| Intersex - What The Hell Is It? |
|
Intersex (or what does that I stand for anyways?) Article prepared for Out In Jersey. Published Winter 2003. Intersex---Just What The Hell Is It? (Or what does that vowel really stand for?)
Strictly speaking, intersex is a variation in genital and/or reproductive anatomy or chromosomes that the medical community feels is variant from standard male or female. That in itself raises questions as to what makes us female or male.
Is it our genitals? There are those born with notably ambiguous genitalia---a large clitoris or small penis-- that may make immediate sex determination at birth impossible.
Is it our genes? There are men with XX genes, women with XY genes, and many more combinations are possible: XXO, XXY, and XXXY to name a few.
There are men with ovarian tissue, and women with testicular tissue.
Since the 1950’s, intersexed babies have been treated as a medical and social emergency, considered by some doctors as freaks of nature that must be immediately fixed through unnecessary surgical and hormonal intervention. Often, that treatment has taken place under secrecy, with the parents told to never say a word in order to “save us” from the truth and trauma of our queer bodies. If parents followed the doctor’s orders correctly, we would grow into a gender identity and sexual orientation congruent with the surgery they performed.
Over time, well-meaning surgeons even developed an actual measurement to determine if we should be subjected to early genital mutilation. A clitoris smaller than about 3/8 of an inch is considered acceptable. Anything larger is considered by some doctors as unacceptable, leading to non-consensual genital surgery such as a partial clitorectomy. A newborn boy’s penis is considered adequate if it is longer than about one inch stretched. Anything shorter leaves the child open to sex-reassignment surgery if the doctor determines he can’t be a real man with a little penis.
<<<insert phallometer---attached>>>
Within the past decade, a grass roots movement has risen seeking to change the model of treatment for intersex children. Adult survivors and their parents are recognizing that the very issues the medical community attempted to erase with secrecy, has instead led to the feelings of freakishness and shame they sought to avoid. Genital surgeries cause irreparable harm to sexual sensitivity, and often lead to intimacy problems as adults. Despite many surgeons telling parents that without surgery we will most certainly end up queer, even with surgery, we often do.
Adult survivors have been joining forces with the queer
community to put an end to these horrific surgeries which take place at an
estimated rate of five a day in the
Bodies Like Ours, based in
<<<Insert photo—
Intersex activism isn’t just for intersexed people however. We urge everyone is outraged over the issue to become involved, learn more, help us change the medical protocol, and be welcoming and affirming of the intersexed people in your midst. If you have met more than 2000 people in your life, chances are you have met someone who is intersexed. Eliminating shame and secrecy affects the entire queer community.
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|