The Case of David Reimer

David Reimer was an individual who was well known for the surgery he received as an infant at the advice of psychologist Dr. John Money. As an infant, Reimer received a botched circumcision, and following this incident, his parents decided to take him to John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Here, they met Dr. John Money, who at the time was known for his expertise in gender identity. 

 

Money had a theory that gender was something that is taught rather than being genetically determined. He felt that through methods such as hormone replacement and therapy, a child can be taught to feel as if they are a certain gender. So at the recommendation of Money, Reimer’s parents decided to reassign his sex via surgery and hormone treatments. 

 

Despite Moneys claims that Reimer was happy with the gender he was assigned, Reimer never felt comfortable living his life as a girl. At the age of 14, Reimer decided he wanted to live his life as a boy, to which his parents revealed his assigned gender at birth.

 

Reimer suffered from depression throughout his whole life. As an adult, his depression only became worse and in 2004 at the age of 38, Reimer took his own life. While Reimer’s suicide was not solely due to his struggle with his gender identity, it is wrong to assume that his forced gender reassignment didn’t play a part. The case of David Reimer disproves Dr. John Money’s theory regarding gender, with even Reimer’s parents blaming Money for the suicide of David.

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Sources:

Colapinto, J. (2004, June 3). Why did David Reimer commit suicide?. Slate Magazine. https://slate.com/technology/2004/06/why-did-david-reimer-commit-suicide.html 

 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20309661/david-reimer: accessed February 14, 2024), memorial page for David Reimer (22 Aug 1965–4 May 2004), Find a Grave Memorial ID 20309661, citing Saint Vital Cemetery, Saint-Vital, Greater Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Maintained by Find a Grave.

 

Gdalyahu, A. (2023, November 25). The Tragedy of David Reimer and the Role of Genetics in Sexual Orientation and Identity. Brain Sexuality. https://www.brainsexuality.com/en/post/the-tragedy-of-david-reimer-the-role-of-nature-in-sexual-orientation-and-identity 

 

John William Money, Portrait photograph, Shoulders up, Full face, 44 years of age. JHU Sheridan Libraries. 1966.  https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/licensed-image?q=tbn:ANd9GcQE6FN92YWL0v_jSSDIJ6tC1ukzg8XOFFDPhY60voKIxQD9rf0cpaDo8wrGVj5qYplRgMzT-PeswIWJLT0.

 

"Twins and John Money" Newspapers.com. The Age, June 3, 2000. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-twins-and-john-money/123450718/.

 

Who Was David Reimer (also, sadly, known as john/joan)?. Intersex Society of North America. (n.d.). https://isna.org/faq/reimer/