intersex people
Neither strictly male/female
Intersex people are individuals born with sex characteristics—chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy—that don't fit typical definitions of male or female.
This includes variations in genitalia, reproductive organs, or chromosome patterns.
Intersex is a natural biological variation, not a medical condition requiring correction, though many intersex people have historically undergone surgeries in infancy without their consent.
The term replaces older clinical language like "hermaphrodite," now considered outdated and offensive.
- hermaphroditeBoth sexes in one
- androgynousNeither distinctly male nor female
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- gender binaryStrict two-category sex classification
- genderSocial identity category
biological · chromosomes · hormones · genitalia · ambiguous · variation · anatomy · identity · medical · medical intervention · surgery · spectrum · bodily autonomy · bodies · natural · diverse · conditions · gonads