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

2. 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
Genital ambiguity vs. genital variability
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

3. Descriptions (from medical records) Of Clitorides That Are “Too Big”
“ disfiguring and embarrassing phallic structure”
“ anatomic derangements”
“Clitoral overgrowth”
“Female babies born with an ungainly masculine enlargement of the clitoris :
“The offending shaft of the clitoris “
“The size of the glans is challenging to a feminine cosmetic result.”

4. 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
Genital ambiguity vs. genital variability
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

5. 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)