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Widely cited in many text books, the case was a landmark study - hailed as proof of the overwhelming force of nurture - in spite of increasing evidence that hormones both in the womb and throughout a child's life, play a huge part in an individual's perception of themselves as masculine or feminine.

Widely cited in many text books, the case was a landmark study - hailed as proof of the overwhelming force of nurture - in spite of increasing evidence that hormones both in the womb and throughout a child's life, play a huge part in an individual's perception of themselves as masculine or feminine.

Nevertheless, Brenda/Bruce behaved in a distinctly masculine fashion. He liked running, fighting and climbing, and loathed playing with dolls. He had no friends and was increasingly lonely as her twin Brian was embarrassed to play with her in front of his other friends. He hated going to visit Dr Money, who insisted that to fully understand that she was a girl, she needed to grasp the difference between men and women, and frequently spoke to him about genitalia. He took photographs of both twins  naked, and even encouraged them to engage in sexual play with each other. He tried to persuade Brenda/Bruse to have a vagina constructed, which, at the time, would have been made out of section of his bowel or else from the skin of his thigh, which would then be inserted into the pelvic region.

Nevertheless, Brenda/Bruce behaved in a distinctly masculine fashion. He liked running, fighting and climbing, and loathed playing with dolls. He had no friends and was increasingly lonely as her twin Brian was embarrassed to play with her in front of his other friends. He hated going to visit Dr Money, who insisted that to fully understand that she was a girl, she needed to grasp the difference between men and women, and frequently spoke to him about genitalia. He took photographs of both twins  naked, and even encouraged them to engage in sexual play with each other. He tried to persuade Brenda/Bruce to have a vagina constructed, which, at the time, would have been made out of section of his bowel or else from the skin of his thigh, which would then be inserted into the pelvic region.

When Brenda/Bruce was 7, Money showed him graphic photographs of a woman giving birth in an attempt to get him to agree to having a 'baby-hole' made. He also suggested strongly that he take hormone tablets in order to make him grow breasts when she was 12. Other scientists, including Dr Money's ex-students, argue that he did these things in the best possible interests for his patient - to make him believe that he was indeed a girl. '''Brenda/Bruce however felt traumatized and became suicidal.'''

When Brenda/Bruce was 7, Money showed him graphic photographs of a woman giving birth in an attempt to get him to agree to having a 'baby-hole' made. He also suggested strongly that he take hormone tablets in order to make him grow breasts when he was 12. Other scientists, including Dr Money's ex-students, argue that he did these things in the best possible interests for his patient - to make him believe that he was indeed a girl. '''Brenda/Bruce however felt traumatized and became suicidal.'''

Finally when he was 13, the family told him and Brian the truth. Brenda/Bruce was intensely relieved as she had felt she was going insane. Almost immediately he reasserted that he was a boy and called himself David. David received compensation money for the circumcision and used this to pay for surgery to have a new penis constructed. In his early twenties he married Jane Fontane, who had three children of her own.

Finally when he was 13, the family told him and Brian the truth. Brenda/Bruce was intensely relieved as she had felt she was going insane. Almost immediately he reasserted that he was a boy and called himself David. David received compensation money for the circumcision and used this to pay for surgery to have a new penis constructed. In his early twenties he married Jane Fontane, who had three children of her own.

Unfortunately, his relationship with his brother worsened. Brian had felt that David, as Brenda, had received all the attention when they were growing up; once he discovered that he was no longer the only boy in the family, he became extremely angry. It was the start of mental disturbance that would develop into schizophrenia. After two failed marriages, he died in 2002, possibly of a drug overdose, which may have been a suicide attempt.

Unfortunately, his relationship with his brother worsened. Brian had felt that David, as Brenda, had received all the attention when they were growing up; once he discovered that he was no longer the only boy in the family, he became extremely angry. To discover he had been lied to so long and so extensively was disturbing. It was the start of mental disturbance that would develop into schizophrenia. After two failed marriages, he died in 2002, possibly of a drug overdose, which may have been a suicide attempt.

David never managed to complete his education and had to take semi-skilled work. He was made redundant and was unemployed for a year. He sold the movie rights to his story, but lost the money when a business man absconded with his investment. Stricken with grief for his brother, his marriage started to fail. Jane asked him for a short separation period, but David took this very badly. He returned to his parents' house for a few days, before driving to a supermarket car park on 4 May 2004 and shooting himself in the head. He was 38 years old.

David never managed to complete his education and had to take semi-skilled work. He was made redundant and was unemployed for a year. He sold the movie rights to his story, but lost the money when a business man absconded with his investment. Stricken with grief for his brother, his marriage started to fail. Jane asked him for a short separation period, but David took this very badly. He returned to his parents' house for a few days, before driving to a supermarket car park on 4 May 2004 and shooting himself in the head. He was 38 years old.