Duncan Major and Alanna Felt

Objection to DSM-V Committee Members on Gender Identity Disorders

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:48:24 GMT

A lot of work is being done to challenge the medicalization and diagnosis of "Gender and Sexual Identity Disorder" in the upcoming DSM-V.

Rather than recognizing gender and sexuality as socially constructed categories that differ (in terms of arrangement, understanding, etc.) cross-culturally and historically, the DSM-V committee views this compartmentalization primarily through a harmful biological essentialist lens.

"Gender and Sexual Identity Disorder" is still listed as a legitimate disorder in the current DSM-IV, and many psychiatrists and others in the health community continue to promote and and exercise a medicalized, 'reparative therapeutic approach' to those with perceived gender-variance.

To see a previous post I wrote on this earlier, go to:
http://carmel-devine.livejournal.com/6512.html

Please sign the petition below to counter the DSM-V committee members on gender identity :
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/objection-to-dsm-v-committee-members-on-gender-identity-disorders

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:42:47 GMT

I'm really looking forward to seeing this on Thursday:

It's based on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir, "Le Scaphandre et le Papillon." He had a stroke in his 40s and was suddenly diagnosed with locked-in syndrome. His book is told from the perspective of someone who lives with locked-in syndrome; he wrote it by blinking his left eye for every single letter. Apparently it took him, on average, two minutes to write each word. Then, two days after his memoir was published in France (to critical acclaim, no less), he died.

Wikipedia says that 'locked-in syndrome' is the closest thing to being buried alive.

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:18:42 GMT

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:11:11 GMT

It's disconcerting the number of people who've taken to flocking to the new 'Memorial' Dominion. For some reason I was naive and thought that more people would boycott it.

"Why We Fight" Film & Discussion

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:37:18 GMT

The Learning Co-op (TLC) and the St. John's Campaign Against War (SJCAW) will be screening the film "Why We Fight" on Wednesday evening, which will be followed by a moderated discussion.

Here's the blurb I wrote up for promotional purposes:

The Learning Co-op (TLC) and the St. John’s Campaign Against War (SJCAW) are sponsoring a film screening and moderated discussion concerning the social, psychological and economic factors that contribute to the use of aggressive military tactics in the American government’s foreign relations, and by extension those of the Canadian government. The film “Why We Fight” helps us understand contemporary wars by placing them in their social and historical contexts.
The film will begin at 7pm on Wednesday, August 15 in the Arts and Administration Bldg. at MUN, room A-1046. A moderated discussion will follow.
Contact learningcoop@gmail.com for more info.

There will be no panel for the discussion, per se, but we've been sending out invitations to people we feel might add some interesting and varying perspectives to the discussion. So far, we've got a couple of military historians, some anthropologists, at least one self-proclaimed anarchist-academic, you get the idea...

The discussion afterwards will be moderated by yours truly. But feel no pressure to stick around. The event is free and open to the public. And the film is good! So come on out and see a good, free movie if nothing else.

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:50:05 GMT

i got broken into tonight
laptop is gonzo.

i don't like to put much emphasis on material things. However, laptops are fucking expensive.

I also let out an enormous sigh of relief when I saw that my guitar was still positioned atop the brown chair, where I left it. Untouched by thieves.

Feelings of violation eat us apart. and I'm no stranger to it
though the intensity of such feelings rarely subside the more frequently they occur.

Why I Hate Psychology

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 06:36:42 GMT

Here is just another reason - among many - leading me to seriously question why I'm even taking a psych. course to begin with (despite the fact that I can avoid doing a lab course if I use this as my science):

Tonight we were taught that 'Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder' is listed as a 'Psychological Disorder' according to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - last revised by the American Psych. Association in 1994).
Needless to say, I was pretty outraged by this and couldn't help but comment about it. All the professor could say in response was "this is just what the textbook says."

The American Psych. Association Revised the DSM in 1973 to exclude 'homosexuality' as a disorder category.
The next DSM won't be published until 2011; I'm not sure what the future holds for 'Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder' as a category in this next edition.

My question is this:
Why is it so difficult for people to realise that such broad categories as sexuality and gender only exist because we decided to compartmentalize them in such a way to begin with? They are not these distinct, 'natural' entities that have always existed 'naturally,' but rather mere categories that have been (and are) socially produced and regulated (I should probably cite Gary Kinsman in here somewhere...).

So, when it comes time for me to write my next test - seeming as how they are of an 'objective nature,' that is, true/false and multiple choice - I'm going to have to agree that 'sexual and gender identity disorder' is, in fact, a disorder.

This issue actually interests (and angers?) me, and I would take the time to dispute it. However, what about those who are apathetic? Or are just passively taking the course to get their 3 psych. credits? Or those who just believe whatever the textbook/their professor tells them to?

The perpetuation of sexual norms and opression in our society continues...

Oh. This is the lovely Sebastian (otherwise known as Sea-bass) whom I'll be officially adopting in about 8hrs. :)

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 03:26:41 GMT

Today I saw this movie and I loved it.

I never liked Penelope Cruz before... but I think I might have found a new kind of respect for her.

In other news... This is my new kitty! (Sebastian, formerly known as Andy - when he was on Death Row)

Look how big and beautiful he is! Bigger than my dog, I swear!

...too much battlestar galactica

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:34:17 GMT

Tonight I will be getting very drunk with one of my anthropology classes.
Anthro. charades is in order.
What happens if I'm supposed to act out 'post-structuralism' ???
The only things that come to mind are:
a) Kicking a Levi-Srauss book across the room
or b) (if no Levi-Strauss book is in plain sight) pissing on a pair of Levi-Strauss jeans.

Any other suggestions?

my current obsession: this video

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:08:23 GMT

Bobby Mcferrin and Richard Bona live in Montreal

fucking amazing!

wouldn't you agree??

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:56:09 GMT

tuxedo kitty on my shoulder. tuxedo kitty pirate.

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 03:54:01 GMT

It's official. I say so long to the kitties demain apres-midi.

They will be going to a lovely home where a retired woman will look after them and be able to play with them all day.

Also.
Published in the Muse recently...

http://www.themuse.ca/view.php?aid=39846

Why doesn't this exist in St. John's?!?!

KITTY CRISIS

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 02:03:57 GMT

Heavenly Creatures found a loving home for the two kitties i'm fostering. It's only been a week but I think they stole my heart.

what do i do? should i adopt?!

a miracle

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:07:49 GMT

I got the best christmas present in the world last night.
my brother hopped off his plane and pulled from his suitcase a hidden cameras t-shirt from when he saw them play.
he also got drunk with them after the show and got everyone from the band to sign a cd for me. One of them drew a picture of a penis and some others wrote "hello alanna, we love you!" and "newfoundland? why aren't you HERE?"

he told me a while ago that he got drunk with the band afterwards and partied with them a bit. i figured that since he was fairly drunk himself he was probably embellishing the truth.
maybe this wasn't the case?

on another note -

these are the two baby kitties i'm fostering. i got them about a week ago and so far came up with the names shizu (short for shizuka) and mio ka.
i don't know if i'm going to keep those names.
nor do i know if i'm even going to adopt the kittens.
they're awfully cute though.

any suggestions on names?

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:36:13 GMT

On the twelfth day of Christmas, carmel_devine sent to me...

Twelve maluccis drumming

Eleven goflyblinds piping

Ten davestacks a-leaping

Nine loopdeeloos dancing

Eight differentghosts a-milking

Seven rayecheals a-swimming

Six kerrihotstuffs a-clerktyping

Five su-u-u-uperstoners

Four heraclitus

Three dominion stores

Two green wallets

...and an anime in a ron jeremy.

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:24:34 GMT

today i got very cold, wet and soggy on my 30 minute walk to mun.
the city needs to do something about its lack of sidewalks during the snow season.
elizabeth ave. is brutal and useless.

apart from that, i've had a very unproductive day.
i need to brush up on some studying for my two exams this friday and saturday.

time to go learn about gated communities.
and more from philippe bourgeois on crack dealers in manhattan.

maybe i'll read some pat califia in between. he speaks to me like no one else.

oh.. and for any bike enthusiasts out there...
a petition mentioned in the muse recently:

http://www.gopetition.com/signatures.php?petid=10170

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 03:36:31 GMT

mom jeans

You Are Japanese Food

Strange yet delicious.
Contrary to popular belief, you're not always eaten raw.

What Kind of Food Are You?

photoshoot with mr. major

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:21:40 GMT

Over the summer duncan and i had a photoshoot.
I thought I had lost that role of undeveloped film until a few days ago when i found it in one of my moving boxes.
I also recently discovered that my dad owns a very high quality scanner...
And so I decided to scan some!!

look at him go!!

beautiful losers

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:33:02 GMT

...and he said "so you're the kind of vegeterian who only eats roses. Is that what you meant with your beautiful losers?"
and perhaps my favorite line... "Ordinary eternal machinery like the grinding of the stars."

Now that's self-indulgent. such writings of leonard cohen may even lead to explosive orgasms.
lingering thereafter.
the truth about lust and love. and sexual fantasies.

scrunched toes

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 21:21:41 GMT

i just walked one of the signal hill trails.
i think it was wise of me to walk it during sunset,
even if it may have been the cause of some of my unintentional rock climbing/slipping.
i made the gaping holes in the knees of my jeans even larger.
it gets dark out far too early.

on my way back i ran into barb neis.
she intimidates me to the point that i actually get tongue tied when i see her.
though i respect her a great deal.
i saw her film, 'a second wind' friday.
effective and thought provoking, though i was hoping for a more intense and engaging panel discussion.

tonight i look forward to a dancing extravaganza. and a/v.

but for now i'll settle for the curry that i smell cooking upsatirs.

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:44:16 GMT

i'm really impressed with the blow's new album, paper television.

on another note... i need advice in my course selection for the winter semester.
so far i've got

threatened peoples (anth 2412) w/ david natcher
engaged anthropology (anth 3408) w/ robin whitaker
new media methods soc. research (soc/anth 3630) w/ sharon roseman
...and maybe an english course w/ prof. tba
i'm looking forward to all of them.
any suggestions for a fifth course?
Nothing else seems to have peaked my interest...

also

this is tiger when she was cute and fat. i miss her more each day. i love you fatty mcgee

bike rides finito?

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:02:35 GMT

I just went upstairs to refill my cup of sleepytime chamomile tea.
i looked out the window and noticed crispy white snow on the ground.
does this mean i'll no longer be able to ride my bike this season?
this is terrible news.

the best in blaxploitation

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 03:14:03 GMT

I need a holloween costume. This is what I'm thinking of:

"Don't mess aroun' with Foxy Brown"

"She's brown sugar and spice but if you don't treat her nice she'll put you on ice!"

"A chick with drive who don't take no jive!"

"She's sexy, she's bad, she'll give you the worst beating you ever had!"

x-mas '05

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 01:40:31 GMT

The Felt's

spaghetti and meatballllsss

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 14:46:12 GMT

Yesterday I bought "Meatballs 4" for $2 at a garage sale on Hayward Ave.
I hope it lives up to the original "Meatballs"
The only review I can find on rottentomatoes is this: "Imagine one of the worst comedies ever made. And then put Corey Feldman in it."
Needless to say, I'm super excited to watch it.