Hello, again. Today, we will be discussing what it means to be intersex. We will define the term, provide a brief history of intersex issues, and highlight the experiences and voices of intersex people themselves. >> Let's start by reviewing the definition of intersex. The Intersex Society of North America, or ISNA. An advocacy organization for intersex people defines intersex as quote, a general term used for a variety of conditions. In which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. This is the definition we used when we first discussed LGBTQ+ terminology. Today, we'll offer an expanded, or rather a slightly modified, definition of intersex. While the ISNA's definition of intersex is appropriate, not all intersex people are comfortable with referring to intersex as a quote, condition or a syndrome. Which might imply that there is something medically or biologically wrong with them. This is similar to some intersex people's rejection of the more recently coined phrase Disorders of Sex Development or DSD used to refer to them. Remember that when we start to discuss what is right versus wrong, or what should or should not be, we're entering the realm of social construction versus natural phenomenon. >> To avoid essentializing human evaluations of what should or should not be. Here we define intersex as an umbrella term for people with bodily or genetic characteristics related to reproduction. That do not fit the typical definitions of either male or female. In other words, we define intersex in terms of societies attachments to the sex gender binaries of male and female, and man and woman. Intersex, like male and female, is a subcategory of sex. And to remind ourselves, sex is a system of categorization invented to classify people with certain bodily and genetic characteristics related to reproduction. >> in our discussion of sex as a social construction, we covered some of the reasons that a person might be classified as intersex. If you are interested in some of the ways that people are classified as intersex, please visit ISNA's website. What is important to remember, however, is that a significant portion of the world's population is intersex. Estimates vary, but about 2% of the world's population is intersex. That's about the same percentage as the number of natural redheads. >> In the early 20th century, scientific and medical experts invented intersex as a category of human classification. While the term hermaphrodite was commonly used in the 19th and early 20th century to refer to intersex people. It was incorrectly applied, and is now considered offensive. In biology, a hermaphrodite refers to an organism that has the capacity to produce both sets of reproductive cells. For instance, both sperm and eggs. And can therefore contribute either in the reproductive process. >> In the 1950s medical experts began to regularly perform surgeries on intersex children in order to align their bodily and genetic reproductive characteristics. According to the sex/gender binaries. The decision to perform these surgeries was based on the heteronormative, heterosexist, and homophobic assumption that a person must be clearly male or female. In order to know who they should be attracted to and have sex with. Frequently, surgeries were performed on babies without the consent of parents. Today, surgery or other kinds of medical interventions are still undertaken when intersex people are still children and cannot legally consent. This is an issue that intersex activists such as those in ISNA and interACT, advocates for intersex youth, are trying to stop. >> It was in the 1980s that intersex activists began to organize. Most recently, in 2018, California became the first US state to pass legislation that protects intersex kids from surgery without their consent. >> Experiences of being intersex vary greatly, as they do with every other kind of identity category. One of the commonalities between intersex experience is a sense of isolation. Because being intersex is not something that is openly acknowledged, discussed, or even widely known about in many societies. If you are interested in hearing about other people's experiences being intersex, we recommend the following videos. Make sure to view these videos using an intersectional lens. Until next time.
