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assignment 03

In Kessler’s essay “The Medical Construction of Gender”, she brings up the complications in intersexed infants. When a baby is born with ambiguous genitals, Kessler explains that it is ultimately up to the doctors to assign a sex as soon as possible, in order for the infant to grow up with a relatively normal childhood. And through this decision making, Kessler reveals that there are cultural and environmental expectations that play an influential role. Although some biological factors like X or Y chromosomes, or reproductive systems take part in assigning a sex, it is the appearance of their genitals that is important. Kessler says that parents must be comfortable with is, or else they can dissociate with their infant and take on stress from friends and family. This would eventually leave consequences to the infant as the baby then grows up, unable to identify with his or her gender.

Which brings the topic of gender identity and gender roles. Kessler mentioned in the essay how both are considered when doctors must assign a sex. They factor in social norms because it is so influential in a child’s identity. For example, because society often ties masculinity to the size of their penis, a doctor would rather assign an infant to be female, if the infant’s penis is 3 units below the average size. This further suggested how aesthetics can overrule biological conditions of a male because they want to avoid the psychological implications the infant would have gone through growing up. Moreover, Kessler explains that the relationships kept between the parents and the doctors are critical throughout the process. She emphasized the importance of honesty and compassion throughout. Therefore, it would keep a strong relationship between them and their child. Honesty and awareness of intersexed infants is crucial, yet ignored. It is not as openly spoken about, then it should be. Society fails to understand that because of the pressures of our cultures, we are more than just our biology.