<strong>Intersex</strong> is the condition whereby an individual is born with biologicalfeatures that are simultaneously perceived as male and female. Ranging f... » 

Intersex is the condition whereby an individual is born with biologicalfeatures that are simultaneously perceived as male and female. Ranging from theambiguous genitalia of the true hermaphrodite to the mildly or internallyintersexed the condition may be as common as cleft palate. Like cleft palateit is hidden and surgically altered but for very different reasons. Thisimportant book draws heavily on the personal testimony of intersexedindividuals their loved ones and medical carers. The impact of early sexassignment surgery on an individuals later life is examined within the contextof ethical and clinical questions. Harper challenges the conventional andradical treatment of intersexuality through nonconsensual infant sexassignment surgery. In doing so she exposes powerful myths taboos andconstructions of gender the perfect phallus a bipolar model of gender andthe infallibility of medical decisions. Handling sensitive material with carethis book deepens our understanding of a condition that has itself only beenmedically understood in recent years. «