Intersex

An intersex person is born with both male and female characteristics, such as reproductive systems, chromosomes, gonads, hormones or genitals. An example is a baby born with internal anatomy aligned to that of the male gender and external genitalia typical to a woman or vice versa. Following the birth, doctors or family members will decide to align, including surgical procedures, to define the gender of the baby for the rest of their lives. Though any decisions taken are likely based on the baby’s dominant anatomic structure, some intersex people grow up feeling that they are in the wrong body or assigned the wrong gender. Many people born intersex may not even be aware until puberty, or if at all. In the past, intersex people would be referred to as hermaphrodites, which is outdated and inaccurate. The term refers to a person who is entirely male and female; however, intersex people will typically have one dominant gender with characteristics of the other.

Intersex and non-binary are also different; people who identify as non-binary cannot associate or connect with conventional male or female gender characteristics. In contrast, intersex people are born with male and female characteristics, with others deciding what gender should be assigned. The term androgyny is also used to describe people with mixed biological gender characteristics.

Other associated gender identities:

• Androgynous (pronounced – an-dro-juh-nuhs | ænˈdrɒʤɪnəs) – is a term that relates to a person that has elements of femineity and masculinity in an ambiguous form. Unlike Intersex individuals, androgynous people are born male or female; however, they will express how they think and feel through their biological sex, gender identity, expression or sexual orientation

SUMMARY

• Individuals are born with both male and female characteristics
• Many intersex individuals only discover their identity during puberty, if at all
• Androgyny is a term also used to describe people with mixed biological gender characteristics