Intersex: what’s behind the third gender?

Intersex: what’s behind the third gender?

© Andrii Zastrozhnov / Shutterstock

For a long time, when asked about gender, there was only one opinion: male or female. But what does it actually mean to be intersex?

Intersex: what’s behind it?

  • There is currently a lot of talk in Germany about the so-called third gender. Advertisements for positions are now often with male (m), female (f) and diverse (d) given for the sexes. But what is behind it?
  • First and foremost are intersex people. These are characterized by the fact that they live with congenital genitalia / gender characteristics from birth, the one Do not allow unambiguous assignment to male and female.
  • Often times, these people refer to themselves as Hermaphrodites or hermaphrodites. Some intersex people also only realize during puberty that you Body does not match genderthat they actually live or feel. So there can still be physical transformations after birth that turn a supposedly “normal” child into an intersex person.
  • In practice, intersexuality can be expressed in such a way that, for example both ovaries and testicles are present (rather seldom). The genitals are mostly in one Mixed form pronounced between male and female.

Intersexual: Differentiation from transgender and transsexuality

  • Transgender: People who do not feel good about their assigned gender or who reject a clear classification. Some intersex people fall into this category.
  • Transsexual: Transsexual people are clearly described as male or female from birth, but feel that they belong to the opposite sex.

Intersex: Terms and Syndromes

For the determination of intersex you need Hormones and genes through blood tests to be checked. Usually it is genetic defects that prevent a clear division of the chromosomes into XX (woman) or XY (man). Since these are not routinely detected after birth if they look unremarkable, it often happens that some people are diagnosed with intersexuality much later.

Overall there is a lot many forms and syndromes of intersex, so we’ll briefly introduce two well-known traits.

  • AGS: The Adrenogenital Syndrome is the most common. The babies have female chromosomes, but at the same time there is an increased production of androgens such as testosterone. If left untreated, there will be masculinization of external sexual characteristics over time.
  • AIS: The Androgen Resistance Syndrome is characterized by the fact that those affected are born with male chromosomes, but the body does not at least partially accept the androgens released. As a result, the genitals can appear feminine and since the testicles are inside, the “girls” are often surprised only in puberty when menstruation does not occur.

Intersex: what's behind the third gender?

Intersex: frequency

Intersex is not a medical diagnosis as there are many different forms and causes. It is therefore too difficult to measure, roughly how many intersex people there are. According to estimates by the malformation monitoring in Saxony-Anhalt out of 1000 children about half a person to one person affected. The Federal Constitutional Court, on the other hand, does one Ratio of 500: 1 at.

Intersex: contact and gender registration

  • Dealing with an intersex child is a challenge, especially for parents. For a long time, doctors have advised parents to get early on in childhood Operations and thus also to decide on a clear definition of a gender. Of course, this was also due to the fact that by law already in the first week after the birth one Division into male or female was requested.
  • Meanwhile the so-called third gender accepted and intersex people can use the label “diverse” register. As a result, the pressure is no longer so high to carry out the much-criticized operations prematurely. So they can Children decide for themselves laterwhether they feel they belong to a gender or want to live their role as an intersex person in society.

There are also many forms of sexual orientation. Have you ever asked yourself: what is pansexual? Or what is sapiosexuality? Last but not least, we will tell you the difference to demisexual.

If you want to exchange ideas with others about sexual orientations and genders, take a look at ours BRIGITTE Community past.