgender history at large. While Amin argues for total extrication of Lilly's story as a scholarly resource, he stops grievously short. Was the foundational philosophy of 'Man into Woman' rooted in the unethical and Arian underpinnings of Eugenics? Quite possibly, especially in how Amin presents it. However, it does not discount scholarly ( seasoned academics especially) understanding of the "big picture." Conversely, if recontextualized, Amin's argument serves to reinforce transitional aspects specific to a chronology. Historically relevant and foundational details that subsequently contribute to the current climate of transgender-related transitions of the present day.

2. The era in which 'Man to Women' takes place seems to coincide with the Eugenics chronology. The momentum and medical methodologies utilized in transitioning Lilly seem to coincide with Amin's descriptions of Eugenics. For example, giving priority to the superior strength of youthful vitality of Lilly followed by the subsequent snuffing out of the "physiological degeneracy" of the "weaker link"-Andres.

3. Hirschfeld's arguments asserted that homosexuality was a genetic variation impacting "racial fitness." He contended that homosexuality was a biological bottle-neck instilled by evolution. Hirschfeld argued that stunting the means of procreation would weed out degeneration. However, Hirschfeld supported medical interventions to intervene and "fix" any "intersexual" conditions. Per Amin-rejuvenation therapy established glandular secretions as a biological process. According to Hirschfeld, Rejuvenation therapy was a surgical offset to the "wrong sexed secretions" and a supplement to eugenic's calibration of the proverbial "healthy sex polarity" scales.

4. In this specific instance, because of his perception of a correlation between the history of eugenics and the oppressive, demonic biopolitics therein-transvestitism should be extricated from academic consideration. Because he seems to attempt to discredit the relevance of the story by establishing a causal relationship the aforementioned to 'Man to Woman.' Amin argues it constitutes a counter-productive theme which is counterintuitive and detrimental to the trans people, particularly those of color, and should not be revered as a credible, and viable historical perspective.




5. Elements of history are very disturbing. Historical context and construct are complex, correlations can shock the conscience. However, history is history. Its relevance is not to be distorted in this particular instance. Amin's essay seems to connote that Lilly's story romanticized and incorporated elements of a theory that is the antithesis of the LGBTQAI movement, and therefore is null, and subsequently should be extricated from its coffers of cultural reverence. Amin seems to indicate that Eugenics was the story, and Lilly was the subject subordinated to a metaphor therein. However, it is an unjust critique, lacking in an objective academic context and infused with subjective (albeit educated) offense. Lilly's story was a fictionally enhanced product of her era, her perspectives, her culture, her perception of gender roles, and her disassociative coping mechanisms therein. Her story was shaped by the bio-medical advances and constraints consistent with the parallel, historical interim of her time. One that was also shaped by the societal and cultural conformity which gender-roles were comprised of and (again) specific to her particular generation. And while the delivery was indelicate to Amin's modernized, enlightened, and retrospective eyes? It does not negate the overall content and the subjective and personal truths of Lilly's transition. Her narrative one of many. It is one of substantive importance and is not to be circumvented by seeming offense. Notwithstanding, to the seasoned academic, who should frankly understand the context of history in this particular instance.

[mfries2]

1. I think Amin's case for Lili's story being one of rejuvenation as opposed to transgender theory is interesting, I hadn't considered the age of the transplanted ovaries and the effect that had on the narrative, however I do not think his case is compelling enough to discredit the narrative as one that is about the transition of a transgender person. I recognize the intent and I believe that by not considering this a transgender narrative specifically, there may be more room to broaden the public's horizon as to what a transgender narrative is, but I think Lili's story is still an important contribution to transgender history.

2. Amin argues that Andreas' body is aging, and therefore is less able to reproduce or even function, but Lili's body would be more youthful. Therefore the surgery was performed not to let Lili live as her true gender, but to create a younger, healthier body (with the later goal of reproduction).

3. Rejuvination and eugenics are both seen as ways to renew or fix an aging or broken body. Homosexuality was theorized to be due to weakening of male sex organs, so eugenics was seen as a possible "cure" to homosexuality.

4. Endochronology refers to understanding endocrinology over time, or chronologically. Amin's criticism was that stories that were more so about rejuvenation than gender would be included in the history.

5. I was most disturbed by the speculation implied by saying "Warnekros’s later career as a Nazi eugenicist gynecologist raises the question of the origins of Elbe’s transplanted ovaries and uterus" (Amin 601).

[btorres34]

1. I can see Amin's argument when she talks about how Lili was not really transitioning from man to woman because the male part of herself, Andreas, had the female genitalia. In that aspect, Lili was surfacing from being a dormant part of Andreas for so long. I could also see Lili's transition was not for the transgender movement because there was no community that she was really part of or that she let herself be a part of but this was so early on in the movement that there really is no telling where it actually begun and who it begun with; even though Lili is seen as one of the first trans of the movement. I believe an advantage of reading Man into Woman through a rejuvenation aspect is get to see in that time, the medical analysis of what went through becoming your other self as "degenerates" may have felt at that time. You can also compare the narrative to what more modern perspectives of transgender history would be, since at the time the narrative was written everything trans was grouped into all one category.

2. Amin's argument could be seen as subscribing to the eugenic beliefs could be seen through Andreas' old age, whereas Lili younger in the biological aspect and there was more that could be done for her than to Andreas who was getting older and sicker with his age.

3. The relationship between rejuvenation therapy and eugenics was seen to make those who were "weak" in to stronger beings. Through rejuvenation therapy if one was believe to be showing signs of the opposite semen while they were homosexual, it was believed that they could be fixed by transplanting a heterosexual genitalia and that would lead to a cure.

4. Amin describes this the events through time of endocrinology. His criticism is seen where he references that rejuvenation was used for the white, privileged, male.

5. I was deeply disturbed of the possibility from where Lili's transplants could have come from at the time that Warnerkros had joined the Nazis.

[m-nesbitt]

1)An advantage of not viewing Lili Alba’s story as a first and foundational figure for transexual women, makes a statement that transsexual does not have to be defined by sex affirmation surgery. By naming Lili Alba as the first transexual, it erases other possible transexuals who may have existed before her. Whether that be because they were people of color, did not seek out surgery because of economic disadvantage, or lack of accessibility to resources their existence is no longer when Lili Alba is crowned the first transexual. Despite this fact, I still believe that Lili Alba’s transition is an important part of transgender history; although, it is necessary to awknowledge other transexuals who either may have come before her or coexsisted during her time. 2) The article interprets Man Into Woman as a subscription to eugenics because it describes the death of Andreas’ sickly body into a youthful and healthy woman. 3) Rejuvenative therapy was seen as a way to fix the broken organs in homosexuals. 4) Amin means endochronology as homormoes being brought up as an early identifier in the process of transitioning. He is critical of the term as some individuals might claim to have a hormonal imblance and request that they need hormones or a sex change when it is no necessary. 5) I was surprised to learn that one of Lili Ellbe’s surgeons who also was an author of her book later went on to join the natzi party and become a eugenicist gynecologist.

[doverebmann]

1) While I think the author was on the right track with not reading Man into Woman as a transgender text, I don't think we should entirely look at this text as a rejuvenation history novel. I do think the article offered a different viewpoint for how this novel can be read, interpreted, and used in many different fields. While he doesn't agree with using this novel as an example for trans history, I do think it still offers valuable insight into the field, even though today it might not be the typical trans narrative we see. I do think that, if we do decide to look at this novel purely for rejuvenation and eugenics, it does have a lot of ties in that field. And, if we look at eugenics purely as improving the genetic quality of the human population, this is probably the first instance of someone who was, as the novel said, "an ill, aging, hermaphroditic, possibly sterile “creature”" and was able to turn them "to a healthy, young, feminine, possibly fertile, woman" (601). In that regard, it did succeed in its mission, and this can be used as an example that this is possible.

2) As I mentioned above, I do think that if we look at this novel through the eyes of someone who believes or practices eugenics, they could definitely use this novel as an example for one of the first cases where they "succeeded" in their mission to rejuvenate and transform someone who was suffering into a completely new being. Part of me doesn't want to believe it because I feel like, if Andreas hadn't felt that he truly was a woman, they would have just removed the ovaries so he could live his life pain-free. I feel it really did take that longing for Andreas to want to be a woman for them to agree to do the surgery in the first place, so we can't just ignore the transitional aspect of it.

3) I believe they both involve attempting to "fix" something. Rejuvenation therapy is used to make people feel young and lively again, while homosexuality was looked at as something they also needed to fix. The article said, "male homosexuality was caused by a failure of the gonads to achieve full sexual differentiation." (595). Both are looked at as things wrong in the body, physically, that scientists are hoping to fix.

4) The author states that "endochronology" creates a casual narrative towards chronological development towards gay, lesbian, or trans identity, while not taking a deeper look into if these people are actually gay, lesbian, or trans, or if they are just trying to obtain a surgery

5) One thing I found disturbing was when they talked about Steinach’s theory as if there was a biological reason for homosexuality. Given, it was a very, let's say, creative idea, it was a little disturbing to think about. "He proposed that homosexual men’s brains were feminized by their female testicular secretions (Sengoopta 1998: 105) and speculated that sperm might be found in the urethra of female homosexuals and periodic blood in that of male homosexuals (Hirschfeld 2000: 171)." (596). I don't know why it gives me the creeps, but it does.

[orionelrod]

1. Amin makes a compelling case in the sense that because Elbe’s narrative was truly not constructed as a personal tale to expose her truth but rather as an explanation written by others to justify her operations and make trans narratives palatable, it is difficult to discern what her emotions were pertaining to her transition. In addition, it is quite possible that the concept of Lili and Andreas living in one body was not her true belief, but rather a constructed narrative that she told others in order to obtain surgery because that was the respected trans experience at the time. That being said, for the same reasons I do not believe it just to reduce Elbe’s story to one solely of rejuvenation therapy. The desire for youth was a large component, but again, she was not the narrator of her own story so that could just as easily have been constructed for her. Even if this was her true disposition, it is possible for her story to be both about transgender history and rejuvenation therapy. It can also be argued that because Lili missed out on puberty as a woman, her fixation on youth was not to become young again, but rather to be young for the first time in the identity which she believed to fit her, which is common even in modern narratives, including my own. It is difficult to label someone with an identity that did not exist at the time in which they lived but even if that specific identity does not truly fit the subject in question, it does not mean that the subject cannot be a part of the history and formation of that identity. An advantage for not reading Man Into Woman as a foundational moment of trans history is that scholars can instead focus on the autobiographical narratives of modern trans people that are likely more accurate than historical fragmented accounts especially as freedom of speech as a right has become a more actualized concept.

2.Amin argues that Man into Woman subscribes to eugenic beliefs because the surgeries that Lili underwent mainly sought to rejuvenate someone who was once sickly to a better physical form rather than to change sex because the testicles and ovaries at the time were seen as both the determining factors of sex and gender expression as well as youth. Rejuvenation, being a large principle of eugenics. In addition, Amin highlights that the use of synthetic hormones renders the gland transplants which they performed at the time irrelevant as gender affirming surgeries. Because of this, she categorizes the transplants as a wrong and disturbing endeavor of a time in which eugenics was prominent. Additionally, transplants such as Elbe’s could have been procured by forced sterilization.

3.Rejuvenation therapy was a practice of eugenics because it sought to restore worthy individuals to their fittest form. The testicles and ovaries were believed to control sex, gender, and sexuality. Lesbians at the time were believed to have sperm and gay men were thought to have menstrual symptoms. This was used as an explanation for why they desired their own sex. It was said that because they had secretions from the opposite sex they desired the sex that their secretions would determine, so a woman with sperm, much like a heterosexual man, would desire women. This belief was used to argue that homosexuality is not chosen but is rather congenital and as such should not be punished. This, however, also led people at the time to believe that homosexuality could be cured by simply implanting healthy testicles into a homosexual man or replacing a homosexual woman’s ovaries. The process of rejuvenation, then, could return then to functioning members of normal society and their fittest selves Though homosexuality was now believed curable, rejuvenation procedures were controversial because many, such as Hirschfeld, believed that homosexuality was a result of disordered evolution that prevented degenerates from reproducing and as such, from a eugenicist’s perspective, should not be cured.

4.Amin used endochronology to describe the utilization of past sexological accounts of concepts such as inversion and the endocrinological beliefs and treatments that surrounded them to create a chronological narrative of gay, trans, and lesbian history and identity. He criticizes it because although the early procedures that occurred are in many ways congruent with modern trans narratives, he believes that accepting European sexology and endocrinology solely as the treatment of early gay, lesbian, and trans individuals, distances it from its history of and connection to eugenics.

5. I was surprised that rejuvenation was attempted on homosexuals despite the belief that homosexuality was a genetic safeguard present to protect "degenerates" from reproducing.

[ghost]

1. Amin does make a compelling argument that Lili’s narrative should be viewed as a rejuvination story rather than a transgender history as in Man into Woman Lili experiences feeling younger and more youthful after her surgery, but this by itself is not compelling enough to discredit the importance of this narrative as a transgender history. The importance of her history and the documentation of her life is much more relevant to historical study than it is rejuvenation study. I don’t believe that it is more advantageous to read this narrative as a rejuvenation story and believe it is more advantageous to read it as a pivotal moment in transgender history.
2. Amin argues that during the time at which Man into Woman was written, the study of eugenics was beginning to become quite popular in the medicinal world. In Lili’s case, the only reason she was allowed to have her surgeries was due to the eugenical view that Andreas was dying and no longer worthy of living life while Lili was healthy and thriving and was therefore given the chance to live, and potentially reproduce.
3. Amin argues that in eugentical studies, homosexuality was caused by glands producing too much of the opposite sex’s hormones (testosterone for women and estrogen for men) and therefore were considered to be the cause of homosexuality. By undergoing rejuvenation therapy, homosexuality was considered to be “curable.”
4. Endocrinological is a term that Amin coins to meaning “ an orderly and causal narrative of chrono- logical development—toward gay, lesbian, or transgender identity—out of the strange conditions of early endocrinological science” (594)
5. I personally found the fact that Lili Elbe’s doctor, Warnekros, performed eugenic sterilizations on people who did not wish to have surgery after he joined the Nazi party, it made me view him differently/view him as kind of evil.

[MylinhLam213]

I don’t think it’s fair to Lili Elbe to say that Amin made a compelling case, because to Lili she was always a part of Andreas, she was always there. Lili wasn’t looking for rejuvenation, or to come back younger, she wanted to commit to the procedure because she truly wanted to become a woman. In Man Into Woman, Lili wanted to get ovaries, because she wanted to potentially become a mother, which was to her, the “true” woman. Yet one of the advantages of not reading Man Into Woman, would break the more empathy one would feel for Lili Elbe and look at her biological changes, looking at it in a more scientific manner. Amin is more scientific based, and is more focused on eugenics, and describes Lili as a more youthful self, and was more emphasizing on how Andreas’ body was old, and that doing the procedure for Lili would age the longevity of the life span, since Lili was more fresh and new. With rejuvenation therapy is considered a cosmetic transition, since it's more of a coming back revitalized, to make them feel young and feel lively like they once did before at a previous age. While homosexuality isn’t seen as Endocrinology was defined as how someone’s hormones, or hormonal levels would impact a person’s sexuality and how it defines them over time. I like other peers in the class, found that Warnekros joined the Nazi party quite disturbing for of course, what they believed in. But it made me question as to his belief system, and makes me ponder the thought how he could treat others during their surgeries, yet treated Lili with care. It poses the question to me, where did the shift go, and how did someone like him, who helped another individual become herself to torturing others.

[MylinhLam213]

sorry accident!^

[Phyhall]

1. Armin does make a compelling case that Lili Elbe's narrative is less about transgender history and more about rejuvenation therapy. Lili may have been the first to undergo sex changing surgery, but because the narrative contains the input of others who were witness to the surgery, the narrative suggests the surgery was more a result of inversion or being intersex as opposed to Lili being transsexual. The reader who does not read Man Into Women as a “foundational moment in transgender history” has the advantage of learning about transsexual history as we view it in the present day as opposed to how being trans was described in the narrative as two people trapped in one body.
2. Armin is suggesting that it is necessary for Lili for to kill off the parts of her that are "weak" and "old" which pertain to Andreas' characteristics so that the young and vibrant parts of Lili can live and prosper. This is directly related to Eugenics which suggests that only the healthiest parts survive.
3. Rejuvenation therapy according to Armin in terms of eugenics is what builds up the weak organs of someone. In terms of homosexuality, this includes replacing weak genitalia with stronger and healthier replacements.
4. Endocrinology in Armin's terms suggests making the weak strong. Specifically relating to homosexuals, people who identified as intersex, and those who were not straight, white males.
5. One thing that I learned from this reading was that the past explanation for inversion and transvestism was intersexuality.

[msimmons5]

1) I think Amin does make a pretty compelling case for it. But I think that since the story is not told from a strictly nonfiction perspective of a transgender person, instead it is told like a story it is a really good way to see how society felt about trans people and gender at the time. Niels edited the narrative to be understood by the people of the day. So it is important historically still.

2) In that time, to make sense of these gender variants doctors seemed to want these patients to be sick with something. Psychopathis sexualis for example, it was easier to understand transsexuality if there was a bodily "problem" that could be fixed. The implantation of new ovaries was a way to "fix the problem." This fits perfectly however with eugenics and the fascination of becoming superior humans.

3) By undergoing rejuvenation therapy doctors thought that all kinds of sexual inversions could be cured. Sex glands were thought to be extremely important and were the root cause of many things, this is very similar to when women were being diagnosed with hysteria or a "Wandering Uterus"

4) Endochronology is a term Amin borrowed to create a chronological narrative of LGBT+ identity and history.

5) The connection between eugenics and these surgeries was weird to read about because when you hear eugenics you immediately think of genocide and horrible things and it's hard to think of the word as having different meanings for different people or in different contexts. It still was misguided and a harmful way to think about it though.