Students learn what it means to be intersexual

[kweerwolf]

The binary system of identification between sexes has existed since the dawn of man. But sometimes there is an abnormality that bucks the system, sending the medical community and society into a frenzy resulting in a barrage of difficult questions.

The child born into this condition is labeled intersex. An intersexual child is an individual whose chromosomes, genitalia or internal reproductive system is not considered to be standard for a male or female, said Brett Beemyn, coordinator of the Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services.

Wednesday the group celebrated the second consecutive Intersex Awareness Day.

The day is designed to educate the public of intersexual individuals, Beemyn said. Society is unaware of intersex people, he said. Sometimes even the intersex individual might not know it until years after birth.

http://www.thelantern.com/media/paper333/news/2005/10/28/Campus/Students.Learn.What.It.Means.To.Be.Intersexual-1037889.shtml

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. This situation

really stretches our minds and perspective. Gender is a complex and confusing notion at times.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I have a friend who had a baby who was a "boy" but then a few weeks later it was decided that she really was a female. Sadly, she died from other medical issues, but I have always had an interest and compassion for this situation ever since. It definitely was a hard concept to get my mind around.

[Dark]

2. It just shows us how complicated a single person can be. n/t