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86 Replies Last post: Mar 24, 2008 4:37 AM by musicfan88
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Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex"

Sep 16, 2007 8:11 PM

Click to view harpobear's profile harpobear 2,017 posts since
Sep 8, 2007
Boy or girl, how do we know? Meet people who grew up intersex. Also, a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeffrey Eugenides on the book club selection "Middlesex".
Click to view neo_relina's profile neo_relina 1 posts since
Sep 18, 2007
Reply 1. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 18, 2007 8:47 AM
I love you, Katie! Good luck, but you won't need it. You are such a strong and beautiful woman. I think A.D. said it best freshman year at Haverford, "...because we all already love you!" Katie is one of the brightest (in every way) women I have ever met. I am so proud to know her and proud of her for shining her light. -RH
Click to view mswl2002's profile mswl2002 1 posts since
Sep 19, 2007
Reply 2. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 19, 2007 2:17 PM
Malarca, Im proud of you, I KNEW you were amazing I'm excited that your going to be on the show... Karen McGee
Click to view wooziesuzie16's profile wooziesuzie16 1 posts since
Sep 19, 2007
Reply 3. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 19, 2007 9:10 PM
I want to thank all the cool, brave women who shared their experiences on this show. I consider myself well informed about most things, but this one was an awakening for me. Congrats to all of you for your fortitude and your vailidations of yourselves. This includes you, Jen. All of you are beautiful, and I want to thank you for an eye opening experience. My very best wishes to you all.
Click to view laddidaddi's profile laddidaddi 2 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 4. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 9:31 AM
in response to: wooziesuzie16
thank you! jen
Click to view yoshiyoshi's profile yoshiyoshi 61 posts since
Sep 14, 2007
Reply 5. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 10:29 AM
I find it interesting that on the show, the woman was able to say she wouldn't change being intersexed for anything. When will we acheive the same acceptance for those on the Autism Spectrum? I have yet to see any shows, with higher-functioning people on the Autism spectrum, where they can say they're happy with who they are and wouldn't want someone to change them.
Click to view wonderwhy7's profile wonderwhy7 1 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 6. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 11:03 AM

I can't wait to see the show on intersex. And THANKS to the 3 ladies who spoke on our

behalf. Great job. I'm 52 years old and only found out myself 5 years ago that I'm intersex.
My parents (who are both still alive didn't even know) I am CAIS grade 7 and had the hernia as a child and the testes and of course the male xy chromosomes. I had the operation when I was 47 (orchidectomy) but the doctors would not tell me that I was intersex or indeed anything at all! I had to find it out myself late one night
at work on the computer! Had they been upfront with me, I would never have had the operation!!!
I feel cheated and betrayed by them and to this day do not trust doctors any longer. (There could
be another whole show on this alone) ! But I'm happy that at least the young girls coming behind
me will be better educated and informed and not be made to feel ashamed.

Debbie in Canada

Click to view robandor's profile robandor 2 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 7. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 11:41 AM
I'm the mother of a 10 1/2 year old girl with the mosaic form of Turner Syndrome (45x/46xy) and is intersexed. She is very aware of her condition, why she requires growth hormones (now) and estrogen therapy (later). She is looking forward to adoping children later in life and accepts that her body is different, but that is normal for her. As well adjusted as she seems to be at the moment, I'm struggling with whether or not she is too young to view today's program. Any thoughts? Thanks, Doreen.
Click to view tracywwjd's profile tracywwjd 4 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 8. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 3:41 PM
in response to: neo_relina
i at 36 have come to realize that i have a large clitoris and labia and found out this year i have high testosterone levels and my hair is thinning and get facial hair now so i'm not sure why i am in this:-(
Click to view intersexae's profile intersexae 2 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 9. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 3:49 PM
in response to: robandor
No one knows your daughter more than you do. Do you think she's mature enough? Are you prepared to answer all of her questions? If so then maybe it will do her some good to know she's not alone in the world. That there are other people just like her in the world. -Lynnell
Click to view gizelda196's profile gizelda196 1 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 10. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 3:54 PM
GREAT SHOW!!!! thank you for bringing this topic out into the open. Oprah you rock.
Click to view mindstorm's profile mindstorm 1 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 11. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 4:26 PM

We are talking about intersex people in my Gender and Women's Studies class at college. It is very interresting that people have been told that there are really only two options like girl, boy, white, black, good, bad, feminine, masculine, and these dualisms are just silly when in real life it is more of a combination of both and shades of grey. People are much more complex then that. Also you must know the difference between sex and gender. Then know that much of gender is socially constructed. And if you add in if that person is straight, lesbian, bisexual, gay, queer, questioning, or label free and it takes you into another area altogether. So much more complex.

Other great books to read on this topic is "Sexing the Body" by Anne Fausto-Sterling which talks about intersex and other related subjects and "TransLiberation: Beyond Pink and Blue" by Leslie Feinberg dealing more with gender. Both worth reading.

Click to view gr33njns's profile gr33njns 1 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 12. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 4:40 PM
Why weren't there any men represented?
Click to view iwanttokno's profile iwanttokno 1 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 13. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 5:22 PM
in response to: tracywwjd
to tracywwjd why did it take you so long to notice the difference.
Click to view addicts's profile addicts 1 posts since
Sep 21, 2007
Reply 14. Re: Growing Up Intersex and a Discussion of the Book "Middlesex" Sep 21, 2007 5:23 PM
in response to: yoshiyoshi
I can understand why Hedi, did not want to be changed. My problem is my clitoris is too small. I say the bigger the clitoris the happier the woman.
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