A hermaphrodite—what should a girl do if he”s a boy?
The expression “all people are different” seems to have the most straightforward and obvious meaning. However, when you begin to delve into these differences, your head starts to explode. This is because something familiar can turn out to be completely unusual. Contents of the article:
Who are hermaphrodites and a little history
- Biology
- Physiological signs of intersexuality
- monologue.”> Born a girl, but began to turn into a boy: #monologue
- Choosing the gender of your intersex child
- How is hermaphroditism surgery performed?
- Famous people who are hermaphrodites
- Doctors and parents decided behind my back whether to make me a boy or
Who are hermaphrodites and a little history
Biology
History
Intersex individuals can be born with both genitals or with one primary genitalia, but the opposite. In addition to visible features, other physical characteristics can also be identified as intersex.
For example, if a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome, this chromosomal difference manifests in Klinefelter syndrome.
The term hermaphroditism applies not only to humans but is often used to describe certain plant species and other animals that have both genitals.
Historically, people born with this condition often undergo surgery in infancy. Essentially, the surgery aims to remove one of the reproductive organs and anatomically transform the child into a female or male.
Some people, such as the North American Intersex Association, consider “hermaphroditism” outdated and inaccurate. a term for intersex people. It”s usually used to describe someone who is physically both female and male.
However, a person who was born with both genders cannot simply be described as completely feminine and completely masculine.
A person who is called a hermaphrodite may actually be born with a male appearance but have female organs, or vice versa.
There are many other congenital mutations that generally avoid the label of hermaphroditism. For example, girls may have no vaginal opening and an enlarged clitoris may look like a small penis. And boys can be born with a labia-shaped scrotum.
Medical research has shown that people once called hermaphrodites are actually born with multiple variations of female and male reproductive organs.
This has led to the term “intersex” being used more widely. That”s what these people are called today. However, some people born with the condition readily accept the label, while others find it offensive.
History
Mythology
Some references to hermaphrodites date back thousands of years. Throughout history, societies have tried to change or destroy them. In ancient times, the Romans and Greeks were influenced by the myth of hermaphroditism, but destroyed hermaphrodite children at birth.
In the Middle Ages, hermaphrodites were considered dangerous monsters. They could be burned at the stake or have their “ambiguous” organs amputated. Medieval Europeans tried to operate, but often damaged functioning organs and never removed nonfunctioning ones.
The Navajo people of the southwestern United States were gender prejudiced and actually worshiped hermaphrodites. They included them in their mythology as a sacred category of people called “above.”
Hermaphroditic children were believed to bring wealth and blessings to society and were also considered better mediators, especially between the sexes.
The Sambia people of New Guinea believed that two hermaphroditic males created the world. They also believed in the existence of a third gender called “kolu-atmvol”.
Other groups of people who believe in the existence of a third intersex category are the Hua, Bimin Kusumin, Tahitians, and a small group in the Dominican Republic.
Mythology
In popular culture
Hermaphrodite — Greek mythology;
- One of the ancient Greek myths is described in the dialogue of the philosopher Plato “The Symposium”. He talks about the existence of a kind of hermaphrodite, a bisexual person with four legs and four arms.
These people were self-sufficient and perfect. However, they imagined themselves above the gods and decided to overthrow Olympus. Then Zeus became angry and ordered each androgyne to be cut in half, scattering the male and female halves throughout the world.
Since then, all people are born unhappy. They spend their entire lives searching for their soul mate to find happiness and love. Having met a seemingly suitable person, they are doomed to doubt his ideals.
Only the mythical hermaphrodite is an ideal creature, combining masculinity and femininity, experiencing true happiness and not needing anyone”s love.
Hermaphrodite is a legend;
- The ancient Greeks created an artistic picture of the surrounding reality in mythology. Even such anomalies as hermaphroditism are the result of the love of two higher beings: the goddess of love and beauty and the god of deception and deceit.
According to one legend, Hermaphroditus (his name testifies to this), the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, was a handsome and athletic young man. The constant attention and admiration of others made the young hermaphrodite arrogant and narcissistic.
One hot day he came to bathe in a cool spring. There he met a nymph girl on the shore of the lake and fell in love with her, about whom he remembered nothing. She, too, burned with extraordinary passion for the stranger. This fateful meeting completely changed not only the life of the young man, but also himself.
Hermaphroditus and Salmakis.
- The nymph lived in a spring and differed from her friend in her beauty and laziness. Her name was Sarmakis. She prayed to the hermaphrodite for love. But the arrogant young man refused to reciprocate her feelings.
Then the beautiful nymph asked the gods to help her merge with her lover in ecstasy. The gods literally fulfilled her request. Two young men and a woman entered the lake, and one came out, the first hermaphrodite, a myth, half man, half woman.
In popular culture
What are hermaphrodites?
Micropenis in men. What to do if a guy has a small penis? It is rare to meet a man who is completely satisfied with the size of his manhood. Even if it is normal, he often wants to lengthen or
Some celebrities are rumored to be hermaphrodites.
Rumor has it that a popular actress was born with male genitalia. The rumors were fueled by her short hairstyle and decision to adopt a child. However, these rumors were not confirmed.
Very interesting discussion. Few people need to create news breaks.
The famous star sparked rumors that she has male genitalia when photos of her underwear emerged which showed her “seeing something there”. However, she later denied these rumors.
Conclusion: choose a decent photographer.
A South African athlete won the women”s 800m at the World Championships. Her masculine appearance raised suspicions about her gender, and the IAAF requested that she be tested.
According to reports, Semenya does not have a uterus or ovaries, and her testicles are inside, making her victory highly controversial. However, this does not make the caster a man.
What are hermaphrodites?
Physiological signs of intersexuality
These are friends, neighbors and ordinary people you see on the street. Physical appearance alone does not make a person intersex. In fact, some people don”t even know they are intersex because they don”t show any outward signs.
Physiological signs of intersex
Other physical signs of an intersex person
Other signs that a child is intersex include a missing vulva, labia that resemble a scrotum, an empty scrotum, or the urethral opening on the underside rather than the tip of the penis.
Other physical signs of an intersex person
How does it happen that a person is born intersex?
When a child reaches puberty, their body may produce hormones that are opposite to the gender assigned at birth. Expected signs of puberty, such as breast growth and facial hair growth, may not appear as expected.
Even puberty may not be a sign of intersex. Some people don”t know they are intersex until they are much older and have fertility problems. And finally, some people show no signs of intersex at all. They don”t even know about it.
How is it possible that a person was born intersex?
monologue.”> Born a girl, but began to turn into a boy: #monologue.
XYY syndrome. This syndrome occurs when a man has an extra Y chromosome. Also known as Jacob”s syndrome or several other names. People with this disorder usually live normal lives. However, they may be taller than average or have speech problems;
- Klinefelter”s syndrome. This genetic disorder causes males to have an extra X chromosome at birth. Testicles are usually smaller than average and do not produce as much testosterone.
- During puberty, people with Klinefelter syndrome may not grow a penis and may have little hair on their face and body.
Mosaicism. Mosaicism occurs when chromosomes vary across cells, for example, some are XY and some are XXY.
- Born a girl, but began to turn into a boy: #monologue of an intersex person
The reasons why people are born intersex make no sense. It is difficult to establish regularity. This can happen spontaneously at the time of conception. Sometimes changes occur under the influence of the egg, sometimes under the influence of the sperm.
Even if a chromosome mutation occurs, the changes do not always lead to the child being born intersex.
Are there treatments for intersex?
Choosing the gender of your intersex child
There are medical interventions to treat side effects, but these are treatments for side effects, not intersex.
For example, if a baby is born with a closed uterus, blood cannot leave the body, leading to menstrual cramps in adulthood. In this case, doctors treat the closed uterus with surgery to create an opening for the blood to escape.
Choosing the gender of your intersex child
How is hermaphroditism surgery performed?
Since the 1930s, intersex children who were considered girls often underwent clitoral surgery to make them appear more typical. However, since these surgeries are performed primarily for social reasons, it is also important to talk to various non-medical professionals.
Therapists who specialize in treating intersex people and their families can help you decide whether surgery is the right choice. Please note that as your child grows up, he may no longer recognize the gender you assigned him as an infant.
Also remember that the hormones your child produces during puberty may not match your chosen gender.
How is surgery performed for hermaphroditism?
Famous people who are hermaphrodites
Clitoridectomy: amputation of the entire clitoris was popular in the past but is no longer used;
- “Hiding” the clitoris. Between clitoridectomy and modern operations, there was a procedure for “hiding” the clitoris. It was designed to preserve the maximum amount of tissue, but resulted in painful stimulation;
- Clitoral reduction: This procedure is much more common today. It maximizes sensitivity while preserving the head and neurovascular bundle;
- Vaginoplasty. Vaginal reconstruction with this method can only be used to facilitate intercourse or intercourse and menstruation. The latter is only advisable if the woman has a uterus.
- Surgeons may close the vagina with split-thickness skin grafts, amniotic membrane, peritoneum, or intestines.
Vaginal dilators: Vaginal agenesis often requires this method for normal sexual functioning.
- Thanks to modern medicine and surgery, intersex has become even less problematic than before.
Famous hermaphrodites
Doctors and parents decided behind my back whether to make me a boy or.
This famous British writer has been known as a man for several decades. She was born with swollen genitals and was initially identified as male.
In 1968, Simmons underwent gender reassignment surgery and married in what is believed to be the first legal interracial marriage in South Carolina. Simmons suffered from Parkinson”s disease in the last year of her life before dying in 2000.
She was born in 1956. Doctors were puzzled by her intersex condition and ambiguous genitalia. She was found to have mixed male and female reproductive organs consisting of testicles and uterus. When she was 18 months old, she had surgery to remove her enormous clitoris.
Cheryl later changed her name to Beau Laurent and became an intersex advocate and human rights activist. She talks about her experiences with doctors and parents who find it difficult to understand the problems of intersex people. Chase is the founder of the North American Intersex Association.
Vulcan, born in 1957, is a photographer and activist. She was born with male and female traits, but was raised as a female from birth.
After living as a woman for 37 years, Vulcan now identifies as gender queer and lives as both a man and a woman. Vulcan”s professional work includes photography, with a focus on queer femininity and the representation of femininity and lesbian masculinity.
Cabral is a prominent intersex and trans activist in Argentina. He was born a woman, but now lives as a man.
Cabral”s research focuses on issues related to social theory, embodiment, and biotechnology that have contributed to the intersex debate.
Cabral coordinates trans and intersex areas for the IGLHRC Latin America office and is the Executive Director of Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE).
Briffa was born in Australia and became the first intersex mayor of the state of Victoria, and is also vice-president of Intersex International Australia. Originally raised as a girl, Briffa subsequently lived as a man and is now an accepted non-binary figure.
As the first openly intersex mayor and public servant, he now holds a leadership position in an organization that allows him to advocate for the rights of intersex people in Australia.
Briffa is also known as one of the first people to receive an indeterminate birth certificate.
These are people who live among us and lead absolutely normal, ordinary lives. They are not sick.
Anyone can have an intersex child. And it”s very important to do it right.
Doctors and parents decided behind my back whether to make me a boy or a girl. intersex people in Russia
