Gender destinies

Assigning gender in Disorders of Sex Development-Intersex clinics

Bibliographic Data

ID2249608
AuthorsStefan Timmerman (0000-0002-4751-2893, Department of Sociology‐UCLA Los Angeles CA USA, corresponding author), Ashelee Yang (Department of Sociology‐UCLA Los Angeles CA USA), Melissa Gardner (0000-0003-3097-0633, Department of Pediatrics & Communicable Diseases University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA), Catherine E Keegan (0000-0002-7780-6542, Department of Pediatric Genetics University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA), Beverly M Yashar (0000-0003-0807-3258, Department of Human Genetics University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA), Patricia Y Fechner (0000-0002-1243-8304, Department of Pediatrics Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle WA USA), Margarett Shnorhavorian (0000-0002-4798-8664, Department of Urology Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle WA USA), Eric Vilain (0000-0002-5557-3709, Children's Research Institute Children's National Medical Center Washington DC USA), L A Siminoff (0000-0002-6775-665X, Temple University), David E Sandberg (0000-0002-7389-8283, Department of Pediatrics & Communicable Diseases University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA)
Year2019
Volume41
Issue8
Pages1520-1534
Publication date2019-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12974
PMID31225650
OpenAlexW2950517986
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited30

Based on audio recordings of consultations in three U.S. paediatric multidisciplinary Disorders of Sex Development-Intersex clinics, we examine the process of gender assignment of children with 'atypical' genitalia. Rather than fully determined by the presence of biological sex traits, the gender assignment discussion hinges on how clinician and parent collaboratively imagine different aspects of what constitutes being a gendered person. They orient towards the potential for sexual intimacy, fertility, gender dysphoria, stigma, and gonadal cancer risk. While these futures remain inherently uncertain, clinicians and parents plan to mobilise gender socialisation and medical interventions to render their choice of gender a self-fulfilling prophecy. Gender destinies capture that the child always had a specific, innate gender awaiting discovery, and presumes a project for medical and social monitoring, intervention, correction, and optimisation

Developmental psychology · Disorders of sex development · Gender dysphoria · Gender role · Intervention (counseling · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Transgender · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Sexual Differentiation and Disorders

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