Long-Term Psychological Evaluation of Intersex Children Surgeons

Long-Term Psychological Evaluation of Intersex
Children by Slijper‚ Drop‚ Molenaar‚ and de Muinck Keizer-Schrama Archives of Sexual Behavior(1998) Volume 27, Number 2, 125-144

Despite the sex assignment, genital organ correction soon after birth, psychological counseling of parents and intensive psychotherapy of the children, general psychopathology developed equally in all 4 groups (39% of total group). Although 87% of the girls with a physical intersex condition developed in line with the assigned sex, 13% developed a gender identity disorder though only 1 girl (2%) failed to accept the assigned sex. Gender identity disorder and deviant gender role were in evidence only in girls with CAH and girls of the ambiguous group. Biological and social factors seem responsible for the development of gender identity disorder, such as pre- and postnatal hormonal influences on the brain enabling deviant gender role behavior to develop, and an inability on the part of parents to accept the sex assignment.

Chop up their genitalia into the most convenient shape, and nearly 40% have psychological problems. And should they dare to object to the assignment of their sex by others, why then they have a "Gender identity disorder" and are "deviant".

Biological and social factors seem responsible for the development of gender identity disorder, such as pre- and postnatal hormonal influences on the brain enabling deviant gender role behavior to develop, and an inability on the part of parents to accept the sex assignment. Yes, if the parents notice that despite the surgeon's best efforts, their child is in fact a boy... thinks like a boy, plays like a boy, acts like a boy...then they're to blame. For not accepting that Surgeons' Reality. Oh yes, and the fact that their son had male neuro-anatomy even before birth, I guess that plays a part too. Just a bit.

That was in 1998. Twelve years ago. The evidence is there, right in front of theor noses - but they're still doing it.

Because if they admit to themselves they've been wrong, and remember, the vast majority have dedicated their lives to helping children, to relieving suffering... then they'd have to face the fact that they've been mutilating them, in body and in mind.

I hope they have the courage to admit that they're merely human, they make mistakes, and not persist in their terrible actions just so they can avoid a crushing sense of guilt. Because making mistakes due to insufficient data happens in medicine. They're not infallible. To persist though, that's not a mistake. That's evil.