Intersex is an identity pertaining to someone’s sex, or their ‘biological’ characteristics. Intersex people are born with physical, hormonal and/or genetic features that are neither wholly female nor wholly male, or are a combination of female and male. These features can manifest themselves within secondary sexual characteristics such as muscle mass, hair distribution, breasts and stature; primary sexual characteristics such as reproductive organs and genitalia; and/or in chromosomal structures and hormones. For example, an intersex person may be born with atypical chromosomes, like XXY, or may have external genitalia which appears male, i.e. a penis, but will also have a womb. Other common intersex traits include ‘girls’ having a notably large clitoris, internal testes, or lacking a vaginal opening, and ‘boys’ having a notably small penis or a scrotum divided so that it has formed more like a labia. There are around 46 different intersex variations, but in short, intersex people are people whose sex does not fit neatly into the ‘male’ or ‘female’ box.
Confused as to how sex isn’t so clear cut? Here’s a helpful video by Ash Hardell on how biological sex is not as simple as ‘male’ and ‘female’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MFPQ9b0xg.
Worldwide it is estimated that up to 1.7% of babies are born with a blend of male and female characteristics, and are therefore intersex. That’s about the same as the number of people with naturally red hair. Unfortunately, intersex babies are often subjected to ‘normalising’ surgery to try to make their appearance conform to binary sex norms. This is almost always done without their consent, and often without the consent or even knowledge of their parents. Surgical procedures are sometimes performed to preserve fertility, ensure bowel and bladder function, or reserve genital sensation, but often surgery is unnecessary and is performed simply to make the child’s genitalia resemble a binary sex and hide their intersex characteristics. This kind of surgery is similar to female genital mutilation, and can cause deep physical and psychological pain, and can create problems later in life when their bodies start to grow and stretch their scar tissues. Furthermore, it denies intersex people bodily autonomy. They may also be put on hormones such as testosterone or oestrogen to ensure they develop ‘male’ or ‘female’ characteristics. Often, parents are told that their child’s intersex traits are cancerous and could harm them later in life, in order to justify surgery. In many cases, their medical records are kept secret from intersex people and they may not find out that they are intersex until much later in life. Many intersex adults report that this contributes to stigma, secrecy and shame around their intersex traits.
‘Intersex’ has replaced the term ‘hermaphrodite’ which was used extensively by medical practitioners during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and is now frequently considered to have derogatory connotations. ‘Hermaphrodite’ refers to a living creature which is both male and female and can reproduce within themselves, so isn’t an appropriate term to use for an intersex person. Some intersex people have reclaimed the term, but if you’re not intersex yourself, the proper words to use to refer to intersex people are ‘intersex’ and ‘differences of sex development (DSD)’, which is a term more common in the medical sphere. Ask the individual what they prefer!
Being intersex isn’t the same as being transgender. Intersex is an identity based on biological or physical characteristics, and pertains to sex - your bodily make-up, your anatomy. Transgender refers to an incongruence between your sex and your gender - it’s having a gender identity in spite of your sex, not based on it. Not all intersex people experience distress or confusion in relation to their gender, while all trans people are trans because of their experiences of gender. Some intersex people also identify as transgender, but being intersex does not necessarily make them trans.
If you want to find out more about what intersex means, or some links to intersex support groups and activists, check out our ‘Intersex Resources’ section.
Confused as to how sex isn’t so clear cut? Here’s a helpful video by Ash Hardell on how biological sex is not as simple as ‘male’ and ‘female’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MFPQ9b0xg.
Worldwide it is estimated that up to 1.7% of babies are born with a blend of male and female characteristics, and are therefore intersex. That’s about the same as the number of people with naturally red hair. Unfortunately, intersex babies are often subjected to ‘normalising’ surgery to try to make their appearance conform to binary sex norms. This is almost always done without their consent, and often without the consent or even knowledge of their parents. Surgical procedures are sometimes performed to preserve fertility, ensure bowel and bladder function, or reserve genital sensation, but often surgery is unnecessary and is performed simply to make the child’s genitalia resemble a binary sex and hide their intersex characteristics. This kind of surgery is similar to female genital mutilation, and can cause deep physical and psychological pain, and can create problems later in life when their bodies start to grow and stretch their scar tissues. Furthermore, it denies intersex people bodily autonomy. They may also be put on hormones such as testosterone or oestrogen to ensure they develop ‘male’ or ‘female’ characteristics. Often, parents are told that their child’s intersex traits are cancerous and could harm them later in life, in order to justify surgery. In many cases, their medical records are kept secret from intersex people and they may not find out that they are intersex until much later in life. Many intersex adults report that this contributes to stigma, secrecy and shame around their intersex traits.
‘Intersex’ has replaced the term ‘hermaphrodite’ which was used extensively by medical practitioners during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and is now frequently considered to have derogatory connotations. ‘Hermaphrodite’ refers to a living creature which is both male and female and can reproduce within themselves, so isn’t an appropriate term to use for an intersex person. Some intersex people have reclaimed the term, but if you’re not intersex yourself, the proper words to use to refer to intersex people are ‘intersex’ and ‘differences of sex development (DSD)’, which is a term more common in the medical sphere. Ask the individual what they prefer!
Being intersex isn’t the same as being transgender. Intersex is an identity based on biological or physical characteristics, and pertains to sex - your bodily make-up, your anatomy. Transgender refers to an incongruence between your sex and your gender - it’s having a gender identity in spite of your sex, not based on it. Not all intersex people experience distress or confusion in relation to their gender, while all trans people are trans because of their experiences of gender. Some intersex people also identify as transgender, but being intersex does not necessarily make them trans.
If you want to find out more about what intersex means, or some links to intersex support groups and activists, check out our ‘Intersex Resources’ section.
