General Questions
What is intersex?
Intersexuality is a general term that can relate to various conditions. Many intersexed people are born with ambiguous genitalia, or sex organs that are not clearly female or male.
"Intersex workshop (long)"
"Intersex workshop (short)"
What is the difference between “hermaphrodite” and “intersex”?
“Hermaphrodite” was a term that was commonly used in the past to describe and consequently oppress intersexed people. Illustrations of hermaphrodites usually depicted people that were born half female and half male however intersexed people are not born with two complete sets of genitalia. Many intersexed people are born with ambiguous genitalia, or sex organs that are not clearly female or male. Intersexed is a general term that can relate to various conditions and is now used as the non-discriminatory alternative to “hermaphrodite”.
How common is intersexuality in South Africa?
It is believed that South Africa has more intersexed people than most countries in the world.
Here in South Africa, one person in every 50 has sex organs that doctors think are not typical. This is not really a problem. Think for example of some people, women and men, who have more than one nipple.
In South Africa, it is believed that 1 in 500 people are born intersexed.
How does it happen?
Intersexuality can be caused by a variety of medical syndromes, however, more commonly than not doctors do not know why people are born intersexed.
What is the “Best Guess” strategy?
The “best guess” strategy can refer to two things (best guess surgical strategy and best guess non-surgical strategy)
“Best Guess” Surgical Strategy
The best guess surgical strategy involves using genetic tests and historical case studies in order to determine what gender (girl or boy) an intersex child will most likely feel most comfortable in. This strategy usually also involves a tape measure test (see what is a tape measure test).
Once the tests are performed doctors choose a gender for the intersex child to be raised in and then surgery is performed on the intersex infant’s external genitalia (outside sex organs) to make it physically look either “male” or “female”.
This strategy is not 100% accurate and many times an intersex child may choose to change their gender at puberty (when they are a teenager). Surgery is usually irreversible and it does not give the intersex person a choice. Many intersex people who have had un-needed surgery performed on their genitals without her/his approval have many emotional and physical scars. It is important not to perform surgery on an intersex infant’s or child’s genitalia.
Surgery does not need to be an option, unless the intersexed person clearly wants it. Unless surgery is needed to save a life or because of a real danger to health, it should always be the choice of the person on whom it is done. Typically most intersexed people in a position to choose whether or not to have genital surgery choose not to have the surgery performed.
“Best Guess” Non-Surgical Strategy
The best guess non-surgical strategy involves using genetic tests and historical data studies in order to determine what gender (girl or boy) an intersex child will most likely feel most comfortable in. The intersex child is then raised in that gender with the understanding that the intersex person may choose a different gender at another point of their life (possibly during teenage years).
The best guess non-surgical strategy should also go along with counseling and education for both the family and intersexed person is needed in order to better understand intersexuality.
How is intersexuality normally dealt with?
Typically in South Africa when an intersexed person is born non-consensual, non-medically necessary surgery will be performed on their genitals in order to make their sex organs appear male or female. This surgery has been proven to be bad for an intersexed person’s emotional, physical and sexual health.
Intersex activists advocate for a different approach that includes waiting until the child goes through puberty so the intersexed person can determine whether her/himself will have genital surgery. Typically most intersexed people who are given the option to have genital surgery choose not to have the surgery performed.
It has been proven that non-consensual, non-medically necessary genital surgery is not the answer. Counseling and education for both the family and intersexed person is needed in order to better understand intersexuality.
Can’t they just do a test to find out a baby’s TRUE sex?
There is no true sex. However when an intersexed infant is born, genetic and other tests are performed in order to determine what gender the intersexed person will most likely present. The history of other intersexed people with various conditions is also considered.
Because tests and historical data are not 100 percent accurate in determining one’s gender it is important to note that the intersexed person may choose another gender as she/he ages. This is why it is important to avoid un-necessary, non-consensual, usually un-reversible genital surgery.
Why are intersex activists advocating for a different approach?
Intersex activists are often people who were born intersexed and had unnecessary genital surgery performed on them. Medical approaches that focus on genital surgery have been proven wrong and bad for the overall health of an intersexed person.
What about intersexuality and scripture? (see SG’s paper)
Islam
From the Holy Qur`an, Surah 42: 49 - 50:
"To Allah belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth. He creates what he wills. He prepares for whom he wills females, and He prepares for whom He wills males. Or He joins together the males and the females, and He makes those whom He wills to be Aqim (in a normal heterosexual way ineffectual; also barren). Indeed He is the Knowing, the Powerful."
How can I become involved with Intersex South Africa?
We are always welcoming to intersexed people and their allies that wish to get involved. You can get involved by volunteering some time, attending our events or financially supporting us. To find out more contact Intersex South Africa via email or by phone.
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Sorry, African child
I, for all, apologise to you.
You have come into this living world,
that offers you no life;
Born into a history that,
for you, holds no future,
for we, will fail you.
Your breath will be in vain,
your dreams of no consequence,
your innate ability, a foregone futility,
as you will not be allowed to be,
as we fail you.
You are not of your own accord,
but the wasted fruit of our indifference;
Remember, this world, of adult construct,
will have you rapidly forgotten,
for we, the global us,
with a hole in our soul,
will fail you.
Child, you have come into this world
that shunned you from its future;
Yours a life filled with emptiness,
for what you could have had,
is with the haves.
What remains, will be your remains:
a life of having been,
yet, a life unlived.
You’re born alive, but otherwise stillborn.
African child, I’m sorry…
-
Romeo Maasdorp (Cape Cultural Collective, South Africa)
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