The Intersex Kids are All Right? Diagnosis Disclosure and the Experiences of Intersex Youth

Davis, Georgiann; Wakefield, Chris

doi:10.1108/s1537-466120170000023004

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…These experiences have led some to avoid or limit relationships with others (Guth et al 2006, MacKenzie, Huntington, andGilmour 2009). However, others report having support and positive responses from other people (Ernst et al 2016, MacKenzie, Huntington, and Gilmour 2009, Jones et al 2016, Malouf et al 2010, Davis and Wakefield 2017. Overall, a growing body of research points to the challenges and opportunities faced by young people with variations in sex characteristics in relation to talking about their variation.…”

Section: Making Things 'Talkable': Young People's (Communication) Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How young people talk about their variations in sex characteristics: making the topic of intersex talkable via sex education

et al. 2021

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Section: Making Things 'Talkable': Young People's (Communication) Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How young people talk about their variations in sex characteristics: making the topic of intersex talkable via sex education

et al. 2021

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“…Similar to Nour's, it is common for many individuals to be lied to about their identity [12]. Discrimination and demonization are common practices against intersex individuals [4,13], which was evident in Nour's and Rayan's cases.…”

Section: Perception Of Intersex Individualsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Decision-Making and Implications of Sex-Reassignment Surgery in Intersex Individuals in the Arab World: A Case Series

2022

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Background: Knowledge, clinical guidelines, and medicolegal frameworks regarding intersex individuals are inexistent in the Arab world. Some medical professionals view intersexuality as a disorder of sexual development that often needs sex-reassignment surgery to correct while others view intersexuality as a natural variation along the sex spectrum. No study to date addresses the vast gap in the literature. Methods: We contacted eleven non-governmental and civil society organizations involved in matters of sexuality and gender in the Arab world through email. Eight organizations answered but only one, Helem, had been directly involved in supporting intersex individuals and agreed to an interview. We conducted a semi-structured interview with Helem after consent was taken from intersex individuals or their legal guardians to share their experiences. Results: We studied three cases of intersex individuals, of which two underwent sex-reassignment surgery at a young age. The surgeries were experimental in nature and had negative health consequences. Decision-making is influenced by physician factors, notably lack of knowledge, and parental factors, like stigma. Sociocultural reasons factor in the decision more than scientific evidence. Physicians, in the cases presented, dealt with intersexuality as a rare pathology requiring urgent surgical intervention. Parents of intersex individuals suffer significant psychosocial stressors. Conclusion: Medical professionals are ill-equipped to deal with intersex individuals in the Arab world, often performing unethical and abusive practices for which they are not held accountable. Parent education and referral to intersex-knowledgeable physicians seem to deter parents from opting for SRS. Intersexuality is severely understudied and ignored in the medical field. Guidelines and medicolegal frameworks are required to address this issue.

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“…Nour's experience is common to many individuals who have been lied to about their identity. 12 It showcases the extreme measures parents and doctors can resort to when a child is discovered to be intersex, abusing them and then denying them an explanation. It is clearly evident that the gap in physicians' knowledge is immense but many doctors may be unwilling to admit it which explains the interpretations of laboratory results without any basis in evidence as well as the recurrent theme of multiple failed surgeries.…”

Section: Nour's Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

Stories of Arab Intersex Individuals

Chabbouh

Chehab

Charro

2022

Preprint

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Knowledge around intersexuality seems inexistent in the Arab world, with intersex individuals being subject to inhumane practices. A semi-structured interview with Helem, an LGBTQIA+ non-governmental organization in Lebanon, was conducted and three cases of intersex individuals were presented. Views on how to manage intersex individuals seem to differ from one physician to another, with many opting for sex-reassignment surgery due to sociocultural rather than medical reasons. Many physicians showed paternalistic approaches during the decision-making process. Moreover, intersex individuals who had been subject to surgery during their childhood showed high levels of psychiatric symptoms. Additionally, intersex individuals’ parents had high levels of stress and anxiety. To conclude, intersex individuals are being subject to abuse in the Arab world, with no medicolegal framework to protect them. Future efforts should focus on raising awareness about intersex issues, preventing unethical surgeries, and educating physicians on how to properly respond to intersex patients.

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The Intersex Kids are All Right? Diagnosis Disclosure and the Experiences of Intersex Youth

Cited by 6 publications

References 40 publications

How young people talk about their variations in sex characteristics: making the topic of intersex talkable via sex education

How young people talk about their variations in sex characteristics: making the topic of intersex talkable via sex education

Decision-Making and Implications of Sex-Reassignment Surgery in Intersex Individuals in the Arab World: A Case Series

Stories of Arab Intersex Individuals

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