Costruire il sesso. Come la chirurgia interviene sui corpi femminili e maschili (sec. XVI-XVIII)

This research intertwines the history of surgery with the history of sexuality in Early Modern Europe. The period examined goes from the mid-16th to the mid-18th century. The sources used concern the field of practical medicine, so I analyse manuals illustrating the use of techniques and also the extensive literature of proto-clinical consultations (the Observationes). Indeed, the main objective of the study is to find evidence of these manipulative practices being performed on patients. The analysis focuses on the impact of surgical techniques, and more broadly, medical knowledge, on the genitals of men and women. In other words, I focus my attention on how man and woman can affirm their sexual identity thanks to the surgeon’s intervention. This attempt to manipulate bodies has enabled the medicalisation of both sexes and sexuality to be traced back to the modern age, as postulated by Foucault. The initial aim of the research is to identify specific interventions used to treat diseased or deformed genitals, enabling both sexes to reproduce without difficulty. The second aim of the research was to focus more specifically on the history and evolution of surgical practices up to the early 18th century. This revealed the diverse world of surgeons, both qualified and unqualified, during the modern age. It also brought to light the complex dynamics of knowledge transfer between these individuals, who were often in conflict with each other. Therefore, the expertise of the surgeon encompasses both empirical and traditional knowledge, and their aim is to heal the sick and support them through a time of profound suffering. However, healing can only take place if patients have confidence in their surgeon's abilities.