Anne Fausto-Sterling The Five Sexes Analysis

The Five Sexes by Anne Fausto-Sterling is a thought provoking article. It focuses on why male and female is no longer enough in today’s society. Or never really has been. Although male and female is accepted and the norm socially and medically. It doesn’t necessarily mean it to the individual involved. I believe Fausto-Sterlings article is a necessary step we need to focus on in society. No two individuals are the same. Therefore we need more options. Fausto-Sterling in her article addresses that there are far too many intersexual’s, that shouldn’t be force to choose one of the two sexes. John Money a psychologist of John Hopkins University, studies congenital sexual-organ defects. Suggests that 4 percent of individuals are born this way (p.21). So essentially with the only two choices available serves intersexed individuals a social inequality. Fausto-Sterlings argument is that male and female are not enough. She feels as though there are additions sexes should be added. Herms, which are the true hermaphrodites whom have one teste and one ovary. Ferms, are individuals born with ovaries and some aspects of male genitalia, but no testes. And Merms are individuals with testes and some aspect of
But whose pain is it exactly? Is it the family members, or the actual individual involved? If we focus more on the general happiness instead of forcing them into a culture that’s so focused on gender-norms. Maybe we would realize its more society’s problem then their own. Sterling argues the fact of taking the alternative road by just raising the children as h ow they were actually born. With this conclusion she suggest it definitely would be a tough road, but if the intersexed children and their parents are ready to fight the fight. Then maybe we could change society’s views. And start to make it easier for the next generation after