Are intersex and DSD the same?
Intersex is not the same as the term DSD used by health professionals. That abbreviation stands for disorders of sex development or differences of sex development. They do concern the same groups, but whereas intersex is about human rights, DSD is about physical problems and medical treatment. The overview below outlines how intersex and DSD differ:
- The intersex community…
- The DSD community…
- …works from the social sciences.
- …works from medicine.
- …is based on our lived experience.
- …is based on our bodies.
- …sees biological sex as a spectrum.
- …sees biological sex as a dichotomy.
- …speaks of human rights.
- …speaks of the best surgical technology.
- …wants equality and emancipation.
- … discriminates by treating trans and intersex children differently.
- … accepts physical diversity.
- … denies that diversity.
- …works towards inclusion.
- …works on integration.
- …requires psycho-social support because society is not sufficiently accepting of intersex.
- …offers psychotherapy because the high number of suicide attempts is worrisome.
- … demands bodily integrity.
- …offers physical ‘normalization’.
- …is satisfied with a good ‘quality of life’.
- …is satisfied when we are turned into ‘normal’ people.
- …wants to change society.
- …wants to change patients.
- …works in society.
- …works in hospitals and patient groups.
- In one word: demedicalization.
- In one word: medicalization.
- But the main, most important difference is that the intersex community is led by intersex people and the DSD community is led by health professionals.