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re: so what does this "intersex" mean? Feb. 13th, 2005 10:26am
In my opinion, the whole problem here is that everyone means something different when they say "intersex." To some, intersex means nothing different than "ambiguous genitalia." To others, it means someone who is part male, part female. To others, it means someone who has mixed chromosomes. Etc. etc. etc.
It's like somebpdy using the word "apple" to describe an apple. Someone else thinking "apple" really means orange. And someone else thinking "apple" is really a peach. If you are all thinking of something completely different when you say "apple" how can you possibly agree on what color the fruit is, whether it has small seeds or a pit, is juicy or crispy, has a thin skin or thick peel, etc. etc. etc.
So...is CAH an intersex condition? Well, it all depends on what you mean when you say "intersex." Do you mean apple when you say apple or do you mean orange when you say apple?
In my opinion, the "debate" has nothing to do with CAH, at this point....it is a problem with SEMANTICS.
So, I'm not sure it really matters what our personal interpretation of "intersex" is...in my opinion that is the basic problem: There are ALREADY too many definitions out of the word out there, and many of them conflict with each other. (Not to belabor the "fruit" analogy.....lol!....but it would be like having someone else say....Geez, and here I was thinking apple meant cherry.)
If you asked me, I would say that---since "intersex" seems to lend itself to so many different interpretations and misinterpretation, and seems to push so many people's buttons in the process, it is probably a poor choice of words, someone who is highly motivated should just come up with a new word and petition for change, so we can all move on!
