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Academic writing about BIID.
Written by Sean on Monday, April 7, 2008
There seems to be quite a bit of academic interest in BIID. Several papers have come out in the last 18 or so months, and I’m aware of a couple that are in draft form. But all this writing is done by sociologists, and rethoricians. There’s not a whole lot written about the topic by bio-ethicists, which would be interesting, but one wonders if it would, in fact, be helpful.
All these papers that discuss sociological impacts and the rethorical language of BIID, and other like topics are indeed quite interesting. They make you think, and bring many different aspects to enrich the understanding we have of BIID. It *is* important to have these discussions. But are these discussions really helpful when the "rubber hits the road" and we try to get surgery as a viable option for us? I’m afraid they aren’t.
Ohhh, sure, pointing out that there is a certain hypocrisy between agreeing to give people plastic surgery almost willy-nilly but refusing to help transabled folks to get where they need to go is useful. It helps fraem the discourse, and perhaps poke arguments at the medical establishment. But the same medical establishment is unlikely to be swayed by anything else than medical arguments, presented by medical professionals.
And actual medical studies are not really happening. There are two, to my knowledge. One I have great hopes for, and it is Dr. First’s follow-up study to include non-amputation conditions in BIID, and then one out of San Diego, which seems to have made some really interesting discoveries, but that study is going to be a while before we see anything.
And even if the San Diego folks find what we think they are finding (sorry, can’t give details at this time), it will not automatically guarantee that we’ll see surgery as a result.
So, I welcome academics discussing and examining BIID, it’s great, even if I don’t agree with some of them (sorry Nikki). And I’ll admit that some of these papers have a potentially positive impact in our direction, but I doubt it is enough impact to get us what we need in our lifetime.
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4 Comments
2 On 9 April, 2008, Sean said:
Different people may call it different things, though I think it is important to all use the same “label” There is already so much confusion that using different labels just confuses the issue, I think. Further, I think it’s important to differentiate between BIID (or that thing we call BIID) and other needs for impairments, such as, for instance, someone who thinks they need to be an amputee because “God told them so”. This would be clear delusion and not related to BIID (or whatever you want to call it).
You’re right, increased discussion is beneficial, but it will not get the result we need *now*. Also, keep in mind that for those of us suffering “this crisis” as you say, more talk is useless. I’ve done my bit in therapy. I’ve been talking about it ’till I’m blue in the face. I need action - I need a medical professional to help me become paraplegic.
I’ll be dropping you an email in the next wee while :)
3 On 29 May, 2008, biid | Lasts information said:
[...] Academic writing about BIID.There seems to be quite a bit of academic interest in BIID. Several papers have come out in the last 18 or so months, and I’m aware of a couple that are in draft form. But all this writing is done by sociologists, and rethoricians. …transabled.org - http://transabled.org [...]
4 On 29 May, 2008, biid | Hottags said:
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1 On 9 April, 2008, Claire Ashton said:
Hello Sean/Everyone
I am one of those academics (within Sociology officially) who is preparing a project on people who desire (I know this does not seem like a strong enough word and you may even say “require”) a radical body modification, such as an amputation (you may call this BIID, but I have found that different folk refer to it differently).
I agree that at this point in time such work is not helping people solicit surgery, but I think that increased discussion of this issue is the necessary first step in any progression for people suffering this crisis. I am formulating a thesis on the topic that I hope will work as an inventory on many of the different perspectives surrounding these issues (psychiatric, psychoanalytic,sociological…) as well as a site for participants (people who self-identify as one with BIID-or whatever term they use to describe their condition-to explain in their words their situation.
I am looking for anyone who would be interested in participating in an interview (in whatever format they desire) of course you may have some questions for me before you agree. Please contact me if you or someone you know is interested. I would appreciate it so much. Thank You.
-Claire Ashton (clairemashton@yahoo.ca)