The Lady of Charleston?

A Case of Wrongful Gender Assignment?

By Kim R. Finer

Abstract

This case uses the real story of Dawn Langley Simmons, who may have been misidentified as male at birth, to illustrate the developmental basis of human sexual dimorphism and how gender misidentification may occur. Students also consider the emotional, legal, and societal implications of gender misassignment and reassignment. Designed for a junior-level human genetics course for allied health students, the case could be used in a number of other courses including physiology, endocrinology, developmental biology, general biology, and psychology.

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Date Posted

03/27/2001

Overview

Objectives

To understand the biological basis for sexual dimorphism in humans, including understanding the role of the SRY gene in determining the male developmental pathway.
To discuss the events during embryogenesis that determine sex at the chromosomal, gonadal, and phenotypic levels.
To become familiar with various genetic defects, which can lead to a lack of sexual concordance.
To recognize syndromes that may involve gender misassignment.

Keywords

Sexual dimorphism; gender; gender assignment; sex determination; SRY gene; embryogenesis; Dawn Langley Simmons; Gordon Langley Hall

Subject Headings

Biology (General)

Cell Biology

Developmental Biology

Genetics / Heredity

Physiology

Psychology

Sociology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

Legal issues, Social issues

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Discussion