The term
hermaphrodite derives from Hermaphroditus, the Greek mythological child of
Hermes and Aphrodite. Born a handsome boy, he was transformed into an
androgynous being by union with the nymph Salmacis. Hermaphroditism refers to an organism that produces both
eggs and sperm. It does not
occur in humans.
Hermaphrodites are common among plants and invertebrates
such as earthworms, snails, slugs, and barnacles. Hermaphrodites are actually
known as an intersex person. Intersex is a general term used for a
variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual
anatomy that doesn’t fit the typical definitions of female or male.
Sometimes
an intersex person is assigned a female or male sex at birth through surgery if
external genitals are not obviously male or female. Intersex babies are always
assigned a legal sex. Sometimes when they grow up their gender doesn’t match
the sex selected for them. Being intersex is a naturally occurring variation in
humans, and isn’t a medical problem.
It’s
also more common than most people realize. It’s hard to know exactly how many
people are born intersex. Experts
estimate that between .05 percent and 1.7 percent of the population is born
with intersex traits. The upper estimate is similar to the percentage of the
population born with red hair.
There are many
different intersex variations. Some intersex people have internal sex organs,
such as a person with both ovarian and testicular tissues. Other intersex
people have a combination of chromosomes that is different than XY (male) and
XX (female), like XXY. And some people are born with what looks like totally
male or totally female genitals, but their internal organs or hormones released
during puberty don’t match.
Intersex traits are not always
visible at birth. For some people, their traits do not show up until puberty or
later. Some adults learn that they are intersex when they try to have children
and find out that they can’t, while others may never find out. Some intersex
people have chromosomal variations that are never physically apparent. Being
intersex is different from a person’s gender identity. Intersex relates to
biological sexual characteristics, not sexual orientation. An intersex person can
identify as straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. That person can also identify
as male, female, both or neither.
“Doctors and
scientists, being part of that two-sex culture, have done everything they can
to try to force people who are in-between into one of the two clear types.
Intersex people themselves have also generally wanted to fit into one of the
two clear categories. Most are not interested in being in a 'third' type.” (Alice Dreger) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Fun Hermaphrodite Facts” by Intersex Initiative
·
“Top 10 hermaphrodite facts and famous
hermaphrodites” By
Chris Wilson
·
“What
does being intersex mean? 5 things to know” By
Crystal Bonvillian
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