The interview with Cheryl is interesting because we get to hear her articulate her views and opinions that we read about in the article. Seeing her live helped me to relate, as best I could, to her experience and why she is so passionate about the activism work she does now. The video clip also introduces us to another individual who was able to escape surgery, which is something that many intersex people have not been able to do, so that is interesting as well. I also like this clip because it shows the point of view from a doctor, who still thinks that these surgeries are necessary in order to allow intersex children to lead a "normal" life. This shows the tension that still exists in the medical community surrounding these issues. Another reason I wanted to use this clip for my artifact is because I like that it was aired on TV for a well known show like 20/20. I think it's so important that these issues are shown to the public and given representation. Most people don't even know these things happen to intersex people, or that intersex even exists. Perhaps seeing these stories on the news and on popular TV shows will help viewers understand that different people exist and that it's OK to embrace what's different; we don't need to label, stigmatize, and discriminate against. These people aren't going away, will not be ignored, and refuse to be abused my medical professionals. In order for their stories and experiences to get out there and for people to be educated on them, programs like 20/20 need to keep airing these types of stories.
I chose the second video because it gives us a glimpse into a world that most people in the US don't even know exists. It shows us how other cultures embrace and celebrate having other genders, and that it is not always stigmatized against. The Indonesian community featured in this National Geographic clip even worships the "transvestite" type individual and believes that they are the only ones capable of communicating with the spirit world since they embrace both male and female attributes. I think it is so interesting to see how other cultures think about gender, and to look at the possibility of embracing other gender norms into our own society. This could get rid of many problems that our society faces, from discrimination against intersex individuals and people of the LGBT community, to breaking down gender roles and norms and eliminating gender binaries.
Questions:
1) Why do doctors insist on doing these surgeries if there is known harm to the genitals, and long lasting psychological effects on the patients? Is it merely to conform to society’s two sex standard?
2) What do you think about the word “hermaphrodite?” Do you agree/ disagree with the use of “intersex” instead, as Cheryl chooses to do?
3) Cheryl mentions (p. 69) that we hear reports in our media about genital mutilation happening in places like Africa, yet ignore (or are unaware) of it happening in our own country. Do you think this is a valid comparison? How can we spread the word about these surgical decisions being made on infants and the negative effects they can have?
4) Cheryl says (p. 70) that her parents were “shamed and traumatized by the appearance of my genitals.” What do we think about this? Were they perhaps just trying to do the best they could for their child? Would anyone have handled it differently? Would anyone have done the same as them?
5) If this surgery is to be done, who should decide? The doctors? Parents? Wait until the child is old enough to make a decision on their own? Should these individuals be allowed to live as intersexuals?
6) On page 71, Cheryl talks about how it is very difficult to imagine an infant or child growing up to be a sexually active adult. She also mentions how men are thought to be active sexually, whereas women are supposed to be passive and be able to reproduce. She also quotes one prominent surgeon who said “you can make a hole but you can’t build a pole.” How do these assumed gender roles affect the surgeries being done to intersex infants? Could this be eliminated if we adopted a third gender, or a “five-sex” model?
7) Do we agree or disagree with the idea that a successful intersex surgery must end with heterosexualty? Why do you think many intersex individuals end up coming out as LGBT?
8) Do we agree/ disagree with the idea of a five-sex system? Or at least a system that encompasses more than two sexes? Do you think the US could ever achieve what the Indonesian community in the video clip have?
9) What are our reactions to the John/ Joan case? Does this show that nature is more prevalent than nurture when it comes to gender? What about the idea that gender is socially constructed?
10) Kessler (in Fausto-Sterling’s piece) mentions that we should try to stop distinguishing people’s genders based on their genitalia. Gender is constructed and portrayed in many ways and does not always match our biological parts. What do we think about this? Is this possible in our society?
Links for videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHbBTEeayEU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9VmLJ3niVo
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