Gender

What does it mean to be intersex?

An intersex person is born with sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, and/or chromosome patterns that do not fit the typical definition of male or female. This may be apparent at birth or become so later in life. An intersex person may identify as male or female or as neither. Intersex status is not about sexual orientation or gender identity: intersex people experience the same range of sexual orientations and gender identities as non-intersex people. Most people assign their child or help their child decide on a gender. However, there is also the possibility of surgery, where surgeons operate on the baby/child's genitals and give them hormones to fit their gender. Nowadays research suggests that intersex people do not need to be assigned a gender, and in fact in countries like Malta, parents are not permitted to take such decisions and in stead the person can decide their own gender and give consent for any surgeries once they turn 18. Intersex is also a spectrum with various different realities.