9781422282731

GENDER EQUALITY AND IDENTITY RIGHTS

structures (penis) and secondary characteristics (breasts, facial hair). And although we assume that everyone is either male or female, it is estimated that 1.7 percent of all births are intersexed babies (or 17 in 1,000 babies). Intersexed individuals (what used to be called “hermaphroditic”) are born with variant chromosomal, hormonal or external genitalia, which means that they may have XX chromosomes (female) but masculine genitalia, or they may have XY chromosomes (male) and estrogen as their dominant hormone (female).

Gender norms are established almost immediately after birth; for example, boy babies might get blue clothes and blankets, while girl babies often get pink.

10