OT: NYTimes article on Genital Surgery

[Tanibani]

NY Sunday Times, 9/19/04 When Gender isn't a Given

Very interesting article about babies who are born with abnormal looking genitals... and the parents who are forced to make a decision - leave it alone or make it look "normal."

The full article will probably be up for only a few days.

For decades, parents and pediatricians have sought to offer children whose anatomy does not conform to strictly male or female standards a surgical fix. But the private quest for "normal" is now being challenged in a very public way by some adults who underwent genital surgery and speak of a high physical and emotional toll.

[TiredX2]

The condition may cause not only male-looking genitals, even in the presence of fully formed ovaries and uterus, but also personality traits and interests typically associated with boys.

It seems to me, logically, that surgery would be much better done later--- you would have a better idea of their adult proportions, etc... to deal with.

[Quirky]

What the heck is that article doing in the Fashion and Style section rather than the Science/Health section? Says a lot about what these surgeries are really about...

[Teresa]

I was just going to post the link myself.
Seems like many 'professionals' are saying that the choice should be the child's--wait until they grow up, etc.
There was also a great deal of discussion about loss of sexual sensation.
Maybe a change is coming. . .

The New York Times > Fashion & Style > When Gender Isn't a Given: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/fashion/19INTE.html

(I noticed that it was in Fashion & Style, myself, though it was cross-referenced to Health where I found it)

[Acksiom]

Originally Posted by Quirky

What the heck is that article doing in the Fashion and Style section rather than the Science/Health section? Says a lot about what these surgeries are really about...

And even more about what the NYT is really about.

"Newspaper of Record" my butt. Which I wouldn't use the NYT to wipe.