1. Intersexuality: How Cultural Expectations, Medical Innovations and Language Created the Perception of Variant Genitalia as a Disorder Intersex: a variety of conditions an individual can be born with where “reproductive or sexual anatomy doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.” 1 in 1,500/2,000 born intersex 1 or 2 in 1,000 receive “normalizing” genital surgery Disorder: a disruption of normal physical or mental functions; a disease or abnormal condition Sex: generally refers to biological characteristics of the individual Gender: often based on cultural and social characteristics 1 in 100 have bodies differing from culturally defined standards of male and female 1852: 1 st case of “normalizing, corrective” genital surgery in U.S. Intersexuality replaced hermaphrodite in 1930s A) Historical Context Prior to 1800s, intersex seen as not a medical problem but a variation in nature During middle ages, gender assignment occurred but no medical intervention C) Linguistic Factors 19 th century: Formalized medical schools and medical education impart power, authority, and trust to physicians Mid-late 1800s: introduction of anesthesia, laparotomies, antisepsis, aesepsis Timeline of Medical and Technological Innovations Emergence of common practice of urology and gynecology in 19 th century Early 20 th century: genital surgery on infants 1990s: Still seen as “easier to dig a hole then build a pole” Gender Binary Intersexuality linked to homosexuality Parents blamed for nonconforming child Vaginal construction/re construction surgeries are needed multiple times in 80% of cases B) Cultural Factors Male or Female Abnormal Deviant Hermaphrodite Disorders of Sex Development Intersex Gender nonconforming Health care professionals helped codify intersexuality as a disorder through use of labels Western culture of the past three centuries has had major effect on how we perceive and treat individuals who do not fit societal standards Size of body parts and appearance connected to sexuality Androcentricity Perfectionism Sapir Whorf Hypothesis Categorization Diagnosis becomes identity From having a difference to being different There is a lack of consensus on standard or average genital appearance among health care professionals Other variations have been codified as disorders, following the same pattern of intersexuality Surgical intervention on infants violates at least three of the four principles of medical ethics: non-malfeasance, autonomy, justice Conclusion: Instead of “fixing” these individuals, the accepted Western cultural views of narrowly defined, two-gender society needs fixing. Knowledge lacking or distorted An aversion to homosexuality A cultural striving for normality and a yearning for perfection The desire to understand through categorization and labeling The existence of a binary sex system The ability to surgically “correct” this variance Victoria Goldman University of Pennsylvania Health and Societies Honors Thesis Advisor: Ann Greene The Factors Yet… Thesis Statement: The convergence of medical innovations, contemporary western cultural expectations, and linguistic factors, such as labeling, resulted in the codifying of the variance of intersexuality as a disorder. Intersex Flag Homophobia