Louise Lawrence's Argumentative Essay

From a young age, we begin to learn about history. We read elementary school history books as pure fact and our teacher’s words as truth; however, it is only later that many of us begin to question the content of what we are told. As we grow older, we learn that the truth is, much of the history we are taught is biased, filtered, and comes from a very narrow perspective (i.e. white, educated men). The figures we are told are important seldom include any diverse minority individuals, to the point of the erasure of the life experiences of critical members of society across gender, race, and class. Trans* narratives are especially subject to this erasure. However, despite this, trans* individuals have persistently fought back against this erasure
Trans* people are still an underrepresented voice within society and history; however, their stories are not invisible. There have been many notable transgender pioneers whose work and determined existence in society defied the gender constraints and societal attitudes of their time. Louise Lawrence, a trans woman born in 1912, was a critical educator of medical authorities and scientists about transvestites and transsexuals. Her writings were vital to breaking down barriers for trans* individuals to get medical access for their various and ranging needs in a time where it was near impossible. She corresponded with Alfred Kinsey and Harry Benjamin, two well-known doctors studying transsexuals at the time, and worked to gather research and information to help them help other trans people. For Benjamin, Lawrence was an important consultant and “sounding board” for his ideas, while, Benjamin provided Lawrence with an advocate for trans* issues and research. (Meyerowitz 154) At this time, trans* individuals had to fight tooth and nail to even get hormones from American doctors let alone surgery. Lawrence used her relationship with Benjamin to further the trans* cause and dispel biased attitudes society still held about trans* surgeries. Lawrence refused to accept the prejudiced attitudes of doctors who didn’t understand many trans* individuals’ body dysphoria and spent most of her life writing to advocate for trans* medical access. In a time where there was little scientific or medical research about trans* people, Lawrence’s role as an informant was an essential one to fighting against the gender normative medical world and the increasing public