Society often makes the assumption that there are strictly two sexes: male and female. This idea is supported by this idea of “the perfect body,” an ideal biological make up and a flawless appearance. When in reality this idea of perfection and what is deemed by society to be ‘normal’ must be challenged. Infants that are born intersexual do not have the advantages of males or females because in the eyes of society intersexuals are abnormal – outcasts. Given society’s binary construction of gender, it outlines what individuals should be ¬– male or female – and leaves no place for an “alternate” sex. This creates a problem for those born intersexual and as a result corrective measures are used to correct an individuals imperfections so they are
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Different treatments can be suggested for different reasons, though it can also be dependent on what is seen as more important in the eyes of the physicians (Karkazis 115). In some cases ideas of phallus size or ideas of what counts as “sex” are taken into account. Sometimes the question is related back to sufficient phallus size for a male assignment. In some cases doctors take into consideration the size of the penis and if it is to small they will opt for the vaginal construction based on size alone. Crudely put, making a surgically constructed vagina is better then have a child grow up with a “small penis”. In some extreme cases the assignment has more to do with masculinity then productivity (Karkazis, 115-116). Jill A. Fisher write in her novel Gender and the Science of Difference, “Bodies have been surgically feminized more often then masculinized, on the grounds that it is technically easier to make genitals that meet expectations about female anatomy” (Fisher, 149). There is a large difference between male and female genitalia. Men have their genitalia exterior so it is more noticeable then a female because most of their genitalia is interior meaning it cannot really be seen. Understanding if whether an individual is a male or female is tied directly to biological factors. Assigning a sex to an infant is difficult because they must first determine what gender assignment will best fit the child – male or female. It is impossible to guess what gender the infant will identify with more when they are older but the best they can do is assess the infant and try to fit the infant with the gender that they will do better with (Karkazis, 112). Coequally, intersexuality can cause more problems as a result of assigning an individuals sex and gender distinction incorrectly. If a baby is born with “no
Different treatments can be suggested for different reasons, though it can also be dependent on what is seen as more important in the eyes of the physicians (Karkazis 115). In some cases ideas of phallus size or ideas of what counts as “sex” are taken into account. Sometimes the question is related back to sufficient phallus size for a male assignment. In some cases doctors take into consideration the size of the penis and if it is to small they will opt for the vaginal construction based on size alone. Crudely put, making a surgically constructed vagina is better then have a child grow up with a “small penis”. In some extreme cases the assignment has more to do with masculinity then productivity (Karkazis, 115-116). Jill A. Fisher write in her novel Gender and the Science of Difference, “Bodies have been surgically feminized more often then masculinized, on the grounds that it is technically easier to make genitals that meet expectations about female anatomy” (Fisher, 149). There is a large difference between male and female genitalia. Men have their genitalia exterior so it is more noticeable then a female because most of their genitalia is interior meaning it cannot really be seen. Understanding if whether an individual is a male or female is tied directly to biological factors. Assigning a sex to an infant is difficult because they must first determine what gender assignment will best fit the child – male or female. It is impossible to guess what gender the infant will identify with more when they are older but the best they can do is assess the infant and try to fit the infant with the gender that they will do better with (Karkazis, 112). Coequally, intersexuality can cause more problems as a result of assigning an individuals sex and gender distinction incorrectly. If a baby is born with “no