"five sexes" by Anne Fausto-Sterling

This article is a basic summary of intersexuals.

The author argues that there are five main sexes: the traditional male and female, hermaphrodites (one testis and one ovary), the male pseudohermaphrodites (testes and some aspects of the female genitalia but no ovaries), and the female pseudohermaphrodites (ovaries and some aspects of the male genitalia but lack testes).

The main purposes of this article is to point out how continually binary our Western society is. At birth most intersexuals go through surgery and hormonal management. This is to help alleviate future bullying of the child and awkward gym shower scenarios. This program that is meant to help these children actually helps perpetuate the binary sex world. Being told they have to be one or the other, or making the decision for them at a young age, gives the message that these children are biologically wrong; the only right way is being strictly female and strictly male.

We talked a lot in class about how many categories are polarized: sex being male or female, gender being male or female, and personality traits being masculine or feminine. Where would these intersexed individuals fall? What bathroom would they use? Would they be ridiculed for having both masculine and feminine traits? The article gives an example of the Jewish texts about hermaphrodites and the rules associated. They basically get treated poorly and are not able to claim any of the benefits associated with being male.

One other thing about this article that jumped out at me was an recap of an interview with an intersexed individual. S/he said that they were married to a man, had several girlfriends on the side. S/he often expressed wanting to be a man, but not wanting to give up the comfort of being a woman and being able to rely on her husband for food/money/etc. This just sort of upset me because rather than putting their happiness in marriage first they choose to perpetuate the male supporter stereotype.