I feel like parents shouldn't be led to feel like they have to make a decision for their intersex child about what gender they're "supposed" to be. I agree with the article in that doing so is taking away from the child's autonomy, it can also lead to a gender identity crisis if the parent chose the wrong one. I feel intersex people should be allowed to make that decision, if they choose to, when they are capable of doing so for themselves.
A little unrelated, but what really bothered me about this story is the way the hospital staff treated him like a zoo animal. It is wrong for hundreds of doctors and nurses to all get a 'peek' in the name of 'learning/science'. It was clearly traumatizing for him to have that many (statistically female) nurses looking at his genitalia. It should be kept on a 'need to see' basis among the doctors I think.
I think it is very telling that once he learned that there other people in the world that could relate to him, his whole mentality changed regarding his situation; he didn't have to be "ashamed" anymore. Growing up under the lens of doctors and not being sure himself of what his given situation exactly was, I feel as though his sense of identity was impaired, almost as if he may not have belonged. I see this idea as being reinforced also through the mentions of the suicide attempt. I feel like this shows the extent to which childhood experiences can affect one as they grow up.
I feel like parents shouldn't be led to feel like they have to make a decision for their intersex child about what gender they're "supposed" to be. I agree with the article in that doing so is taking away from the child's autonomy, it can also lead to a gender identity crisis if the parent chose the wrong one. I feel intersex people should be allowed to make that decision, if they choose to, when they are capable of doing so for themselves.
ReplyDeleteA little unrelated, but what really bothered me about this story is the way the hospital staff treated him like a zoo animal. It is wrong for hundreds of doctors and nurses to all get a 'peek' in the name of 'learning/science'. It was clearly traumatizing for him to have that many (statistically female) nurses looking at his genitalia. It should be kept on a 'need to see' basis among the doctors I think.
DeleteI think it is very telling that once he learned that there other people in the world that could relate to him, his whole mentality changed regarding his situation; he didn't have to be "ashamed" anymore. Growing up under the lens of doctors and not being sure himself of what his given situation exactly was, I feel as though his sense of identity was impaired, almost as if he may not have belonged. I see this idea as being reinforced also through the mentions of the suicide attempt. I feel like this shows the extent to which childhood experiences can affect one as they grow up.
ReplyDelete