Perisex But Spreading The Info! - Tumblr Posts

Old post on intersex misinformation!! This was inspired by one of the *first* posts I saw mentioning intersex people having an intersexist definition on it.

[ID: A purple and yellow, warped and checkered background on all slides. Text reads; Intersex Misinformation. A quick guide to what intersex is and isn't.

With pride month finally here, queer celebration, pride and awareness posts are spreading like wildfire - and with them comes an onslaught of misinformation. A common victim of these poorly-researched, last minute, tacked on and misinforming definition are intersex people.

"Intersex means people who have multiple or different primary sex characterstics." This might be something you hear a few times while you're perusing pride posts. Primary sex characterstics, for starters, are anatomy like the vulva, scrotum and cervix, among other things. It's not a very long list.

Did you know? Boobs are a secondary sex characterstic - not a primary one!

But intersex bodies aren't always defined by the vulva, penis, or both. Intersex people are those born with bodies different to the typical male or female bodies, or that function different. This can mean different hormones, different anatomy and different chromosomes.

"But there *are* people with both, aren't there?" Yes! Ovotesticular intersexuality exista and can present as people having both a penis and vulva. However, this is not the only intersex variation and its not even the most common one! It just happens to be the "most fascinating" to perisex people.

There are 35+ intersex variations, and we *all* deserve respect, acknowledgement and celebration.

What should I do if I see misinformation?

Luckily, it's not all on you to be the saviour to intersex people! But you can try not liking or sharing these posts, or even blocking the creator to avoid seeing *more* uncomfortable misinformation.

If you want to do more, commenting or dm-ing creators of misinforming posts is also an option, but be sure youre thinking about your safety and mental health as not everybody is open to criticism. End ID]

💛💜

ID: Panels are plaid purple and yellow.

What is intersex?

It's hard to define, and what being intersex is may vary depending on who you ask. Simply put, being intersex means a person has physical traits that don't completely match the category of male or female. This can mean chromosomally, hormonally or anatomically. Some may define being intersex is a medical condition or disorder, a disability, their sex or just an aspect of their identity.

What does being intersex look like?

There are over 30 different ways to be intersex. Some people are born with chromosomal differences, e.g. XXY chromosomes (klinefelter syndrome), X0 chromosomes (turner syndrome), or being born XX but with typically female anatomy or XY with typically male anatomy. Most people when they think of intersex, they think of ovotesticular syndrome, where someone is born with ovaries AND testes, though this condition isn't the most common way being intersex presents.

cont.d

Some people born intersex may have missing anatomical, enlarged anatomical features or shrunken anatomical features, others may have features outside what is typical for their assigned sex (e.g. gynecomastia). Other ways being intersex can present are through hormones - high estrogen in those that are otherwise "typically male" or high testosterone in those that are otherwise "typically female".

*What NOT to say to an intersex person*

- So, what's in your pants?

- What intersex condition/variation do you have?

- Oh! So you're a (h-bomb)?

What TO say to an intersex person

- Hi, how was your day?

- Here, have my entire months salary :]

- What's your favourite fish?

(just talk to them like any other person)

How can you be an ally?

- Stop comparing intersex people to transgender or nonbinary people.

- Stand up for the rights of intersex people, especially in places like sports, healthcare and social spaces.

- Avoid intersexist terminology (tme/tma) or misusing terminology (amab/afab).

- Acknowledge internalised intersexism, and do something about it!!

- Avoid using intersex people as a tool for your arguement. End ID