Intersexuality What Is Intersex Intersexuality What Is Intersex? Contemporary Medical Model Ethical and Activist Critiques Post-Consensus Statement

KEY CONCEPTS What Is Intersex Contemporary Medical Model Reproductive or sexual anatomy different from typically male or female Most common diagnoses Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia – mostly a problem for girls Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome – a problem for boys Klinefelter Syndrome (XXY chromosomes) – a problem for boys Considered both a medical and social emergency Contemporary Medical Model Optimal gender of rearing (Money et al, 1955) Small window of gender malleability (18 mo) The David Reimer “John/Joan” case Medical Teams: Endocrinologist, Urologist, and Psychologist

KEY CONCEPTS Ethical and Activist Critiques Post-Consensus Statement Sexist treatment model – mainly about female sexual functioning Heteronormative model – mainly about heterosexual sexual functioning Medically unnecessary interventions Surgery usually presented as the only option No cases to answer “what if surgery isn’t done” questions Surgery is not “irreversible” “Informed” consent Deception and partial truth-telling M.C. vs. Aaronson Post-Consensus Statement No longer referred to as “hermaphrodites” Considered “disorders of sex development” (DSD)