Comments on: To all people searching for pics of intersex genitals http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/ Queer, Intersex, Femme, Community Organizer, Speaker, and (sometimes) Writer Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:57:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Masculine Femininities Issue 3 « Masculine Femininities Zine http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-93 Masculine Femininities Issue 3 « Masculine Femininities Zine Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:21:16 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-93 [...] majority of hits via people searching for pictures of intersex people’s genitals. I wrote a blog some time back addressing the problems with this “curiosity.” Before the [...] [...] majority of hits via people searching for pictures of intersex people’s genitals. I wrote a blog some time back addressing the problems with this “curiosity.” Before the [...]

]]> By: Katherine V. London http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-65 Katherine V. London Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:06:27 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-65 Hello. I applaud you for expressing the truth about intersexed individuals and the exploitation, stress, trauma, and humiliation they are forced to experience. Many an individual, or multiple individuals, who form a group express anti-discrimination against themselves, and cannot fathom how another individual could treat them with inequality, then do the exact same thing they do not like being treated with to individuals who are intersexed, or transgender. It is highly illogical. I feel your pain, and thank you for not being afraid to express the truth, as well as your viewpoints. Katherine V. London. Hello.

I applaud you for expressing the truth about intersexed individuals and the exploitation, stress, trauma, and humiliation they are forced to experience.

Many an individual, or multiple individuals, who form a group express anti-discrimination against themselves, and cannot fathom how another individual could treat them with inequality, then do the exact same thing they do not like being treated with to individuals who are intersexed, or transgender.

It is highly illogical.

I feel your pain, and thank you for not being afraid to express the truth, as well as your viewpoints.

Katherine V. London.

]]> By: Caitlin http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-50 Caitlin Wed, 13 May 2009 18:03:11 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-50 Hey Luminis, Great point! I completely understand the desire for intersex folks to see pictures of other folks like or similar to them. I had thought many years ago that it would be really cool if someone did an intersex version of the book 'Femalia' by Joani Blank. I would definitely participate in a project like that! Plus, I can't help to think what a powerful message something like that could send to doctors and others who think we "defective" and that we should be ashamed of the way our bodies are. I also want to thank you for reading and commenting. I have to admit that after discovering your blog last night and reading some of your posts, I have developed a bit of a intellectual crush on you! I often feel lonely and isolated from other intersex folks, so I am always excited to connect with other folks who share experiences and an analysis similar to mine. I am very pleased to make your (internet) acquaintance and look forward to reading more from you! Hey Luminis,

Great point! I completely understand the desire for intersex folks to see pictures of other folks like or similar to them. I had thought many years ago that it would be really cool if someone did an intersex version of the book ‘Femalia’ by Joani Blank. I would definitely participate in a project like that! Plus, I can’t help to think what a powerful message something like that could send to doctors and others who think we “defective” and that we should be ashamed of the way our bodies are.

I also want to thank you for reading and commenting. I have to admit that after discovering your blog last night and reading some of your posts, I have developed a bit of a intellectual crush on you! I often feel lonely and isolated from other intersex folks, so I am always excited to connect with other folks who share experiences and an analysis similar to mine. I am very pleased to make your (internet) acquaintance and look forward to reading more from you!

]]> By: Luminis http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-49 Luminis Wed, 13 May 2009 17:29:33 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-49 Caitlin, thanks for this wellconsidered and heartfelt post. I have to admit to being of two minds on this topic. On the one hand, I *absolutely* agree that almost all photos of intersex people's genitals available on the web are horrific. They display dehumanized, degraded people, often children, being splayed for the camera. To stare at such a photo is to be complicit in abusing an intersex person, whether we wish to be complicit or not. On the other hand, I know that as an intersex person who was trying to find out more about people who share my physical status, and thus about myself, I too spent a lot of time looking in medical journals and websites. It wasn't comfortable, but I needed to know. . . There's an obvious solution, which is to create and make very accessible a collection of images that are nonexploitative for people to look at to learn more about physical variation. It could be just quality drawings, or intersex people who wished to permit someone to take fully human, nondegrading photographs of themselves could contribute. Either way, I think that would be a worthy project. Anyway, the point you make is very important, and I thank you. Caitlin, thanks for this wellconsidered and heartfelt post. I have to admit to being of two minds on this topic. On the one hand, I *absolutely* agree that almost all photos of intersex people’s genitals available on the web are horrific. They display dehumanized, degraded people, often children, being splayed for the camera. To stare at such a photo is to be complicit in abusing an intersex person, whether we wish to be complicit or not.

On the other hand, I know that as an intersex person who was trying to find out more about people who share my physical status, and thus about myself, I too spent a lot of time looking in medical journals and websites. It wasn’t comfortable, but I needed to know. . .

There’s an obvious solution, which is to create and make very accessible a collection of images that are nonexploitative for people to look at to learn more about physical variation. It could be just quality drawings, or intersex people who wished to permit someone to take fully human, nondegrading photographs of themselves could contribute. Either way, I think that would be a worthy project.

Anyway, the point you make is very important, and I thank you.

]]> By: Cici http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-48 Cici Tue, 12 May 2009 01:37:33 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-48 Thank you Caitlin for this very well written, and informative article. I too have been poked, prodded,gawked at, ridiculed, and otherwise made to feel less than human!At first I was diagnosed as transsexual, and after many years at the hands of these insensitive people, I was diagnosed as intersex.I really hope that these people looking for pictures take heed of your words, and learn something! Thank you Caitlin for this very well written, and informative article. I too have been poked, prodded,gawked at, ridiculed, and otherwise made to feel less than human!At first I was diagnosed as transsexual, and after many years at the hands of these insensitive people, I was diagnosed as intersex.I really hope that these people looking for pictures take heed of your words, and learn something!

]]> By: Caitlin http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-47 Caitlin Tue, 12 May 2009 00:23:04 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-47 Thanks for your comments! I am glad that people are finding this useful and relate to my frustration. I have been getting even more hits from folks searching for intersex genital pictures since I posted it, so hopefully this is helping to educate them and make them think more critically about their desires to see these kinds of pictures in the future. Thanks again for reading! Thanks for your comments! I am glad that people are finding this useful and relate to my frustration. I have been getting even more hits from folks searching for intersex genital pictures since I posted it, so hopefully this is helping to educate them and make them think more critically about their desires to see these kinds of pictures in the future.

Thanks again for reading!

]]> By: Jeno-Jeno http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-46 Jeno-Jeno Mon, 11 May 2009 20:43:02 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-46 Yes,I find this whole situation upsetting,I think its just part of a wider scheme of human nature,morbid curiosity. I have both Kallmann's & Turner's Syndromes;they did not fully manifest until I was a teenager,or in reality,I was extremely slow to mature physically.I first sought medical attention back in 1978;compared to today, everyone, including me,seemed totally "clueless' about any kind of gender anomalies!After they poked,prodded, drew blood,had me sit in sessions facing this group of middle-aged doctors with quizzical expressions on their faces(I was only 22 at the time.Then they wanted to take medical photographs of me,meaning I would have to undress and let them take numerous pics of my ambiguous physique...,of course they reassured me that I would remain anonymous,with a black bar inserted over my eyes before they put me in some textbook...,how comforting?! I tell people that every individual with any affliction shown in medical books,has a family,a history,and most importantly a heart & soul.In short,don't let the "piss-ants" bring you down! Yes,I find this whole situation upsetting,I think its just part of a wider scheme of human nature,morbid curiosity. I have both Kallmann’s & Turner’s Syndromes;they did not fully manifest until I was a teenager,or in reality,I was extremely slow to mature physically.I first sought medical attention back in 1978;compared to today, everyone, including me,seemed totally “clueless’ about any kind of gender anomalies!After they poked,prodded, drew blood,had me sit in sessions facing this group of middle-aged doctors with quizzical expressions on their faces(I was only 22 at the time.Then they wanted to take medical photographs of me,meaning I would have to undress and let them take numerous pics of my ambiguous physique…,of course they reassured me that I would remain anonymous,with a black bar inserted over my eyes before they put me in some textbook…,how comforting?!
I tell people that every individual with any affliction shown in medical books,has a family,a history,and most importantly a heart & soul.In short,don’t let the “piss-ants” bring you down!

]]> By: Hannah http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-45 Hannah Mon, 11 May 2009 19:44:39 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-45 I feel the need to make another comment. When I was growing up my life was fine until I failed to mature like the other kids. My body never changed, no attraction to women or men, no sex until I was in my twenties. Sex was a concept that was beyond my grasp. Sounds odd but it is the way my body is built and I know of no other way, in other words it is normal for me. Don't expect you to understand nor do I care. So I live more or less as a man and think as more or less a woman. In other words I cannot be classified in the terms that the world perceives as normal gender, yet I feel normal in my own little world. That is all that matters. I feel the need to make another comment. When I was growing up my life was fine until I failed to mature like the other kids. My body never changed, no attraction to women or men, no sex until I was in my twenties. Sex was a concept that was beyond my grasp. Sounds odd but it is the way my body is built and I know of no other way, in other words it is normal for me. Don’t expect you to understand nor do I care. So I live more or less as a man and think as more or less a woman.
In other words I cannot be classified in the terms that the world perceives as normal gender, yet I feel normal in my own little world. That is all that matters.

]]> By: Hannah http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/2009/04/30/to-all-people-searching-for-pics-of-intersex-genitals/#comment-44 Hannah Mon, 11 May 2009 17:32:18 +0000 http://caitlinpetrakischilds.com/?p=161#comment-44 I felt out of place in a mens shower room, as a child, because of my very much under developed penis and testes. In fact I was beat-up because someone thought I was gay or something. These fools got the something right. My childhood wasn't very good from that stand point and now someone wants to see photos me or us? Even in my youth people guarded the bathrooms. Life has been good to me, but I'm still caught between genders, preferring the woman I feel I am yet knowing there is a piece of me that is male. My wife loves me the way I am, so the rest of you that want to see me take a leap. I felt out of place in a mens shower room, as a child, because of my very much under developed penis and testes. In fact I was beat-up because someone thought I was gay or something. These fools got the something right. My childhood wasn’t very good from that stand point and now someone wants to see photos me or us? Even in my youth people guarded the bathrooms. Life has been good to me, but I’m still caught between genders, preferring the woman I feel I am yet knowing there is a piece of me that is male. My wife loves me the way I am, so the rest of you that want to see me take a leap.

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