Medicine’s Fixation on the Sex Binary Harms Intersex People | A Question of Sex, Episode 2

Summary

This video script shares the deeply personal story of intersex activist Sean Saifa Wall, who reflects on the invasive surgeries performed on intersex children, often without their consent. It highlights the medical history of intersex treatment, harmful gender binary assumptions, and the long-term emotional and psychological impacts on intersex individuals. Wall advocates for affirming care and self-determination for intersex children, pushing against unnecessary surgeries that prioritize cosmetic outcomes over well-being. The video underscores the growing movement to protect intersex rights and educate parents and medical professionals.

Takeaways

• 📜 The narrative centers on the history and impact of medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex youth, highlighting personal experiences and medical practices that began decades ago.
• 👶 Intersex variations can occur in chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs, and there are more than 30 medical terms for such variations outside typical male and female development.
• 🩺 Many medical procedures performed on intersex children aim to normalize their genital appearance, despite not being medically necessary and often leading to emotional and physical harm.
• 💡 Sean Saifa Wall, an intersex activist, shares his experience of undergoing surgery without thorough consent and advocates against such interventions, emphasizing the harm they cause.
• 🧠 The historical shift to a binary sex model in Western culture emerged in the late 18th century, reinforcing social norms and gender roles, but science is now recognizing a spectrum of sex traits.
• 📚 Medical practices in the past often aimed to align a person's body with a sex assignment to prevent confusion, following theories like those of John Money, who emphasized early sex assignment.
• 😢 Many intersex adults, like Wall, reflect on how these surgeries impacted their mental health, with some experiencing depression and anxiety, underscoring the need for more supportive care.
• 🧬 The concept of intersex challenges the oversimplified binary understanding of sex and demonstrates that human bodies are far more varied than traditional categories suggest.
• 🏥 In recent years, some hospitals and cities have moved to ban or limit medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex infants and children, recognizing the need for self-determination and informed consent.
• ⚖️ Wall and other activists believe that the principle of 'do no harm' in medicine should prioritize the voices of those who have experienced harm, advocating for a shift in how intersex bodies are treated and respected.

Q & A

Who is Sean Saifa Wall, and what is his role in the intersex community?

Sean Saifa Wall is a public health researcher and intersex activist who works to end medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex youth.

What does the term 'intersex' refer to?

'Intersex' is an umbrella term for variations in a person's chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.

What kind of medical procedures did Sean Saifa Wall undergo as a child?

Sean Saifa Wall underwent castration at age 13 and was later consulted for additional genital surgery, which he declined.

What was one of the major concerns Sean Saifa Wall had about his genital surgery consultation?

Sean Saifa Wall was disturbed by the doctor’s description of shaving down his clitoris and creating a cavity inside him, which made him feel sick.

What assumption do doctors often make about intersex people when performing surgeries?

Doctors often assume that intersex people will want a body that aligns with heterosexual norms, such as wanting a vagina or identifying as a woman, without considering the person's actual preferences or identity.

How did historical perspectives on sex and gender influence current medical practices regarding intersex individuals?

Historically, Western culture viewed biological sex as binary, a perspective reinforced by science since the 18th century. This binary framework, rooted in gender and racial divisions, led to medical practices that seek to 'normalize' intersex bodies.

What is John Money's theory regarding gender identity, and how has it affected intersex children?

John Money, a psychologist, argued that gender identity forms around the time language develops. He believed that assigning a sex early and aligning the body with that sex through surgery would avoid confusion, leading to unnecessary surgeries on intersex children.

What kind of impact has the intersex movement had on hospitals in recent years?

The intersex movement, driven by activists like Wall, led some hospitals, like the one in Chicago, to stop performing medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex infants and children. Other hospitals and cities have followed suit.

What are some of the mental health outcomes for intersex adults as highlighted by the first national study on this population?

The study co-authored by an intersex mother and her daughter found that more than half of 198 intersex adults had been diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders, and almost a third had attempted suicide, highlighting the need for more mental health research.

What changes does Wall advocate for in the care of intersex children?

Wall advocates for affirmative care, where intersex children are taught that their bodies are healthy, they have the right to self-determination, and any decisions about their bodies, including surgeries, should be made with their informed consent when they are older.