Some of Us Weren’t 'Fixed,' And the Results Were Fantastic
Humans often want to fix things about ourselves that aren’t broken. From foot-binding to plain old circumcision, our species has historically been obsessed with altering our bodies — which I can’t help but think about today as it’s Intersex Awareness Day.
The observance commemorates the first protest by intersex people — those of us born with atypical sex characteristics — against the practice of subjecting intersex infants and minors to cosmetic, sex trait-altering medical procedures, on October 26, 1996.The impetus for fixing is so prevalent regarding the intersex population that it’s often come to define us, via statements such as “Intersex?
You mean those people who are operated on as babies?” that I’ve heard countless times as a longtime advocate for the intersex community.
While I’m thrilled that awareness about these nonconsensual medical procedures is growing, it’s notable that we don’t define other populations this way.
