Terminology: An Official Word

[Etoile]

Not official from me as a mod, but official from "them" - the medical community. I see people bitching in here (a very few people) saying that they'll call it hermaphroditism if they want to, it's the right word, fuck 'em if they don't like it, etc.

Well, let me read to you from p90 of my textbook, "Gender: Psychological Perspectives" by Linda Brannon:

"All of these examples of things going wrong illustrate individuals born with characteristics of both sexes. The modern term for these conditions is intersexuality. The traditional diagnosis for these individuals was hermaphroditism, which was restricted to individuals who have both ovarian and testicular tissue - either an ovary on one side of the body and a testicle on the other side, or both types of tissue combined into a structure called an ovotestis. This condition is extremely rare, with no more than 60 cases being identified in Europe and North America within the last century (Money, 1986)."

So there you have it. "Hermaphrodites" are exceedingly rare. So 99.5% of the time, it's just wrong.

 

[Wolfman1982]

Wonderful. Maybe. Or is it ? Even here we are beginning to get QUITE too much political correct. But intersexed it is from now on.

 

[sunandshadow]

Just wanted to point out that if anyone sees me use the term hermaphrodites, I am not talking about intersex people, I am talking about fantasy or science fictional creatures which are capable of both siring and bearing children (unlike intersex people who are lucky if they can do either and can never do both).

 

[Chicklet]

as far as i've heard, the majority of people who are born intersexed have a sex chosen for them by their parents, and grow up miserable and confused about their identity.

i totally agree with the above post about the science fiction fantasy aspect of the hermaphrodite.

 

[Etoile]

Just wanted to point out that if anyone sees me use the term hermaphrodites, I am not talking about intersex people, I am talking about fantasy or science fictional creatures which are capable of both siring and bearing children (unlike intersex people who are lucky if they can do either and can never do both).

Excellent point!

 

[kbate]

So, in the last century - perhaps what? 9 billion people were born and died?

And only 60 fit into this category?

Is it even statistically significant enough to warrant a term?

 

[Etoile]

So, in the last century - perhaps what? 9 billion people were born and died?

And only 60 fit into this category?

Is it even statistically significant enough to warrant a term?

MUST. LABEL. EVERYTHING.

*waves Dymo*

 

[Wolfman1982]

MUST. LABEL. EVERYTHING.

*waves Dymo*

*Kicks the Dymo to the curve* and hugs the moderator, while I look a little mad at her....