What I’ve learned from having balls. | Emily Quinn | TEDxProvidence

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of growing up intersex, discovering at age 10 that they were born without a uterus and with XY chromosomes. Misdiagnoses, unnecessary medical interventions, and societal stigma caused years of shame, fear, and isolation. Teenage and young adult experiences included challenges with friendships, romantic relationships, and trust. College marked a turning point through meeting supportive medical professionals and the intersex community, leading to empowerment. Today, the speaker advocates publicly for intersex rights, media representation, and societal understanding, emphasizing that differences are not defects and that compassion, not correction, is what truly needs to change.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker discovered at age 10 that they were born without a uterus and had testes instead of ovaries, highlighting the early medical challenges faced by intersex individuals.
• 😀 Doctors repeatedly presented their intersex traits as a rare medical disorder and urged secrecy, rather than providing education about intersex variations.
• 😀 Growing up, the speaker struggled with feelings of isolation and shame, compounded by misinformation from health classes and negative online content.
• 😀 Fear of rejection led the speaker to hide their intersex status from friends and romantic partners, resulting in emotional distress and betrayal.
• 😀 Many medical interventions recommended to the speaker, including genital exams and surgeries, were unnecessary and based on misconceptions about their body.
• 😀 Encountering an informed doctor in college marked a turning point, showing the importance of knowledgeable healthcare providers for intersex individuals.
• 😀 Meeting other intersex people for the first time revealed that intersex traits are more common than perceived, representing roughly 2% of the global population.
• 😀 Publicly sharing their story and working in media advocacy helped the speaker increase intersex visibility and create representation for others.
• 😀 Society often treats difference as bad, leading to shame, unnecessary medical interventions, and social marginalization for intersex people.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that the real issue needing change is societal treatment of difference, rather than attempting to 'fix' intersex bodies.

Q & A

At what age did the speaker find out they were intersex, and what did they learn about their body?

The speaker found out they were intersex at age 10, learning they were born without a uterus, had testes instead of ovaries, and had XY chromosomes but their body couldn't process testosterone.

What were some of the medical procedures the speaker underwent as a child?

The speaker underwent genital exams, CT scans, MRIs, and blood tests, often being told these were necessary for their health.

How did the speaker first learn the term 'intersex'?

The speaker initially never heard the term 'intersex' from doctors and was instead told they had a rare medical disorder. They later learned the term describes people whose chromosomes, gonads, hormones, or anatomy don't fit typical male or female definitions.

What emotional challenges did the speaker face during adolescence?

They experienced shame, fear of rejection, secrecy about their body, difficulty trusting friends, anxiety about dating, and nightmares about disclosing their intersex status.

What misinformation did doctors provide about cancer risks?

Doctors repeatedly told the speaker they needed to remove their testes to prevent cancer, but later it was clarified that their actual risk of testicular cancer was lower than a typical woman’s risk of breast cancer.

How did the speaker’s understanding of their body change in college?

In college, the speaker met a knowledgeable doctor who explained they had androgen insensitivity syndrome and clarified that many prior medical interventions and exams had been unnecessary.

What impact did meeting other intersex people have on the speaker?

Meeting hundreds of other intersex individuals provided validation, a sense of community, and reassurance that their body was not broken, countering years of shame and isolation.

How did the speaker advocate for intersex visibility?

The speaker came out publicly, worked with InterACT to develop the first intersex main character on television, and used media and public speaking to raise awareness about intersex rights.

What are the broader societal issues highlighted in the transcript?

The transcript emphasizes societal fear and shaming of difference, leading to unnecessary medical interventions, secrecy, stigma, and marginalization of intersex people.

What is the key message the speaker wants to convey about intersex bodies?

The speaker emphasizes that intersex bodies are not broken and that the harm comes from societal misunderstanding, medical interventions performed without necessity, and the lack of awareness and acceptance.

How prevalent are intersex people in the population according to the speaker?

Intersex people represent about 2% of the population, which is roughly 150 million people worldwide.