Brief overview
- Intersex people are born with variations in biological sex characteristics.
- Do not assume—if you are unsure how to refer to someone, politely ask how they would like to be addressed.
- People may prefer different terms to describe themselves (“intersex,” “variations of sex characteristics,” or specific medical conditions, such as androgen insensitivity syndrome, etc.).
- Some words, such as “hermaphrodite,” are outdated medical terms that are now considered offensive and should no longer be used to describe people.
- Stories about intersex people should not focus on their genitalia, but rather on their experiences and the social issues that affect them.
Intersex / Variations of Sex Characteristics: The Basics
Intersex (intersoolisus) is an umbrella term referring to variations of sex characteristics (sootunnuste variatsioonid). These characteristics include sex chromosomes (X/Y), the reproductive system, and the hormonal system. Intersex people are born with variations in these characteristics that make their bodies differ from what is typically understood as male or female within a binary sex framework.
Approximately 1–2% of the population has intersex traits. To describe people who are not intersex, the term endosex (endosooline) can be used. Variations of sex characteristics are a natural part of human diversity and are generally not harmful to health. However, some health conditions that cause variations in sex characteristics may also lead to medical complications.
Examples of such variations include androgen insensitivity syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, hypospadias, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Shame and social challenges
Due to differences in appearance, reproductive characteristics, and widespread misconceptions, intersex people (intersoolised inimesed) may experience social stigma. This stigmatization can affect their ability to attend school or work and to form personal or romantic relationships.
Parents and doctors have often hidden from intersex individuals that they have variations of sex characteristics (sootunnuste variatsioonid). Such secrecy, rooted in shame, can also prevent access to necessary medical care.
Many intersex people have been subjected, as infants, children, or adolescents, to involuntary sex “corrective” procedures performed without their or their parents’ informed consent. These procedures can lead to medical and psychological complications later in life. Forced medical interventions also violate intersex people’s right to bodily autonomy.
When intersex people seek gender-affirming medical procedures, they may face barriers such as a lack of qualified specialists and systemic discrimination.
Intersex and the LGBT community
Intersex is often represented by the letter “I” in the acronym LGBTQIA+. Including the “I” highlights how intersex people are uniquely affected by social norms related to sex characteristics, gender identity, and sexuality. It also represents solidarity between the trans and intersex rights movements.
Some intersex people may also be trans, non-binary, or have sexual orientations other than heterosexual. However, it is important to note that intersex itself refers only to variations of sex characteristics. Many intersex people are cisgender and heterosexual.
Not everyone with variations of sex characteristics uses the word intersex to describe themselves. As with any other community, it is essential to follow a person’s own language when speaking about them.
Terminology
As in any community, there are different preferences regarding terminology within the intersex (intersooliste) community.
Some people prefer to be described as intersex — for example, “ta on intersooline inimene” (“they are an intersex person”) or “ta on intersooline naine” (“she is an intersex woman”) — or as a person with an intersex condition/variation (intersooline seisund / variatsioon). Others may dislike the word intersex altogether. They might use terms such as variations of sex characteristics (sootunnuste variatsioonid), differences in sex development (soolise arengu erinevused), or specific medical terms (e.g. “tal on klinefelteri sündroom” – “they have Klinefelter syndrome”; “ta on hüpospaadiaga inimene” – “they are a person with hypospadias”).
The best approach is always to use the language a person uses about themself.
Words to avoid
Certain words should generally be avoided—except when the person themselves uses them. In such cases, they should appear only in quotation marks.
One such word is “hermaphrodite.” It typically refers to organisms that possess fully developed male and female reproductive organs for the purpose of reproduction—for instance, mollusks or certain types of plants. The term refers to reproductive hermaphroditism, which does not occur in humans. Historically, it has been used to describe intersex (intersoolised) people, but today it is considered dehumanizing and perpetuates the false idea that intersex people have two fully functional reproductive systems.
Except in cases where someone intentionally reclaims the word “hermaphrodite” for self-empowerment or when used in a clear historical context, the term should be avoided.
Another term best avoided is “disorders of sex development” (sootunnuste arengu häired). Historically, it has been used to frame intersex bodies as medical problems to be fixed, which rhetorically reinforces non-consensual medical interventions on bodies that do not require them.
Appropriate alternatives include “variations of sex characteristics” (sootunnuste variatsioonid) or “differences in sex development” (sootunnuste arengu erinevused), unless the individual has indicated otherwise.
Media coverage of intersex people
Stories about intersex people are almost entirely absent from the media, including in Estonia. Greater visibility in the media would have a positive impact on the wellbeing of intersex people and the advancement of their rights in Estonia.
In reporting, avoid focusing on genitalia or bodies—coverage of intersex people often centers excessively on their physical characteristics. In the worst cases, such stories portray intersex people as curiosities or oddities, dwelling on graphic descriptions of their “unusual” bodies. By focusing solely on biological differences, such reporting ignores the broader social issues that affect intersex people.
The mere existence of intersex people is not a news story in itself—intersex traits are about as common as red hair. Likewise, it is generally impolite to ask about someone’s genitalia. Stories about intersex people should instead focus on their lives: for instance, the experience of being intersex, the process of coming out, the intersex community, or the state of intersex rights in Estonia.
Inclusive coverage. As intersex people are increasingly being included under the acronym LGBTQIA+, it is important that this inclusion be meaningful rather than merely symbolic. Many people use the acronym LGBTQIA+ yet fail to actually address intersex people or their circumstances. Superficial inclusion can, in fact, do more harm than good. In other words, if a story is about sexual minorities, there is no reason to use the acronym LGBTQIA+ (or any of its variations) when the content only concerns the first three letters of the acronym.
It is common for intersex people to be grouped together with non-binary and trans people. While some intersex people may also be trans or non-binary, it is important to distinguish between these terms. Intersex refers to physical sex characteristics, while transgender—including non-binary identities—refers to gender identity. These differences manifest in people’s lives in distinct ways.
For example, if a story discusses a law change that affects only the trans community and not intersex people, or affects them differently, these distinctions should be made explicit. Attention to such details highlights the important differences between these concepts and ensures accurate representation.