Transgender vs. Intersex; Wait, there’s a difference?
In short, yes!
In Pakistan, we often confuse or don’t even know the difference between these two terms but worry not, this article will help you get some of the facts straight.
So what’s the difference between transgender and intersex people?
To understand the difference between the two, it’s important to first know the difference between the terms gender identity and sex. Gender identity is the personal conception of oneself as male, female, both, or neither. It’s related to the concept of a gender role, which is defined as the outward manifestations of personality that reflect the gender identity (1). So, in short, it’s our own perception that shapes gender identity
Sex on the other hand is a biological concept according to which organisms that propagate through sexual reproduction are divided into male or female. Most commonly our genes (XY chromosome for males, XX chromosome for females) define our sex. While our sex is identified by the XY sex-determination system, it isn’t the same for all species (e.g., for birds the ZW system is used and for insects, the X0 system is used).
Now back to the difference between transgender and intersex people. Transgender people have a gender identity that doesn’t conform with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person may be born as a male but their gender identity is female. To conform their sex with their gender identity, transgender people may undergo medical procedures.
Intersex people on the other hand, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, are individuals born with any of several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals that doesn’t fit the typical definition for male or female bodies (2).
While both groups face considerable harassment and abuse, it’s important to differentiate between the two so that laws tailored to each group individually can be made and enforced. However, just setting down laws won’t be enough. We need to learn how to respect transgender and intersex people as EQUALS rather than a whole another breed. They’re humans, too. Just like us.
References:
- Gender Identity by Shuvo Ghosh on https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/917990-overview#:~:text=Gender%20identity%20is%20defined%20as,that%20reflect%20the%20gender%20identity.
- Intersex factsheet by Free & Equal (UN for LGBT equality): https://www.unfe.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/UNFE-Intersex.pdf
