Intersex: what it means to be intersex
In recent years, the term intersex has gained increasing popularity. This is a condition in which the sexual characteristics do not fall within the traditional classification of "male body" and "female body". To date, in the world, 1.7% of the world population is intersexual, a percentage that corresponds to 30 million people. This figure, certainly not indifferent, makes it more urgent than ever to start a process of awareness on the issue and to open a space in which to legitimize intersex and share correct information about it. In this regard, let's find out together everything there is to know about intersex!
The meaning of intersex
Intersex is an umbrella term that indicates the presence of variations in sexual characteristics at the genetic, chromosomal, anatomical and hormonal levels. Despite the complexity of the concept, in recent years it has been possible to clarify its meaning above all thanks to the studies and research of Anne Fausto-Sterling, professor of biology and gender studies for the ISNA (North American intersex society). it is defined intersex when characterized by some anomalies concerning those elements of the body recognized as "sexual", such as chromosomes, genitals, gonads (testes and ovaries), genetic markers, hormones, reproductive organs and secondary aspects of sex such as beard and hair. Addressing this issue, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that, in general, the body of intersex people "does not correspond to the typical definition of male or female bodies", therefore it is not possible to trace intersex to the traditional binary classification "masculine" and "feminine".
Intersexuality can be attested from birth, when determined by evident biological alterations concerning the sexual sphere (for example: evident discrepancies in the genitals), or from puberty, when this condition affects the hormonal behavior of the person concerned. Furthermore, there are even forms. of invisible intersexuality, such as chromosomal one, for which certain medical tests are urgently needed.
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Intersex is not a sexual orientation
There is no link between intersex and a person's sexual orientation. Individuals who identify with this condition can be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, monogamous, asexual, polyamorous or queer regardless of their intersexuality. However, it can happen that an intersex person experiences over the years a series of traumas and discomforts due, for example, to frequent medical checks, humiliations and more or less forced medicalization interventions and that this negatively affects the quality of his sexual life. in this case, intersex could feel held back from living their sexuality freely because it is conditioned by a long series of stereotypes and prejudices that have targeted them from an early age.
What is the relationship between intersex and gender identity?
As with sexual orientation, asexuality has no impact on gender identity. In this sense, intersex people, like everyone, can be cis-gender and, consequently, recognize themselves in the sex assigned to them at birth, or transgender, meaning their gender identity as the opposite of that with which they were born. Also in this case, the intersex person may encounter or, worse, encounter some inconveniences in the course of his identity development due to the categorizations imposed on him by society, doctors and parents who struggle to conceive everything that eludes the binary division. between masculine and feminine.
Being intersex does not mean being sick
Although hormonal imbalances may sometimes occur, it is urgent to reiterate that intersex is not a disease and this is a concept that deserves our full attention. Due to erroneous preconceptions and lack of information about it, there are not a few people, including doctors, who still believe they are dealing with a disease. Nothing could be more wrong. An intersex person is not a sick person since intersex does not compromise his health in any way. On the contrary, a distorted view of this type can seriously harm the psycho-physical health of the people involved and trigger in the parents of intersex children a series of unfounded fears that can lead to wrong and repressive attitudes regarding this condition.
The difficulties of intersexuals
There are several difficulties that the intersexual is forced to face in the course of his life, sometimes even at the moment of birth. There are not rare cases in which, having found certain genital anomalies, doctors subject intersex children to rather invasive surgeries in an attempt to "correct" them and reinsert them within the traditional "male" - "female" sexual pattern. Despite this, it may happen that, once grown up, these people still maintain their intersexuality, manifesting attitudes and sexual characteristics typical of the opposite sex and thus making the operations and heavy hormonal treatments administered to them without consent in vain. This therapeutic persistence, together with the stigma that intersexuals live daily on their skin, even in the family, can seriously damage their health and psychic stability, making a condition unnecessarily burdensome that, on the contrary, should be accepted willingly.
Accepting intersexuality: a necessary path
Intersexuality must be accepted as an integral part of one's being and as a peculiarity of which not to be ashamed, but, on the contrary, to be proud. As trivial as it may sound, it is important that this message is reaffirmed and understood by everyone since, still today, intersex people are often victims of offenses and inappropriate comments that hinder the process of acceptance. Once you have become aware of your condition, you need to open up and talk about it with the people you really trust and by whom you don't feel judged. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to ask for help, by contacting specialist psychotherapists or by joining support groups with which to share your discomfort and find the empathy you need. If you are intersex or know someone who is, always remember that it is not intersexuality that undermines a person's health, but the closed mind of those around him.
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