SOME CHALLENGES INTERSEX PERSONS FACE
We are a movement that is creating awareness, visibility, and safe space for Intersex people in Ghana.
What Is Intersex?
Intersex is a general term used for a variety of situations in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the boxes of female or male sex markers. Intersex is an umbrella term that describes bodies that fall outside the strict male/female binary. There are lots of ways someone can be intersex.
Intersex people are individuals born with any of several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals that, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “do not fit the typical definitions for male or female bodies”.
Such variations may involve genital ambiguity and combinations of chromosomal genotype and sexual phenotype other than XY-male and XX-female.
What We Stand For
We hold many values close to our hearts. Below are some we are most passionate about.
- The mental health and well-being of intersex individuals. Discrimination of intersex persons has negatively affected the ability to be hired, the ability to retain and sustain a job, and the ability to be promoted or negotiate for salary increments. All of these have negatively affected the financial well-being of intersex persons in Ghana.
- Ending discrimination and victimization among intersex children and persons
- Ending intersex surgeries
- Ending Infanticide of intersex Foetuses and babies under one year.
- Ending gender-based violence (e.g., Female Genital Mutilation and Intersex Genital Mutilation)
- Gender Equality and Legal Gender Recognition.
The Facts
Knowing some key, crucial facts can help you educate and enlighten others on what it means to be intersex. Knowledge is power!
- Our genitals, reproductive systems, chromosomes, and hormones do not always dictate our gender identity.
- Intersex people can identify as male, female, non-binary, etc.
- According to experts, around 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits – comparable to the number of people born with red hair.
- Medically unnecessary, nonconsensual interventions on intersex children and people are violations of human rights.
What is sex?
Sex defines the physical differences between people that are male, female, or intersex. This is assigned to them during birth and is referred to as a person’s “natal sex”.
Sex defines the physical differences between people that are male, female, or intersex. This is assigned to them during birth and is referred to as a person’s “natal sex”.
What is gender?
Gender refers to the identity of a person based on their unique psychology. The person may be a man, woman, or non-binary.
Helpful Resources
It’s important to know that you’re never alone and that there is always someone there to help. Below are some helpful resources in a variety of different media types that should inspire as much as they educate.
Non-profit / Non-Governmental Organizations.
- Intersex Asia
- Intersex Human Rights Australia
- Intersex Nigeria
- Intersex Philippines
- OII Europe
- Iranti
- GATE
Podcasts
Video
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