Towards a Sociology of Intersex

Intersex people and those with variations of sex characteristics are born with a combination of sex characteristics (chromosomal, gonadal and/or anatomical) that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female. The sociology of intersex and variations of sex characteristics is very underdeveloped, reflecting the social erasure, stigmatisation and discrimination that intersex people face. Intersex minors continue to be subjected to irreversible non-consensual and medically unnecessary medical interventions designed to make them fit normative notions of sexed and gendered embodiment. Feminisms have largely overlooked the existence of variations of sex characteristics, and epistemological violence is a problem in this field more broadly. This chapter provides a brief overview of key issues, aiming to introduce key concepts and terminology, and to fuel development of the field.