Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intersex Bodies in Sexuality Education: On the Edge of Cultural Difference

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of Sexuality Education

Abstract

Myths and ignorance regarding intersexuality sometimes result in intersex bodies inhabiting the space of the ‘embarrassing other’ in sexuality education. Utilising Nikki Sullivan’s notion of somatechnics, we seek to untangle how people associated with this category cannot be understood as separate from the technologies of medical and educational institutions that regulate their bodies. Drawing upon data collected from a broader study exploring cultural discourses in school-based sexuality education in Australia and New Zealand, this analysis explores how gendered bodily norms of discipline and regulation intersect. We focus on the pedagogical potential of conversations about intersex and hope to inspire educators to work with and against students’ curiosity for stories about what they perceive to be ‘embarrassing bodies’ and explore how power accrues to particular bodies.

We are surrounded by, and have embodied, the idea that while the vast majority of bodies may not be ill, they are nevertheless ‘wrong’ in one way or another: they have too few (or too many) limbs or digits; they (or parts of them) are the wrong size, the wrong age, the wrong color; they are ‘sexually ambiguous’; they bear the wrong ethnic markers; they inhibit particular identities and/or aspirations; they simply do not seem ‘right’.

Sullivan 2009, 313

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    This programme attempts to ‘raise health awareness and de-stigmatise “embarrassing” body parts and medical conditions’ (Channel 4 2014).

  2. 2.

    Since 2006 the medical establishment no longer refers to ‘intersex’ when referring to individuals born with intersex variations. Through a highly debatable consensus statement the taxonomy changed within medicine to ‘disorders of sex development’ (Lee et al. 2006).

  3. 3.

    Henceforth, we are using the acronym ‘LGBTIQ’ when referring to ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer/questioning’.

  4. 4.

    See for example, Breu (2009), Burford et al. (2013), DePalma (2013), Herndon (2006), Hird (2003), Jones and Hillier (2012), Jones (2013), Koyama and Weasel (2003), Ollis et al. (2013), Vega et al. (2012).

  5. 5.

    OII Australia is part of Organisation Intersex International with its base in the USA.

  6. 6.

    Also known as the intersex variation uterus didelphys (Hill 2014).

  7. 7.

    SSCV is also co-funded by the DEECD (SSCV 2014b).

References

  • Albury, K. (2013). Young people, media and sexual learning: Rethinking representation. Sex Education, 13(1), S32–S44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, L., Rasmussen, M. L., Quinlivan, K., Aspin, C., Sanjakdar, F., & Brömdal, A. (2012). Who’s afraid of sex at school? The politics of researching culture, religion and sexuality at school. International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 37(1), 31–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, L., Quinlivan, K., Aspin, C., Sanjakdar, F., Brömdal, A., & Rasmussen, M. L. (2014). Meeting at the crossroads: Re-conceptualising difference in research teams. Qualitative Research Journal, 14(2), 119–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breu, C. (2009). Middlesex meditations: Understanding and teaching intersex. The English Journal, 98(4), 102–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burford, J., Lucassen, M. F. G., Penniket, P., & Hamliton, T. (2013). Educating for diversity: An informative evaluation of the rainbow youth sexuality and gender diversity workshops. Auckland: Rainbow Youth Incorporated.

    Google Scholar 

  • Channel 4. (2014). Embarrassing bodies. Channel 4 UK. Retrieved from http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com

  • Depalma, R. (2013). Choosing to lose our gender expertise: Queering sex/gender in school settings. Sex Education, 13(1), 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). (2014). The school policy and advisory guide: Gender identity and intersex status—definitions. Melbourne: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/health/pages/genderidentity.aspx#link34

  • Donaldson-James, S. (2012). Born with two vaginas: Not So Rare. ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/12/born-with-two-vaginas-not-so-rare/

  • Evers, C. W., Albury, K., Byron, P., & Crawford, K. (2013). Young people, social media, social network sites and sexual health communication in Australia: ‘This is funny, you should watch it’. International Journal of Communication, 7, 263–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fausto-Sterling, A. (2000). Sexing the body: Gender politics and the construction of sexuality. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, M. (1980). Two lectures. In C. Gordon (Ed.), Michel Foucault, Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings 1972–1977 (pp. 78–108). Sussex: The Harvester Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halstead, J. M. (1999). Teaching about homosexuality: A response to John Beck. Cambridge Journal of Education, 29(1), 131–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herndon, A. (2006). Teaching intersex issues. Intersex Society of North America (ISNA). Retrieved from http://www.isna.org/teaching_kit

  • Hill, M. A. (2014). UNSW Embryology: Genital system—abnormalities. Retrieved from https://php.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php?title=Genital_System_-_Abnormalities

  • Hiort, O. (2013, June 7–9). DSDnet: Formation of an open world-wide network on DSD. Paper presented at the 4th International Symposium on Disorders of Sex Development, Glasgow, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hird, M. J. (2003). Thinking about ‘sex’ in education. Sex Education, 3(3), 187–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S. (2004). Identifying future research needs for the promotion of young people’s sexual health in New Zealand. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 21, 123–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T. (2013). How sex education research methodologies frame GLBTIQ students. Sex Education, 13(6), 687–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T., & Hillier, L. (2012). Sexuality education school policy for Australian GLBTIQ students. Sex Education, 12(4), 437–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, E., & Weasel, L. (2003). From social construction to social justice: Transforming how we teach about intersexuality. In E. Koyama (Ed.), Teaching intersex issues: A guide for teachers in women’s, gender & queer studies (pp. 2–9). Portland: Intersex Initiative Portland IPDX. Retrieved from http://www.aissg.org/PDFs/Koyama-Teaching-2003.pdf

  • Lee, P. A., Houk, C. P., Ahmed, S. F., & Hughes, I. A. (2006). Consensus statement on management of intersex disorders. Pediatrics, 118(2), e488–e500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morland, I. (2009). Introduction: Lessons from the octopus. GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 15(2), 191–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ollis, D., Harrison, L., & Maharaj, C. (2013). Sexuality education matters: Preparing pre-service teachers to teach sexuality education. Burwood: Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Education, Deakin University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII). (2013). What is intersex? Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII). Retrieved from http://oii.org.au/18106/what-is-intersex/

  • Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII). (2014a). Intersex for allies. Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII). Retrieved from http://oii.org.au/21336/intersex-for-allies/

  • Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII). (2014b). Making your service intersex friendly. Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII). Retrieved from http://oii.org.au/26982/making-services-intersex-friendly/

  • Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV). (2014a). Resources. Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV). Retrieved from http://safeschoolscoalitionvictoria.org.au/resources/

  • Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV). (2014b). Training. Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV). Retrieved from http://safeschoolscoalitionvictoria.org.au/training/

  • Sanjakdar, F. (2009). Teacher talk: The problems, perspectives and possibilities of developing a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum for Australian Muslim students. Sex Education, 45(3), 261–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, P. (2001). Speaking about cultural difference and school disadvantage. An interview study of ‘Samoan’ paraprofessionals in designated disadvantaged secondary schools in Australia. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 22(3), 317–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, N. (2009). The somatechnics of intersexuality. GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 15(2), 313–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vega, S., Crawford, H. G., & Van Pelt, J. L. (2012). Safe schools for LGBTQI students: How do teachers view their role in promoting safe schools? Equity & Excellence in Education, 45(2), 250–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Visootsak, J., & Graham, J. M. (2006). Klinefelter syndrome and other sex chromosomal aneuploidies. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 1(42), 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Linguistics, Adult and Specialist Education, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Campus, West Street, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia

    Annette Brömdal

  2. School of Sociology, Research School of Social Sciences, Haydon Allen Building (22), Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Mary Lou Rasmussen

  3. Faculty of Education, 29 Ancaro Imparo Way, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Fida Sanjakdar

  4. Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92601, Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand

    Louisa Allen

  5. School of Educational Studies and Leadership, College of Education, Health and Human Development, University of Canterbury, Dovedale Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Kathleen Quinlivan

Authors
  1. Annette Brömdal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary Lou Rasmussen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fida Sanjakdar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Louisa Allen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kathleen Quinlivan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Louisa Allen

  2. School of Sociology Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Mary Lou Rasmussen

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brömdal, A., Rasmussen, M.L., Sanjakdar, F., Allen, L., Quinlivan, K. (2017). Intersex Bodies in Sexuality Education: On the Edge of Cultural Difference. In: Allen, L., Rasmussen, M.L. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Sexuality Education. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-40033-8_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-40033-8_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-40032-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-40033-8

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation