26/07/2025
Abby and Brittany Hensel, born on March 7, 1990, in Minnesota, are dicephalic conjoined twins — meaning they have two heads and share one body. Despite their rare condition, they have surpassed medical expectations and led a fulfilling life. They learned to walk, swim, drive, and graduated with two separate degrees in education from Bethel University in 2012.
Although they share the same body, they were legally treated as two separate individuals when it came to paying for college tuition. Each had to pay tuition separately. However, as elementary school teachers in Minnesota, they receive only a single salary — even though both hold independent teaching licenses and carry out distinct roles in the classroom. Abby teaches math and science, while Brittany handles language arts and provides academic support.
Although they have never made public statements on the issue, their story raises an essential social question:
How can two people who share one body but make double the contribution to their work be fairly evaluated?
