Extra Credit Event Two | Intersex: Beyond the Binary
Today, I attended the symposium held in Royce Hall regarding intersex children and medical interventions after birth. Among the guest speakers was a woman, whom will be the main presenter I discuss in this blog, by the name of Georgiann Davis, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her perspective, being an intersex person herself, is valuable in our understanding of the intersex community and their opinions on highly debated topics regarding medical practices today. Being a double major in Gender Studies and Anthropology, I found these issues to be relevant to my field of study.
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| Flyer provided at the event |
One of the main focal points for the discussion was the ethics of medically intervening in the anatomies of intersex children to conform their genitalia to one sex. This brings forth the issue of the gender and sex binary. In this case, we are discussing more the sex binary that is present and influences the doctors of today. The idea of there only being two sexes, male and female, and what those should look like has been normalized to the point where any deviation becomes a trait to be looked down on, causing those with intersex traits to often feel embarrassed or ashamed. Davis, being an intersex person, discussed how she felt shame after discovering the medical records that revealed her intersex status. She advocated for the banning of medical intervention in intersex cases and full disclosure to the individual once they can understand their situation. I completely agreed with everything that Davis had to say during her presentation. I believe that conforming genitalia to the assumed gender based on chromosomal characteristics should be shied away from in today's medical practices. Like Davis, I think that persons with intersex traits should be made full aware of their status and decide on their own if they wish to seek medical attention in any way, shape, or form. Below is the image of "Genderbread Person," which illustrates the spectrum of sex, sexuality, and gender identity. The question of medical interventions in intersex patients is an ongoing debate that should be continually addressed so everyone can come to some sort of understanding.
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| Panelists (Davis on far right) |
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| "Genderbread" Person |
Works Cited
"Breaking through the Binary: Gender Explained Using Continuums." It's Pronounced Metrosexual. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 June 2017
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