Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) was founded in 1993 by Cheryl Chase, herself an intersexual who underwent female sex assignment and clitorectomy in early childhood. Her goal was to support and advocate for intersexuals by increasing awareness and acceptance of their various conditions and by discouraging medical professionals from surgically assigning gender to intersexed infants who are unable to consent to the procedure. In 2003 Cheryl retired from her position as director of the ISNA, passing the direction of the organization to Monica Casper, with Jane Goto acting as her assistant. In a posting on the bodieslikeours.org message boards in June 2003, Monica Casper described the goals of the ISNA very clearly: "Our mission is to end shame, secrecy and unwanted surgery for people with intersex conditions. We are a policy/advocacy organization working toward systemic social change… At the heart of ISNA's mission is fostering social acceptance of all bodies – be they intersex or not, trans or not, queer or not – and fostering informed consent for people to decide what happens to their bodies. Many people with intersex conditions have choice stripped from them when they are operated on as children, while many trans people have choice stripped from them when they are unable to obtain the surgical care they want and need." This collection contains a great deal of correspondence from people with intersex conditions looking for information and support, from urologists and sexologists, and from people affected by ISNA's many press releases who wish to express support. The collection also includes a huge number of academic articles on intersex issues as well as popular press articles intended to raise awareness about intersex issues. Key Members and their positions at the time of these materials: Cheryl Chase, Founding Director (1993-2003) Monica Casper, Director (2003) Alice Dreger, Chair (1996-2005) Robin Mathias, Chief Financial Officer (2001- ) Sherri Groveman, Treasurer and Founder of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Jane Goto, Operations Manager (2003- )
- Extent:
- 14 Boxes
- Language:
- Undetermined .
- Preferred citation:
[item], Collection Name, Library and Special Collections, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Biographical-historical note paragraphs
- Scope and Content:
14 boxes divided into 5 series with 3 appendices.
Series 1) Organization History and Administration
Series 2) Press Coverage
Series 3) Correspondence
Series 4) Audio-Visual Materials
Series 5) Research Files
Appendix A) Books (Incorporated into the Kinsey Library)
Appendix B) Scholarly Articles ( A detailed inventory of Series IIA
Appendix C) Art (Incorporated into the Kinsey Gallery collection)
- Acquisition information:
- donor(s), 19xx.
- General note:
- Intersexuality
- Intersex
- Hermaphroditism
- Advocacy
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access restrictions may apply. Contact The Kinsey Institute, libknsy@indiana.edu, for further information
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
By qualified users only. Contact The Kinsey Institute, libknsy@indiana.edu, for application process.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[item], Collection Name, Library and Special Collections, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
The Library and Special Collections1165 East Third StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-7686libknsy@indiana.edu