Name: _________________________ Gr & Section: __________________ Area:

THE CASE OF INTERSEX PEOPLE

Intersex people have bodies that are just a little different. While about 98% of human bodies
match up with the two paths of sex development we learn about in sex ed, intersex bodies are
extra creative: we have natural differences in our genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex
organs, hormone production and response, and/or secondary sex traits, such as how we grow
breasts or body hair. Some intersex differences are obvious at birth. This puts us at risk in a
medical system that can still recommend elective surgeries to “normalize” infant genitalia to
parents. The practice seemingly originates from a historical fear that intersex bodily differences
mean a person will grow up to be gay or transgender. But intersex people can have any gender
and sexuality, just like anyone else. We still have to fight against our bodily integrity being taken
from us.
Intersex is a category of experiences. There are many ways to have an intersex body, and not
all of them involve surgery or parents finding out at birth. Many people might not even be aware
that their bodily experiences fall under the intersex umbrella. As these stories show, many teens
are only told medical terminology, and later come to the word “intersex” through finding online
resources. Here are some real-life statements of people who are intersex.
Bria 27, Delaware
I was raised as a girl. I wore pretty dresses and barrettes in my hair. When I was in second
grade I started growing facial hair and breasts at the same time. My entire body, including my
legs, underarms, and torso was covered in hair. I remember discovering that I had an Adam’s
apple around the same time I had my first period when I was eight. I knew I was different, I just
didn’t know how to make sense of the differences. I was told by mom and my doctors that I was
a normal girl, especially since I already had my period. However, my enlarged clitoris made me
feel different. I couldn’t wear swimsuits because I always had a noticeable bulge that the other
girls made fun of. No one was preparing me for those types of experiences. I felt very alone and
confused.
I started loosely identifying as intersex when I was in middle school. I finally had a word to
describe my experience. I had something to say to people when they asked me if I was a boy or
a girl. Now I get to embrace my intersex characteristics on public platforms and raise awareness
about intersex issues. I’ll take that over being a “normal girl” any day.
Banti 18, Massachusetts
From the day I was born, it was clear my body was intersex. I lived in India until my parents,
who are from the United States, adopted me at age 2. Doctors in India performed surgeries
without my consent to make my genitalia look "typically female." That meant a clitoroplasty,
vaginoplasty, followed by a series of dilations. Because of the surgeries I suffer from soreness,
stinging pain, and a PTSD-like response in medical settings.
I first heard the term intersex during first or second grade when my parents took me to a check-
up. Before I heard the word intersex, I used the term “DSD,” a medical phrase meaning
“disorder of sex development.” I still feel that doctors use language which makes me feel like a
specimen. Today I feel my body is out of my control. I have a uterine structure that gives me a
period. Doctors never told me this about my body, until I was surprised by bleeding. I wish I was
fully informed.

Guide Question for Position Paper: (Essay, atleast 2 paragraphs with minimum of 5 sentences
each)
How do you think people who should address people who are intersex? Should people
use He/She to address them?

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