Follow-Up: Responding to Rachel's Post 9/30/10

I found the evidence in "Of Gender and Genitals" mind-blowing. Throughout my life, I have vaguely heard of the concept of hermaphrodites, but have never actually known what this situation consists of. It is interesting to me that "albino births occur much less frequently than intersexual births--in only about 1 in 20,000 babies" (Fausto 53), and I still have never heard anything concrete about intersexuals. It bothers me to know that 1.7% of all births are intersex and that "surgeons make decisions based on their own beliefs and what was current practice when they were training" (Fausto 48). With such a large number of intersexual babies born, I would think that there would be some type of system or program to help the parents understand what was really happening with their child in order to make an informed and conscious decision. In fact, as I am typing this, the word "intersexual" is not even part of the dictionary and is marked as spelled wrong.

Another point that I found very interesting was that "in the development of masculinity, femininity, and inclinations toward homo- or hetero- sexuality, nurture matters a great deal more than nurture" (Fausto 46). This point could be seen as an argument for the concept that "gayness can spread" whether it's through the raising of a child by two gay parents or the instruction of children by a gay teacher. I would really like to see the evidence that supports the claim that nurture matters a great deal more than nature, because this would drastically change my perspective on these arguments if it turned out to be true.

Below is a link that relates to the issue of environmental pollutants that mimic estrogen that have begun to cause widespread increase in the incidence of intersex forms such as hypospadias:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143994.php

After reading this chapter, I think one of the most important things I need to examine is how my conceptions of gender difference shape the way I understand physical bodies and view intersexuals integration into society. I am glad that this phenomenon has been brought to my attention, as it will make me a lot more open to the continuum of discrete categories.