On our radar: Intersex UK

Even in a century where we seem to be dismantling stigmas left, right and centre, there are a few which remain woefully ingrained into the psyche of our society. Despite estimates that Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) affect 0.1-2% of the population, the misunderstanding and ignorance surrounding intersex individuals remains. At What I See, we love to celebrate the diversity of women, and are pleased to share about a brave young charity that wants to see change.

Intersex UK zoomed onto our radar following a wonderful Independent report on the charity, whose aim is to change stickily stubborn attitudes towards those born with intersex conditions.

What this means is that their reproductive or sexual anatomies don’t fit the typical definitions of male and female. The charity gives their ‘working definition’ of intersex as ‘an umbrella term for anyone has a disorder of sexual development (DSD) or other condition where the body is clearly intersex albeit without a specific diagnostic ‘condition label’.

Their vision? ‘A Britain where intersex people are understood, accepted and respected and able to participate fully in all aspects of society.’ Unfortunately, this is still a long way off. Intersex people aren’t recognised legally. Instead, babies must be assigned a sex soon after birth – though no legislative definition for male and female is given. Doctors often assign gender wrongly, condemning intersex people to years of misunderstanding and confusion.

While we’ve come a long way, and non-consensual surgeries on the sexual anatomies of babies are no longer commonplace, there are still mountains to climb. This is a human rights issue, argue Intersex UK, and it must be addressed. They want people to be recognised by their preferred sex identity, and for intersex people to be treated equally.

Image source - Intersex UK website

It’ll be a while before people stop seeing gender in the binaries we’ve been taught to sustain. But with Intersex UK come opened minds, and hope.