Gender destinies: assigning gender in Disorders of Sex Development-Intersex clinics

Stefan Timmermans, Ashelee Yang, Melissa Gardner, Catherine E. Keegan, Beverly M. Yashar, Patricia Y. Fechner, Margarett Shnorhavorian, Eric Vilain, Laura A. Siminoff, David E. Sandberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Based on audio recordings of consultations in three U.S. paediatric multidisciplinary Disorders of Sex Development-Intersex clinics, we examine the process of gender assignment of children with “atypical” genitalia. Rather than fully determined by the presence of biological sex traits, the gender assignment discussion hinges on how clinician and parent collaboratively imagine different aspects of what constitutes being a gendered person. They orient towards the potential for sexual intimacy, fertility, gender dysphoria, stigma, and gonadal cancer risk. While these futures remain inherently uncertain, clinicians and parents plan to mobilise gender socialisation and medical interventions to render their choice of gender a self-fulfilling prophecy. Gender destinies capture that the child always had a specific, innate gender awaiting discovery, and presumes a project for medical and social monitoring, intervention, correction, and optimisation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1520-1534
Number of pages15
JournalSociology of Health and Illness
Volume41
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • decision-making
  • future imageries
  • gender
  • socialisation
  • stigma
  • uncertainty

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