Citizen Bodies, Intersex Citizenship

Abstract

The aim of this article is to assess the use of sexual citizenship and intimate citizenship in articulating a concept of 'intersex citizenship'. Intersex activism diverges in important ways from feminist, queer, lesbian and gay, and trans activism. Nevertheless, concepts of sexual and intimate citizenship help in thinking about the effects of family and kin structures on intersex corporeality, the impact of new technologies on intersex activism, and the advantages and disadvantages of consumer citizenship models for intersex claims, amongst other factors. As long as intersex issues are defined by medically disciplining techniques, there remains a need to think critically about how citizenship norms are constructed through responses to corporeality. Carol Lee Bacchi and Chris Beasley's concept of 'citizen bodies' provides a useful starting point both in attempting to theorize the norms underlying the hyper-embodiment of intersexual subjects, and in relating this hyper-embodiment to the construction of intersexual people as non-citizens.

A values-driven and evidence-based health care psychology for diverse sex development

“…This conclusion was advanced in an interview study with XY women after vaginoplasty . Grabham (2007) saw as a key issue 'the continued location of life-changing decisions about intersex embodiment and subjectivity within the medical sphere ' (p. 44). Given the complexities, decisions relating to (further) surgery are best pre-empted by a psychological 'work-up' to facilitate informed consent.…”

Citizenship, gender and sexuality

“…Identity-based particularist approaches include those concerning transgender citizenship Monro 2005Monro , 2011Aizura 2006;Hines 2007Hines , 2009) and intersex citizenship (Grabham 2007). Clearly, different gender diverse groupings have different citizenship issues, the details of which are outside the scope of this short piece.…”

The Headscarf Controversy: A Response to Jill Marshall

“…Thus the 'corrective' surgery performed on intersex infants in Western society is also brought into question by this debate. See Tietjens Meyers (2000); Grabham (2007); Fausto Sterling (2000). any other beliefs.…”