In the annals of psychological and medical history, few cases are as controversial and impactful as that of David Reimer, often referred to as the “John/Joan” case. This case, heavily influenced by the theories and practices of psychologist John Money, became a focal point in the debate surrounding gender identity and the ethics of medical intervention in infancy. Born biologically male in 1965 as Bruce Reimer, a tragic circumcision accident in infancy set in motion a series of events orchestrated by John Money that would have profound and ultimately devastating consequences for Reimer. This article delves into the complexities of the John/Joan case, examining John Money’s role, his theories on gender neutrality, and the lasting repercussions of this controversial experiment.
Bruce Peter Reimer was born in Winnipeg, Ontario, in August 1965, a twin to his brother Brian. At just six months old, both twins were diagnosed with phimosis. While Brian’s condition resolved naturally, Bruce underwent a circumcision at seven months. Unfortunately, the physician employed an unconventional cauterization method, leading to severe and irreparable damage to Bruce’s penis. Facing this devastating outcome, Reimer’s parents sought guidance from John Money, a then-prominent psychologist and sexologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. This decision would irrevocably alter the course of Bruce’s life and solidify John Money’s place in the history of gender studies, albeit in a highly contentious light.
In 1967, the Reimer family consulted with John Money. By this time, John Money had established himself as a proponent of the theory that gender identity was primarily a social construct, malleable particularly in early childhood. John Money advocated that nurture held greater sway than nature in gender development. He believed that raising Bruce as a girl was not only feasible but also in the child’s best interest given the circumstances. John Money recommended complete gender reassignment surgery, aligning with the then-prevalent medical approach to infants born with ambiguous genitalia. Influenced by John Money’s confident assertions and seeking a solution, Reimer’s parents made the momentous decision to raise Bruce as a girl.
Following John Money’s advice, Bruce underwent a series of irreversible medical procedures at Johns Hopkins. His testicles and damaged penis were removed, and surgeons constructed rudimentary female genitalia. He was renamed Brenda and raised as a girl, without being informed of his biological sex. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Brenda regularly visited John Money, who meticulously documented her development as part of what he termed the “John/Joan” case. Unbeknownst to Brenda and her family, she was the central figure in John Money’s controversial experiment, designed to validate his theories on gender plasticity. Brenda received estrogen during puberty to further feminize her physical characteristics, all under the watchful eye of John Money. Her twin brother, Brian, served as a control in John Money’s study, providing a comparative subject with shared genetics and upbringing, further emphasizing the experimental nature of John Money’s research.
John Money’s research methods extended beyond observation. During their sessions, John Money directed Brenda and Brian to engage in behaviors he considered crucial for understanding psychosexual development. These exercises, as later recounted by David Reimer, included the twins inspecting each other’s genitals and simulating sexual intercourse. Reimer described these interactions as deeply uncomfortable and even abusive. John Money justified these exercises as promoting healthy childhood sexual exploration, but for Reimer, they were a source of trauma and confusion. John Money documented these sessions, sometimes with colleagues present, further highlighting the intensely scrutinized and experimental nature of Brenda’s upbringing. Despite Brenda’s internal struggles and growing discomfort, John Money consistently presented the case as a resounding success, reinforcing his theories and influencing the medical community’s approach to gender reassignment surgeries for children.
Contrary to John Money’s published accounts, Brenda experienced significant gender dysphoria throughout her childhood. She felt deeply disconnected from her assigned female gender and resented the mandatory visits to John Money. Bullied for her masculine traits and feeling fundamentally different, Brenda harbored a growing sense of unease and confusion. At the age of thirteen, Brenda refused to continue seeing John Money, a clear indication of the distress his interventions were causing. Finally, at fifteen, Brenda’s father revealed the truth about her birth and the surgeries she had undergone. This revelation was a turning point. Brenda embraced her biological sex, choosing the name David and beginning the process of transitioning back to living as a male. By the age of twenty-one, David Reimer underwent testosterone therapy and reconstructive surgeries to reverse the feminizing effects of his earlier treatment.
David Reimer’s story became public in the late 1990s, largely through the work of Milton Diamond, a psychologist and critic of John Money’s theories. Diamond conducted a follow-up study documenting the failure of Reimer’s gender reassignment, directly challenging John Money’s long-held claims of success. Reimer’s candid interviews, notably in Rolling Stone magazine and later in the book “As Nature Made Him,” detailed the profound psychological trauma he endured as a result of John Money’s experiment. Reimer described John Money’s methods as torturous and abusive, leading to a lifelong distrust of the medical profession. His public accounts ignited a significant controversy surrounding John Money’s research, his data reporting, and the ethical implications of infant sex reassignment surgeries.
The aftermath of the John/Joan case was tragic. David Reimer faced immense psychological distress throughout his adult life, compounded by marital problems and the loss of his brother, Brian, to suicide in 2002. Ultimately, David Reimer also succumbed to suicide in 2004 at the age of thirty-eight. His death underscored the devastating long-term consequences of John Money’s experiment and the profound impact of imposed gender identity. While John Money defended his work and dismissed Reimer’s criticisms, the John/Joan case became a stark cautionary tale, prompting significant shifts in medical and psychological understanding of gender identity.
The legacy of John Money and the David Reimer case is complex and multifaceted. While John Money’s early work contributed to the understanding of human sexuality, the John/Joan case cast a long shadow over his career and theories. The case forced a critical re-evaluation of the prevailing belief in gender neutrality at birth and highlighted the importance of biological factors and individual agency in gender identity development. The tragic story of David Reimer served as a powerful argument against routine infant sex reassignment surgeries and underscored the ethical imperative of prioritizing patient well-being and informed consent. The John/Joan case remains a crucial touchstone in discussions about gender identity, medical ethics, and the lasting impact of psychological and medical interventions, forever linked to the controversial figure of John Money.
Sources
- Carey, Benedict. “John William Money, 84, Sexual Identity Researcher, Dies.” New York Times, 11 July 2006.
- Colapinto, John. “The True Story of John/Joan.” Rolling Stone 11 (1997): 54–73.
- Colapinto, John. As Nature Made Him: The Boy who was Raised as a Girl. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2000.
- Colapinto, John. “Gender Gap—What were the real reasons behind David Reimer’s suicide?” Slate (2004).
- Dr. Money and the Boy with No Penis, documentary, written by Sanjida O’Connell (BBC, 2004), Film.
- The Boy Who Was Turned Into a Girl, documentary, directed by Andrew Cohen (BBC, 2000.), Film.
- “Who was David Reimer (also, sadly, known as John/Joan)?” Intersex Society of North America. http://www.isna.org/faq/reimer (Accessed October 31, 2017).
