“The Body, the Self” tells the story of contemporary medical care for patients with disorders or differences of sex development, also known as intersex.
This was no simple task. As the article discusses, dozens of disparate conditions fall under this still-evolving diagnostic umbrella, making it hard to generalize patient experiences and develop best practices for health care. There are huge gaps in research and medical education, hampering physicians’ ability to “do no harm”; and patients, doctors, lawyers, human rights advocates, and other groups are fiercely debating biological vs. social definitions of pathology, and what constitutes informed consent for the genital and gonadal surgeries that are often performed on intersex infants.
Navigating this difficult territory with clarity and compassion, the story touches on the diversity of intersex presentations, from embryonic development to adulthood, describes the latest findings in research and clinical care, and ensures that readers are clear on the differences between sex, gender, and sexual orientation. It features sources with a range of connections to the topic—including a pediatric surgeon, a neonatologist, a psychiatrist, a medical educator, and an expert on children’s rights in medicine—who voice different, often opposing, perspectives. The article paints a clear picture of what’s known and what’s being done, and reaches a hopeful conclusion while nevertheless demonstrating that there are no easy solutions.
From the Judges
Timely subject matter, well-written prose, and good flow. This was a superb piece of writing.
