Ambiguity... how appropriate
The first part of the question is rather dangerous. I have sat here for a good 15 minutes contemplating my answers carefully but I am not getting anything written so I will foolhardily start typing. I am sure that no matter how meticulous I am, I will slip up somewhere anyway. I apologize in advance. (That’s rather ironic because a majority of people on the internet, especially bloggers, utilize the internet to unashamedly blast their opinions with no consideration for others’ thoughts and feelings.)
So… does an intersexual need “treatment?” Well, yes and no. If one considers an intersexual as possessing some sort of disease that needs curing, then yes. Medically speaking, intersexuality would be classified as a congenital or genetic disorder. Biologically/genetically speaking, intersexuals would have some form of genetic “mutation.” Of course these assumptions are in relation to “normal” “healthy” human bodies. With this in mind, I can comfortably agree that any congenital or genetic anomalies are abnormal. HOWEVER, I also recognize the fact that genetic or congenital abnormalities need not necessarily be treated so long as they do not detrimentally affect one’s health. “Redheadedness” is an example of a genetic anomaly. Specifically, it is a mutation of a certain protein. These individuals that “suffer” from this mild form of albinism are not in any need to treatment (they just need to be a tad more careful with sunscreen.) In terms of intersexuality, I do not think that any form of intervention is necessary unless it is affecting the individual’s life negatively. I feel that the decision to “treat” or be “treated,” like all decisions that pertains to one’s self, is ultimately their own. (I purposely put treat in quotations because it is not necessarily “treatment” in a medical sense because that implies something is wrong. Rather I use it as an umbrella term for any sort of procedure, whether it is for aesthetics or health.)
Regarding the second part of the question, I don’t think people should really be forced to choose anything regarding significant issues. When an individual is forced to choose, I feel like it is not entirely their choice anymore. I cannot imagine a situation where one HAD to choose, but assuming that such instance was possible, there would have to be an open ended option or else their choice would be biased. I think the greatest danger with this method is the assumption that among choices that are presented to the individual, the “right” answer is included. This discourse now broadens in scope; it involves morality and electing an individual or group to decide between what is wrong and what is right.
I realize that I am not really taking a stance or answering the question one way or the other. I am doing this on purpose. A wise man once told me, “if you do not know all the sides to an argument, or are unsure of things… shut up. You will do more harm than good trying to preach, or convince others about things you yourself are unsure.”
If you claim that you are not vocalizing a stance then I will give my interpretation of your words. I believe that you take a stance similar to my own. Intersexual person are born with an anomaly of being neither male nor female but both. It was not a choice made during life, but an existence in which they were created into. Until there is a point in which at least 1 in every 3 or 4 persons is an intersexual being that it can be looked upon as something that should be placed into greater focus of normalization. However as this is not the case no such thing shall, as far as I can foresee. Now, "treatment", must only be done if the individual chooses to do so themselves, not on influence or pressure from and outside source. And this must only be done if the person feels that they identify with a specific gender and that is how they will represent themselves accordingly. There is also the option that the individual is quite fine the way they are. Not one change of their appearance and functions is desired. In this situation "treatment" is not needed because it is not wanted.
Ambiguity…How Appropriate
This was really cool to read, first because of its humor then because I learned something. Wow!
The way “treatment” is broken down is quite interesting, I had never thought of treatment that way before. But, I had no idea that red hair was a genetic anomaly, a mutation of a certain protein. I had absolutely no idea that it was a form of albinism that does not need treatment, but does require one be careful in the sun light. This fact you discussed made me want to learn more about this redheaded anomaly. Hopefully, this is the way people will feel about gaining knowledge on intersexuals.
Though intersexuals can sometimes be born with a lot going on, urethral problems, bladder problems, hormone problems, and etc. that do demand immediate care, I think we should not give surgery to babies whose lives are not threatened just for the aesthetic purpose of their genitals to look “normal”. But I argue with you passionately LEAVE BABIES ALONE and let them grow into choice.
Sometimes a choice is made for us in not choosing. For instance, some surgeries can only be done when a child becomes over a year old like a cleft palate (I was told that). Some things must be decided early in order to give a child a fair shake whether the child is female or male. In cases like this, parents need to make quality decisions and yes sometimes there are biases connected with the choice, but I would rather my child be able to urinate and not have her bladder too full and causing problems with the rest of her internal organs.
At any rate, I enjoyed your thoughts and your writing! I am looking forward to reading more. Thanks!
"I believe that this may be a case of both of us misunderstanding eeach other then. I use the term "naturally intersexual" because I talk of people that are intersexual because that is how they were born. This is to defrenciate between a person born with both physical characteristics of a man and woman and a person that surgically alters themselves to posssess both male and female features. I say physiology to say talk about being chemically, hormonally and functionally of two sexes instead of one. I do not make a typographical error, to represent that intersexuality is a psychological basis that creates the term. I say that unless persons that are born intersexual increase to a least 25% of the world population giving a new category other than male or female is unlikely. Since the population level is so it is still likely to be considered an anomaly of the human anatomy. And as I stated before it is completly up to the intersexual person of they what to change their body from what they were born with.