Intersex and Intersex Surgery - Essay Example

Intersex and Intersex Surgery Intersex is a term used in many medical areas and even in an extensive amount in the field of gender and sexual studies. The term is used to describe the availability of intermediate linking of physical characteristics that well identify or rather distinguish the male sex from the female sex. The explanation of the subject is that it characterizes many aspects of a human being ranging from chromosomal difference to genital and morphologic identities. The adoption of the term was in the 20th century and has had a vast application in recognition of human beings that do not fall in the two broad human categories: males and females. In the western society, the field of intersex is very clear in educating people on the various disorders that human beings bear and the efforts that scientists have made in the comprehension of the conditions. Many writers have also made tremendous strides forward in a bid to educate people on the various conditions involved in the field of intersex. Another aspect of the field that has close ties with the main subject is intersex surgery. This is the kind of surgery performed on people with the intersex disorder in a bid to accomplish varying purposes. The two main reasons that the surgery is performed are to either save the life of the person or to address social issues that the person may be facing (Sytsma 106). However, many scientists warn about the issue of genital surgery as research shows that the results got from the surgery are far worse than good on not only the areas under surgery but also the entire body system of the person. Katrina Roen is a very famous writer who has written many books and articles concerning the area of intersex. She is the writer of one critically analyzed and reviewed article called “But We Have to Do Something.” The article has had major reviews from the manner in which Katrina focuses on the issues portrayed by various writers in the field of intersex and intersex surgery. She majorly focuses on the issue of cosmetic surgery in the western society in relation to infants atypically sexed. In her publication, she criticizes the rest of the publications stating that the manner in which they feature the female and human body as a whole is not only demining but also bothering the rest of the population. In the 21st century, many changes have been made in the surgical processes carried out, and this has had great benefits to many people. However, Katrina states that these changes should not be a reason for people to always opt for surgery and especially when dealing with young people and infants. Katrina states that the young and infants are rather vulnerable at their ages and getting them through surgery is a rather traumatic process. She goes ahead to state that parents should take responsibility for their actions as anything may happen in the surgical rooms having authorized the procedures. It is not right for children and infants to go through the strenuous surgical processes as they may have a negative impact on their development, and the outcome is never certain (Roen 42). Katrina also states that taking them through the procedures is rather poor as the kids had no approval of undergoing the procedure. She then advises that parents halt such procedures and just wait for their kids to grow up and make their own decisions as to whether they should undergo the surgery or continue living in their conditions. Another factor that she takes into consideration while going around her discussion is about the work published by feminists and their regard to intersex procedures. She criticizes other female writers and professors from the manner in which they portray the female body. According to Katrina, many feminists in the 21st century have been swept by the moving wind of globalization and technology. She states that this is not a bad fact and is rather commendable as it increases the field of research for problem solution. However, she claims that this should not be an excuse for abandoning the natural moral code of ethics. She illustrates this by stating the manner in which the feminists portray themselves as being completely knowledgeable in their own aspects. Katrina goes as far as quoting some of the authors and their take on the issue of atypical genitalia provided at the point where she states that Nicholson, another well-acclaimed writer in the field of female studies states that the sexed body acts the role of a stand. With this, there is the elaboration that the human body can withstand any form of surgical procedure applied to it. However, Katrina defies this fact strongly by stating that Intersex surgery is improper and not supposed to be carried out on certain people unless there is the dire need of the procedure. She states the surgery to be some form of correction of the body that is ill-advised especially on infants with atypical genitalia, and application of psychology when dealing with the human body is implemental (Roen 64). Another famous writer that was rather influential on the issues pertaining to intersex surgery is Alice Dreger. Alice over the years has always stressed the importance of sex and gender comprehension for a greater purpose of life as every being has that as the actual baseline. In her writing, Jarring Bodies: Thoughts on the Display Of unusual Anatomies (Dreger 1), she provides a personal directive on the issue. In the text, she is clear to give an opinion on the various manners through which intersex people are treated and the manner in which they attain their personal power of existence. Alice describes a situation where she was in a hospital that covered many of her issues. In the hospital, she got a chance to visit a screening room where her photograph was taken. The purpose of taking her photograph was for posting on the cover of her other books. The photograph prior to pasting on the book would undergo photoshopping. Photoshopping is where the photo would undergo many changes that would wholly change it to a completely more beautiful figure. She compares this personal story with that of people that take part in intersex surgery. After their surgery, they gain the gleaming characteristics that appear on their faces and thus have the strength and confidence to pose for photographs with other people having no fear of discrimination. Alice portrays this is some sort of masking for these patients and should not be acceptable in society. She goes further to state that the family of the intersex individuals should be supportive and not in a surgery manner entirely but rather to assist them in gaining the confidence they require to face life dilemmas such as criticism and discrimination. She goes further to state that surgery should receive a last resort action (Dreger 13). She also states the advice that she was offered regarding that issue while being taken the photograph. One of the assistants at the clinic went ahead to clear the issue by stating that the minor changes that they would further make on her eyes before the caption would not make any advanced changes on her recognition. She was receiving a black coloring on her eyes that she thought would make her more beautiful and less recognized. This led her to realize that as much as she tried to change herself, people around her would still recognize her and all she was doing was masking behind 21st century technology. In her comparison of the issue with the matter concerning intersex and intersex surgery, she states that the reason why many of these people go for the surgery is for the buildup of self-esteem. This is what was important for them and they thought that after the surgery, people would view them in a different manner (Dreger 101). This was not the case as given in her analogy. Like the manner in which her eye lashes just made her feel comfortable, the real fact being that she was recognizable was the same way surgery made intersex individuals. Those people that knew the individuals in a personal manner were rather not astonished by the changes made after surgery despite their being the target of the patient. Judith then states that it is important for individuals born with the various intersex conditions to grow up in a conventional manner where they build their confidence personally with family assistance rather than going for surgery. Sex reassignment is another contemporary issue focused on when dealing with the western society and its trending issues regarding intersex and intersex surgery (Valentine 47). The term “sex reassignment” is used to refer to the manner in which a human being may come to a decision of altering their sexual features to turn to those of the opposite sex. Many scientists and medical practitioners have focused on this issue, and one of the acclaimed people to dwell on the issue is Judith Butler. On the issue, she offers a lot concerning sex reassignment where she gives insight into the issue by stating that the notion of sex reassignment is one that has faced many people in the contemporary environment with the end result not being appealing. Judith offers an example where doctors had made David Reimer a female at an early age, after this, he went about an ordinary life where he even had to marry and by other means conceived children. This John/Joan case is used in the creation of different analogies explaining the anomalies experienced in life. A point in his life reached where he got traumatized by the entire sex story and ended up committing suicide. This story offers the meaningless and unethical behavior of carrying out this surgery according to Judith. Butler states that human beings do not have the decision making power on the best way in which they should be born. This is completely God’s decision, and hence the importance of reserving oneself in the manner in which God created. Changing the way one was created is a detrimental issue in the contemporary society. Another issue that Judith discusses is regarding transexualism. Transexualism is an issue that many people in society have had to deal with over the years. This is from the manner in which people have the psychological nature of a sex that is completely different from the one that their physical characteristics portray them actually. Judith speaks about this issue with a lot of concern by stating that it is not unethical for the people to acquire manners due to the fact that it is not their will to be actually born that way. She, however, states that this should not come as an excuse for unethical behavior from the people. She argues that they should try their best to adapt to the challenging environment that does not offer them complete freedom. Just as other feminists, Judith discusses this issue further by stating that the victims should not take up the unconventional task of undergoing surgery. This is from the manner in which many of the people that get to carrying out intersex surgeries later get complications. These complications go as far as the patient has to make monthly visits to the surgical clinic for check-ups and related procedures. Moreover, she states that people who face the nightmare of having transexualism have various issues that affect them psychologically. However, with therapeutic help, they can get well. Nonetheless, surgery should come as a last resort. The issue of intersex and intersex surgery is one that has faced the contemporary society in a rather outstanding manner. This has been majorly due to the improved technology that has led to changes in the field. However, it is the view of many feminists, scientists and writers that this should not receive as much attention as expected from the various negative implications associated with them. It is only important to carry out the various procedures only when it is an urgent medical need. Works Cited Butler, Judith. “Doing Justice to Someone: Sex Reassignment and Allegories of Transsexuality.” Social Sciences Mendeley. 2011. Web. 2nd May 2012. http://www.mendeley.com/research/doing-justice-someone-sex-reassignment-allegories- transsexuality/ Dreger, Alice. “Jarring Bodies: Thoughts on the Display of Unusual Anatomies.” Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. 2010. Web. 2nd May 2012. http://www.aissg.org/PDFs/Dreger-Jarring-Bodies.pdf Holmes, Morgan. Intersex: A Perilous Difference in Society. London: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. Roen, Katrina. "But We Have to Do Something:" Surgical "Correction" of Atypical Genitalia." Body and Society. 2008. Web. 2nd May 2012 http://bod.sagepub.com/content/14/1/47.extract Sytsma, Sharon. Ethics and Intersex. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Valentine, David. Imagining Transgender. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers, 2009. Print. Read More