Body Problems Book Launch
Body Problems Launch
Saturday, the 14th of the month, we had the pleasure of hosting M. Wolff, Associate Professor of Religion and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, for the launch and discussion of their book, Body Problems.
In Body Problems, M. Wolff offers groundbreaking insight into Sally Gross, a South African intersex priest and activist whose body was continuously policed and politicized. M. Wolff explores the idea of a body: as an institution, and as an oppressive force. Gross’s role in founding Intersex South Africa and her involvement with the African National Congress are celebrated in the Apartheid Museum, but the complex dimensions of her life—from her Jewish heritage to her Christian priesthood and Buddhist practices—remain largely unexplored.. Get the book here. Here are some of the slides Wolff shared with us about Sally’s life:
These are some photos of her as a child that did not make it into the book. In addition to going to archives and interviewing people who knew Sally, I went to her brother’s house where he shared photos and keepsakes with me.
Jewish community, Quakers, Buddhist meditation.
Granted medical leave. Moved to Eastbourne England where she took the name Sally. Misdiagnosed as transgender. Laicized by the Catholic Church in 1994.
2003-2004 Aided in passing the Alteration of Sex Description Act into law. Contributed amendments to the Alteration of Sex Description Bill. 2005-2006 Aided in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. Commemorated in the Apartheid Museum.
M. Wolff asks us to consider the policing of our own bodies, and the bodies that do the policing:
