1. Intersexuality: How Cultural Expectations, Medical Innovations and Language Created the Perception of Variant Genitalia as a Disorder
The Multiple Factors:
First, history of intersexuality and medical/technological innovations.
Second, cultural factors that affect perceptions of intersex.
 Third, linguistic factors and language theories.
he Intersex flag was created by Organisation Intersex International Australia in July 2013 to create a flag "that is not derivative, but is yet firmly grounded in meaning". The organisation aimed to create a symbol without gendered pink and blue colors. It describes yellow and purple as the "hermaphrodite" colors. The organisation describes it as freely available "for use by any intersex person or organisation who wishes to use it, in a human rights affirming community context"
Maybe make note saying references upon request **
, identification
The codifying of intersexuality as a disorder did not save lives, create normal functioning, promote individual well-being or integration into society.
if not for a confluence of linguistic factors, medical innovations, and cultural expectations and biases.
Surgical and medical innovations have empowered physicians with the tools to transform these labeled individuals according to culturally established expectations and norms of gender
Victoria Goldman
University of Pennsylvania
Health and Societies Honors Thesis
Advisor: Ann Greene
Thesis Statement:
The convergence of medical innovations, contemporary western cultural expectations, and linguistic factors, such as labeling, resulted in the codifying of the variance of intersexuality as a disorder.
1 in 1,500/2,000 born intersex
C) Linguistic Factors
 Health care professionals helped codify intersexuality as a disorder through use of labels
A) Historical Context
Intersexuality replaced hermaphrodite in 1930s
Abnormal
Deviant
Timeline of Medical and Technological Innovations
Hermaphrodite
Gender: often based on cultural and social characteristics
Male or Female
Sex: generally refers to biological characteristics of the individual
During middle ages, gender assignment occurred but no medical intervention
Prior to 1800s, intersex seen as not a medical problem but a variation in nature
Disorders of Sex Development
Intersex
Gender nonconforming
Intersex: a variety of conditions an individual can be born with where “reproductive or sexual anatomy doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.”
19th century: Formalized medical schools and medical education impart power, authority, and trust to physicians
Sapir Whorf Hypothesis
Diagnosis becomes identity
Emergence of common practice of urology and gynecology in 19th century
Categorization
From having a difference to being different
1852: 1st case of “normalizing, corrective” genital surgery in U.S.
Disorder: a disruption of normal physical or mental functions; a disease or abnormal condition
Mid-late 1800s: introduction of anesthesia, laparotomies, antisepsis, aesepsis
Early 20th century: genital surgery on infants
1 in 100 have bodies differing from culturally defined standards of male and female
1990s: Still seen as “easier to dig a hole then build a pole”
Vaginal construction/reconstruction surgeries are needed multiple times in 80% of cases
Intersex Flag
The Factors
An aversion to homosexuality
A cultural striving for normality and a yearning for perfection
The desire to understand through categorization and labeling
The existence of a binary sex system
The ability to surgically “correct” this variance
B) Cultural Factors
Western culture of the past three centuries has had major effect on how we perceive and treat individuals who do not fit societal standards
1 or 2 in 1,000 receive “normalizing” genital surgery
Gender Binary
Intersexuality linked to homosexuality
Yet…
Size of body parts and appearance connected to sexuality
There is a lack of consensus on standard or average genital appearance among health care professionals
Homophobia
Surgical intervention on infants violates at least three of the four principles of medical ethics:
non-malfeasance, autonomy, justice
Parents blamed for nonconforming child
Androcentricity
Other variations have been codified as disorders, following the same pattern of intersexuality
Perfectionism
Knowledge lacking or distorted
Conclusion: Instead of “fixing” these individuals, the accepted Western cultural views of narrowly defined, two-gender society needs fixing.