Gender Identity In Intersex

This quote stood out to me because it rivals the proposed basis of the book. The summary of the book presents the idea that Middlesex was written with the intent to challenge gender norms and the concept of gender identity as a whole; this quote, however, demonstrates an acceptance of these norms and little questioning on how gender identity is determined. Eugenides in earlier and later sections of the book portrays Cal with male stereotypes, such as being into bloody literature or the fact that Cal’s attracted to girls. This quote demonstrates the latter, what specifically makes it stand out is the line “did Calliope ever feel an inkling to her true biological nature?” (Middlesex 327). This is said after a brief description of Cal’s feelings for the Obscure Object and it, unfortunately, holds some problematic implications. …show more content…
There is no moment where Cal even considers that perhaps his attraction is based on the fact that he simply isn’t straight, rather he jumps to the conclusion that this attraction is only there because deep down Cal’s biology makeup knows that he is male and therefore attracted to females. This simplification and lack of transition is one of the main problems in Middlesex. Eugenides doesn’t explore the everyday lives of intersex people, he doesn’t explore the confusion in a way that isn’t vague and difficult to understand, he doesn’t acknowledge the common problems that intersex people face, and he doesn’t include a transition or questioning phase. There is no depth to this novel because it’s focusing superficially on an issue that requires a detailed explanation, something that Eugenides might have been able to accomplish if he hadn’t been so focused on telling the story of three generations of Greek immigrants that had only a slight relevance to what the main story was supposed to