The Analysis of the Intersex Conditions - Research Paper Example

?Your F. 18 April Intersex Is a baby a boy or a girl? Isn't that the first thing that a doctor says when a newborn enters the world? What if it may have the appearance of both gender characteristics? Does that mean that there is maybe even a third gender that is so rare that it is almost taboo? The term hermaphrodite refers to a person that has the reproductive organs of both a male and a female. This term implies that a person has both testes and ovaries. Also a person (or even an animal) has other physical characteristics that are also characteristic of both sexes (Hermaphrodite). While intersex conditions are not completely uncommon, they are also not a surprise to society. The two major conditions are called hermaphrodite and pseudohermaphrodite. True hermaphrodites have complete sexual characteristics of both genders. This term has been loosely described though as most people are actually psuedohermaphrodites. This typically means that a person has one type of genitalia but secondary sexual characteristics are those of the other gender (Finkler). Some people may undergo surgery to remove any type of external genitalia so that they may assume one true gender. This would allow a person to then be able to have their external genitalia and their thoughts and feelings of how they identify with either gender to correlate and would give them a sort of true gender identity and would also increase their self confidence. People may also undergo hormone therapies in order to help aid in any transition (Finkler). According to a study done over fifty years ago, eighty-four cases of people who were considered hermaphrodites showed cases of heterosexual libido. This has less to do with the person's physical characteristics. Instead, it has to do more with their upbringing. It was at this time of the study believed by these researchers that hermaphrodites experienced either homosexuality or heterosexuality not by hormones but instead by their environmental surroundings. This is thought to be true of both true hermaphrodites and pseudo-hermaphrodites (Ellis). A similar type of birth defect is ambiguous genitalia that is similar to that of hermaphrodism. This is a case when the outer organs of a person are not similar to a male or a female's organs. What can happen with this condition is the fact that during conception, the X and Y chromosomes from the father determine the child's gender. A person is either genetically XX and identifies as a female or is XY and identifies as a male. If the process in the womb is disrupted in which a baby assumes identity, it can then result in ambiguous genitalia. When the person comes from the womb, it is difficult to determine if they are male or female based on the organs that are present. Some of the causes of this condition are pseudo-hermaphrodism, true hermaphrodism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, lack of certain hormones or other abnormalities in chromosomes. It could also result from a mother taking certain medications (Medline Plus). Depending on the person, a genetic female may also appear to look like a female. However, a genetic female could also have physical characteristics instead of a male. This is the same for a male. Genetic females with ambiguous genitalia would have physical characteristics of an enlarged clitoris that looks like a small penis; the labia may resemble a scrotum; the urethral opening may be anywhere near the clitoris; there may be a lump of tissue in the labia that appears to look like a scrotum with testicles. It is often thought that these infant genetic females are at first males but with testicles that have not descended. On the contrary, a genetic male may have a small penis that is under 1.2 inches at birth. This may look like an enlarged clitoris. The scrotum may appear to look like a labia. The urethral hole may be anywhere along the peritoneum and the testicles are still undescended. This condition is not life threatening but can relate to psychological issues in the future where a person may struggle with their sexual assignment and gender identity. They may also have other social issues (Medline Plus). Hermaphrodism is now thought to be a myth. Instead, this medical condition is also referred to as pseudo-hermaphrodite. This is also called intersex. With this condition, there is a discrepancy between the genitals that appear on the outside of the boy and the external genitals that are physically present. This group of people with these conditions are considered to have disorders of sex development and it is important that a person with this condition receive social support from their families and friends and may consider counseling as an option in order to find a way to maintain a sexual identity and understand their condition (The New York Times). When looking at stories of people that grew up with these sexual and gender issues, it can be a life long battle both psychologically and socially. Of course, parents of a newborn baby would be overjoyed with the new love that has entered their life. However, they may also become horrified at the physical characteristics of their newborn child with what appears to be both types of genitalia. It is typically the parents that will help determine how a child will be raised and if they will grow up identifying during their youth as a male or a female. At any time, a person may have issues with gender identity and change the way they appear physically. If they grew up as a male, they may later in life determine that they would feel more comfortable living as a woman. A female may later in life reclaim the identity of a male. This is not always true but being a hermaphrodite can emotionally and psychologically be a struggle to a person because they know that they are not the same as other people. While it is normal to them. When looking at the case of a person named Barbara, she grew up like a normal girl. When it came upon a time when her friends were going through puberty at adolescence, it seemed strange that she was not developing in the same way. At the age of 14, Barbara was concerned that she had not yet started menstruating nor had she starting growing breasts. Instead, she started having pain in her groin area and eventually a lump mass by her labia. Barbara's voice started to drop in pitch, her clitoris began to resemble a penis and she was starting to grow facial hair (Diamond). When Barbara was 16 years old, she began to have erections in her penis, had a sexual attraction in females and was even able to ejaculate. She realized that the lump in her labia was more than likely the formation of a testes and was not sure how to share the information with her parents and was more concerned on how she would relate to her peers. While most doctors can tell upon birth if there is a case of ambiguous genitals, in Barbara's case, and a few others, the person appears as a girl (or male) and then does not change physically until puberty when they start to take on the physical characteristics of the opposite gender (Diamond). An interesting perspective would be that of the Christian faith in which during research, an article discussing dating advice for hermaphrodites was addressed. Someone had written in a question as to what the Christian perspective to a hermaphrodite would be in regards to gaining a companion. The author of the question discusses that Christianity and the Bible write off homosexuality as a sin. The author of the question was concerned with intersex people though they were not that way themselves. They asked what the moral issue is when a person who has both reproductive parts in connection with dating. Should they abstain from dating entirely? The response to the question asked was that Christians typically avoid questions of this nature. The response said that there is a difference between sex and gender. A person may believe that the two are the same. However, sexual identity and gender identity may actually differ. A hermaphrodite is just constructed differently and is distinctive from being transgendered where a person identifies with the opposite gender than what they were born. (The response to this question said that transgender people instead have hormonal imbalances or psychological problems that cause them to act out in this way). When looking at the sexes, it is thought that it could be determined by their sexual organs and that according to Christianity, a person should only date the opposite sex. However since this person has both parts, the gender in which they most identify with is how they should live. If a person identifies as a male, they should date females and vice versa. Advice of this nature suggests that a hermaphrodite cannot choose which gender that they date though they may never have a complete true sexual identity of their own. It is believed that biological science can instead determine their true sexual identity. This is purely a statement according to Christian faith and may deviate slightly from a psychological standpoint that is more liberal (Craig). Another interesting case of a true hermaphrodite would be that of Eric/Erika as discussed by Dr. Drew Penski on one of his “Lifechangers” television show episodes. Penski is notorious for taking on relationship and sexual issues of people from the viewpoint as a doctor and psychologist. Eric/Erika is the legal name that appears on this person's birth certificate because at birth, it was shown that this person had both reproductive organs. Too, both sexes are marked. Eric/Erika lived as a man and dated and married only women (three times). At some point, Eric felt the need to live life as a woman and started to live as Erika. Erika did not change who she dated. She now identifies as a woman and also considers herself a lesbian. Eric/Erika is considered a mosaic hermaphrodite and is one of, at the time, only four in the world, true hermaphrodites that could both ejaculate and menstruate. While living life as a man, she would still practice female hygiene and have her period on a monthly schedule just as any other woman. She also has the capability of becoming pregnant. However, she can produce sperm, she is incapable of fertilizing someone else to become pregnant (Lifechangers). This is just one case of the psychological trauma and torment that one person can put themselves through when identifying as both a man and a woman biologically. Works Cited “Ambiguous Genitalia.” Medline Plus. American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. 1 May 2011. Web. 18 April 2012. Craig, William Lane. “Q & A: Dating Advice for Hermaphrodites.” Reasonable Faith. n.d. Web. 19 April 2012. Diamond, Jared. “Turning a Man.” Discover Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing Co. 1 June 1992. Web. 18 April 2012. Ellis, Albert. “The Sexual Psychology of Human Hermaphrodites.” Psychosomatic Medicine 7: 108-125. 1945. Web. 18 April 2012. “Eric/Erika.” Dr. Drew's Lifechangers. Warner Bros. Entertainment Group. KCWE. 3 July 2011. Television. Finkler, Rita S. “Social and Psychological Readjustment of a Pseduohermaphrodite Under Endocrine Therapy.” The Endocrine Society. Also, The Journal of clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Newark, NJ: 1947. Web. 19 April 2012. “Hermaphrodite.” The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Farlex, Inc. 2012. Web. 18 April 2012. “Times Health Guide: Intersex.” The New York Times. 2012. Web. 19 April 2012. Read More