Intersex

Intersex: The Forgotten Diversity in Humanity

Intersex: The Forgotten Diversity in Humanity

What Does It Mean to Be Intersex?

Intersex people are individuals born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. These variations can occur in chromosomes, hormones, genitalia, or reproductive anatomy. While many intersex traits are apparent at birth, others only become noticeable later in life, such as during puberty or when facing fertility issues.

How Many Intersex People Exist?

The estimated number of intersex individuals worldwide varies depending on the definition used. Some estimates are more conservative, only counting individuals with visibly ambiguous genitalia at birth, while broader definitions include conditions affecting chromosomes, hormones, and internal reproductive structures.

Global Estimates:

  • 1.7% of the world population may have intersex traits (United Nations Free & Equal, 2022), equating to about 136 million intersex individuals globally.
  • More conservative estimates suggest about 0.018% of people are intersex, equating to approximately 1.44 million individuals worldwide.
  • United States Estimates:
    • Using the 1.7% estimate, 5.6 million Americans are intersex.
    • Using the 0.018% estimate, around 59,580 Americans are intersex.

Medical History and the Problem of Non-Consensual Surgeries

For decades, the medical establishment approached intersex variations as conditions to be “corrected.” Doctors and parents, often with the best of intentions, made irreversible decisions on behalf of intersex children, performing surgeries to make their bodies conform to binary sex norms. These procedures were usually conducted without the consent of the individual and often resulted in long-term physical and psychological harm.

Major human rights organizations, including the United Nations, World Health Organization (WHO), and Human Rights Watch, have since condemned these practices and called for an end to non-consensual medical interventions on intersex children. They emphasize the importance of bodily autonomy and the right of intersex individuals to decide for themselves how they identify.

Legal Recognition and Advocacy

Intersex rights advocacy has grown significantly over the past two decades. Some countries, including Germany, Austria, and Australia, now recognize a third gender or allow individuals to opt out of forced binary classification on birth certificates and legal documents. In the United States, however, intersex people still face legal, medical, and social challenges due to a lack of awareness and legal protections.

Several organizations are working toward intersex rights, including:

  • Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA)
  • InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth (USA)
  • Organization Intersex International (OII)
  • UN Free & Equal Campaign

What does it mean to be intersex? 

For those of you who don’t know, or for those who need to brush up on their knowledge, intersex is a term used to describe people with sex characteristics that do not fit the standard binary medical definitions of male or female. These sex characteristics include chromosome patterns, gonads, or internal/external genitals. Some intersex traits are noticed at birth, while others don’t show up until puberty or later in life. 

What percentage of the population is intersex?

Contrary to popular belief, being born intersex is not uncommon! According to studies, experts have estimated that around 1.7% of the population around the globe is born with intersex traits!

The Cultural Shift Toward Acceptance

A shift in how society views sex and gender is necessary for full intersex inclusion. As scientific understanding evolves, so too must societal recognition that binary sex categories are insufficient to describe the full spectrum of human biology. Intersex people have always existed, and their rights and dignity deserve to be honored.

One proposed solution is to treat gender identity as a rite of passage, allowing intersex children to grow up without forced surgeries and to choose their own identity when they reach maturity. This idea, endorsed by leading sex researchers such as Dr. Milton Diamond, could mirror coming-of-age traditions like Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, confirmations, or other cultural initiations into adulthood.

Can intersex people have kids?

Whether or not intersex people can have children depends on many factors. Similar to transgender people, it depends on what genitals and internal reproductive systems are present. If an intersex person has a penis and testes that make sperm, they may be able to get someone pregnant. An intersex person who has a uterus and/or ovaries may be able to carry a child. 

Some intersex people are not able to have kids due to non-consensual surgeries that result in sterilization. Fertility and family building is a unique journey and sensitive for every person, including intersex people. 

Do intersex people know they are intersex? 

Many intersex people have been shamed or pressured by medical professionals due to differences in their genitals or reproductive anatomy. This can happen to some intersex children at a very young age. Most intersex people realize at some point in their lives that they are intersex; however, due to social stigma and a lack of awareness of how broad the term “intersex” can be, this might not happen until later in life.

Final Thoughts

Intersex individuals deserve bodily autonomy, respect, and visibility. Society must move beyond outdated ideas of “fixing” intersex traits and instead embrace the full diversity of human expression. Recognizing intersex people as a natural part of human variation is not only a step toward justice—it is a step toward a more inclusive and enlightened world.

References

United Nations Free & Equal (2022). Intersex Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.unfe.org/

InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth. Retrieved from https://interactadvocates.org/

World Health Organization (WHO) (2021). Sexual and Reproductive Health: Intersex People and Their Rights.

Human Rights Watch (2017). “I Want to Be as Nature Made Me”: Medically Unnecessary Surgeries on Intersex Children in the US. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/

Diamond, Milton. (1999). Sexual Identity and Gender Dysphoria in Children.



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