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Questions for Katie: 

Do you think your condition has affected your relationships with other females? 

What advice would you give to parents with an intersex child? 

What advice would you give to an intersex person confronting societal gender binaries? 

Response to readings: 

When I read the chapter giving advice to parents with children with DSD, I thought it offered great insight into the negative side effects of secrecy. I appreciated the validation of the parent’s emotions, but at the same time it emphasized the importance of the child’s future emotions and potential choices. When reading about the consequences of secrecy and dishonesty, I was reminded of Callie’s response to Doctor Luce’s diagnosis and her evaluation of her parent’s response to her condition.  “.The synonym was official, authoritative; it was the verdict that the culture gave on a person like her. Monster. That was what she was. That was what Dr. Luce and his colleagues had been saying…It explained her mother crying in the next room. It explained the false cheer in Milton’s voice…”(431). Callie’s isolation and alienation fueled by Doctor Luce’s indirect explanation of his diagnosis and her parents’ reactions. I agree that there needs to be more conversations about DSD and other situations which break down gender binaries.            

The article also reminded me about the need to “fit-in” at a young age. “your acceptance of your child is what will make your child feel normal” I wish there was not so much social pressure to be “normal”. How can one determine their “normalcy”? Many women look in fashion magazines for their guidelines. I find this ironic when considering Zora’s statements in Middlesex. “Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome created the perfect woman, Zora told me. A number of top models had it. ‘How many chicks are six two, skinny, but with big boobs? Not many. That’s normal for someone like me’”(487). I do not think that all women should try to “fit-in” one mold. Classification can build friendships and unity, but many cultural divisions are based on unrealistic traits (biologically and otherwise) for humanity as a whole. We should embrace our genetic variations and respect ourselves and others as entire identities.            

 When considering the metamorphosis of the definition “feminism”, I feel that this concept must become more fluid. Today’s conflicts do not necessarily require women to divide themselves into a separate group. In order to address current issues feminism must promote unity, regardless of gender, or adapt an all encompassing gender definition for “female”. I hope that feminism can evolve in order to break down gender binaries, but I fear that too much historical context for this term will make it inflexible.