[FROM THE ARCHIVES] Intersex Issues

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭. Experts estimate that anything from one in 60 to one in 2000 babies is born intersex, with varying male and female characteristics, from genitalia to hormones, chromosomes to reproductive organs. When babies don’t fit the boxes of “female” and “male”, doctors do surgeries so that the bodies conform to the traditional ideas of gender. Intersex is a naturally occurring variation, not a disease. But the way doctors and parents respond to these babies often end up causing life-long trauma and illness. In South Africa, the go-to solution is still largely gender corrective surgery. Too young to give consent, many babies grow up never knowing the truth about their identity. Now advocating against this practice as genital mutilation, victims speak out to help change policy and practice. Carte Blanche speaks to the adult survivors of gender corrective surgeries who are calling on the government to put a stop to a harmful practice.