Thinking with transsexuality: Gender, disability and the ethics of transableism
Humanities and Social Sciences Strategy lecture series
Public lecture from Dr Dan O’Connor, Head of Humanities and Social Science, The Wellcome Trust.
A Research Services research event | |
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Date | 29 April 2015 |
Time | 17:30 to 19:00 |
Place | Newman Building, Collaborative Lecture Theatre. Video linked to Penryn Campus, Daphne du Maurier building, Seminar Room F |
Provider | Research Services |
Organizer | Research and Knowledge Transfer Events |
Tel | 01392722312 |
Event details
Information
In this open lecture Dr O'Connor provides a historicised reading of the ethical debates surrounding transableism, or Body Identity Integrity Disorder (BIID), the condition in which an able bodied person identifies as disabled and actively seeks medical intervention to become disabled (typically, although not always, an amputee).
This historicised reading is framed by the history of transsexuality. During the history of transsexuality the use of medical technologies has changed along with ethical norms. Those changes only happened because of sustained strategic campaigning on the part of transsexual people and their allies.
Dan will argue that the contemporary transabled community is using the same strategies in their own attempts to change ethical norms. This, Dan concludes, is a living demonstration of the ways in which ethical norms are made rather than found.
About Dr Dan O'Connor
Dan O'Connor is head of humanities and social science at the Wellcome Trust. He directs the trust's funding of bioethics research and was formerly a member of faculty at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.
Programme
Time | Activity | Speaker |
17.30 | Introduction | Professor Mark Jackson, Professor of the History of Medicine and Research Theme Leader for Medical Humanities |
17.35 | Thinking with transsexuality: Gender, disability and the ethics of transableism | Dr Dan O’Connor, Head of Humanities and Social Science, The Wellcome Trust |
18.15 | Question and answer Session | |
18.30 | Drinks reception | |
19.00 | Close |
Further information
Read here for more information on our Medical Humanities Theme.
Transableism is following in the footsteps of transexuality. Are ethical norms made, or are they found?