The film Intersexion deals with the problems faced by intersex people who are individuals with atypical sexual characteristics of a body that cannot be described as male or female. It means that at the chromosomal, genetic, anatomical, hormonal, and other levels of sex, such a person has features that are simultaneously inherent in both a man and a woman or not inherent in any of them. The directors touch upon such aspects as somatic, including reproductive and sexual, individual rights, the rights of children, persons with disabilities, the prohibition of discrimination, and issues of gender equality and gender identity.
There are two approaches to the phenomenon of intersexuality, including humanistic and pathologization. Petersen (2020) affirms that proponents of the first approach believe that intersex variation manifests the natural biological and bodily diversity of biological life forms, not associated with diseases, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Within the framework of this approach, intersex is a variant of the norm, refuting the steadfastness of the existing dual-gender paradigm. On the contrary, pathologizing means perceiving intersex variations as dysfunctions of the typical male or female body (Petersen, 2020). In the second approach, intersex variation is presented as a diagnosis that needs to be cured, similar to the absurd treatment of homosexuality several decades ago. Intersexion describes the stories of people who have become victims of a system characterized by pathologizing the phenomenon of intersex.
The critical issue challenged in Intersexion is the gender normalizing surgeries on infants, also called intersex genital mutilation (IGM). Carpenter (2019) notes that such operations are a cruel social experiment because their benefits are not proven, and the physical and mental harm caused is attested to by stories of intersex adults. The heartbreaking stories of Mani Bruce Mitchell, Lynnell Stephanie Long, Sally Gross, Max Beck, Jim Costich, and Hida Viloria, described in the film, do not leave the viewer indifferent. The sad aspect is that the operations were not supposed to help the child, they were done to not embarrass others.
The specific range of operations includes many medically unnecessary procedures justified solely by social considerations. The film’s authors highlighted the stories of intersex people who spoke about the procedures they underwent. Firstly, this is the actual castration and artificial formation of female sexual anatomy in intersex children who do not correspond to stereotypes about the size of male genitals and their sexuality. Secondly, it is a painful transfer of the urethra to enable standing urination. Thirdly, this is not necessary to remove the gonads with the appointment of lifelong hormone therapy. Fourth is the removal of tissues, for which the doctors declared a cosmetically acceptable appearance. According to Petersen (2020), all of these operations are traumatic psychosomatic, irreversible, arbitrary, and experimental. People whose stories have been consecrated in the Intersexion have also confirmed the adverse psychological effects of the interventions they experienced.
When exploring the issue of intersexuality, the directors describe an experiment by sexual behavior specialist John William Money. This individual was especially noted for his views that gender is acquired rather than innate. Money worked with the Reimer family, pushing their child into needing sex reassignment surgery. Thus, Bruce Reimer was operated on and raised as Brenda’s girl. However, despite the absence of male genitalia, Brenda realized herself as a man, changed her name to David, and married. Nevertheless, he committed suicide, unable to cope with the tragedy of his body. Money and his beliefs have done incredible harm to many people. Unfortunately, medical professionals have experimented and performed unnecessary surgeries on many children (Real Stories, 2019). Thus, Money’s allegations that newborns are genderless and gender identity can be imposed contributed to the spread of gender normalizing surgeries on infants.
Another basis for such operations is the idea that the potential psychological trauma of growing up with atypical genitalia needs to be prevented as soon as possible. Recommendations for immediate surgery are based on the concept of the child’s best interests. However, Roen (2019) asserts that there are at least three opposite operations of interest in a child. Among them are to preserve and express their natural identity, define their appearance and body, and not be subjected to pain and unnecessary surgery. At the same time, based on the horrors described in Intersexion, these interests are ignored by doctors.
The binary gender paradigm, which is characterized by the idea that humanity consists of people of two polar species, has long determined society structure, influencing the legal status of the individual, including in matters of military service, retirement age, and criminal immunities. Intersexion confirms that the dignity, value, and originality of the original identity of intersex people from the first hours of their lives were questioned by society, pushing them to conform to the social fiction of the two sexes.
In the absence of an international consensus on the proper treatment of people whose gender cannot be unambiguously determined, the fate of intersex is ambiguous. Some intersex people believe that their anatomical features should not affect the binary system of sexes, so intersex people need to be brought up neutrally until they realize their gender identity. Others are demanding the legalization of the third gender, prompting a lively debate about the right to secrecy of intersex. The third solution to the problem can be the latest concept of gender blindness. Most of the existing gender distinctions are due to unscientific prejudices, so any objectively unnecessary difference in the treatment of men and women must be eradicated. One thing is sure: intersexuality is not a disease or a vice but an expression of biological diversity. Intersexion tells the truth that society is not divided into men and women but consists of people.
References
Carpenter, M. (2019). The “normalization” of intersex bodies and “othering” of intersex identities in Australia. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 15(4), 487-495.
Petersen, J.K. (2020). A comprehensive guide to intersex. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Real Stories. (2019). “Intersexion: Boy or Girl? (Intersex Documentary) | Real Stories.” [Video]. YouTube.
Roen, K. (2019). Intersex or diverse sex development: Critical review of psychosocial health care research and indications for practice. The Journal of Sex Research, 56(4-5), 511-528.