JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Narrative of Testosterone in Medical Education Textbooks: A Phenomenological Case Study on Behalf of Butler's Gender/Sex Thesis.

  • Published In: IJFAB: International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, 2026, v. 19, n. 1. P. 21 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Burgess, Steven 3 of 3

Abstract

This article analyzes how medical education textbooks narrate the hormone testosterone through the lens of Judith Butler’s concept of the "heterosexual matrix," which encompasses binary sex, naturalized masculinity, and heteronormativity. It argues that these textbooks present testosterone and related physiological processes within a framework that assumes a strict male/female binary and a teleological link between biological sex, gender identity, and heterosexual reproduction. This framing marginalizes or pathologizes intersex, trans, queer, and non-binary bodies and sexualities, resulting in inadequate medical care for these populations. The article highlights the persistence of these normative assumptions despite empirical evidence of sex and gender diversity and discusses the implications for medical practice and public policy, especially in contexts where sex is legally defined in narrow binary terms.

Additional Information

  • Source:IJFAB: International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics. 2026/04, Vol. 19, Issue 1, p21
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1937-4585
  • DOI:10.3138/ijfab-2024-0033
  • Accession Number:193401753
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of IJFAB: International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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