Cases of non-conforming gender identities have long elicited shock, bewilderment, and horror among those accustomed to a more standardized gender structure. Non-conforming gender identities are readily apparent in cases involving transgender individuals as well as in atypical maternal and paternal roles which combat typical assumptions about the relationship between physical anatomy, gender constructs, and reproduction. But, although rare, there are cases where children are born within a non-traditional context, often creating repulsion amongst outside observers. Both the 1606 Spanish news pamphlet, “Portrait of a Monster,” and the contemporary case of Thomas Beatie reveal this complicated relationship between gender and reproduction. The fictional
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Instead, just like with readings from Galen and Huarte de San Juan, it was a piece of literature that reinforced the existing gender hierarchy in the strongly patriarchal society of 17th century Spain. The pamphlet urges men to “open their eyes” and to “not trust evil women” who are like “leeches that suck the blood from your soul and your conscience” (Velasco, 2006). Even though the man committed the adulterous acts, the women in the story, presented as crazy and vengeful, are the ones that are punished with the ex-lover exiled and the sorceress burned at the stake. Thus, even though the demonic child had the mutated tail of a tortoise, back of a porcupine, goose body, horse ears and neck, ox eyes, a snout, a hanging tongue, and the disposition of a rabid dog, the real “monster” in this tale is actually the women. In contrast, the message that Beatie tries to impart on those who hear his story is that reproductive anatomy, sexuality, and even pregnancy do not necessarily define gender (Beatie, 2008). Therefore, while the Spanish pamphlet attempts to drive a wedge between man and woman, Beatie shows that there is much greater fluidity in gender and cross gender similarity than one might first believe (Trebay,
Instead, just like with readings from Galen and Huarte de San Juan, it was a piece of literature that reinforced the existing gender hierarchy in the strongly patriarchal society of 17th century Spain. The pamphlet urges men to “open their eyes” and to “not trust evil women” who are like “leeches that suck the blood from your soul and your conscience” (Velasco, 2006). Even though the man committed the adulterous acts, the women in the story, presented as crazy and vengeful, are the ones that are punished with the ex-lover exiled and the sorceress burned at the stake. Thus, even though the demonic child had the mutated tail of a tortoise, back of a porcupine, goose body, horse ears and neck, ox eyes, a snout, a hanging tongue, and the disposition of a rabid dog, the real “monster” in this tale is actually the women. In contrast, the message that Beatie tries to impart on those who hear his story is that reproductive anatomy, sexuality, and even pregnancy do not necessarily define gender (Beatie, 2008). Therefore, while the Spanish pamphlet attempts to drive a wedge between man and woman, Beatie shows that there is much greater fluidity in gender and cross gender similarity than one might first believe (Trebay,