Shortly after learning who the hijras are, I did an image search on a search engine, and one of the images that came up showed a person who was described as a "true hermaphrodite." The person was apparently a member of a hijra community. The photograph wasn't very good, but, as far as I could determine, the individual didn't look markedly differently than other hijras who were pictured.

I recently recalled seeing the photo, and I had the thought that there might be some similarities between the physical attributes and social circumstances of hermaphrodites and eunuchs--even though the two gender types might at first seem to be of opposite character, one having no gonads, the other having both types of sex glands. If I have read correctly (maybe I got the wrong impression) many hermaphrodites, if not most, don't have fully developed organs of both sex, and some don't have fully developed sex organs of either the male type or the female type. If this is so, then perhaps hermaphrodites might tend to have intermediate characteristics between the sexes. If both sets of genital glands were functioning normally, you'd have to figure that the hermaphrodite would have a combination of female and male sex traits--something which is broadly true for some eunuchs, particularly those whose orchiectomies were performed before puberty.

I don't know what the proportion of live births that are hermaphrodites is, but I think it is something like one in thousands or one in tens of thousands. But, even with a low percentage like that, there must be hundreds of people in any large city, who were born with hermaphroditic characteristics. Yet few people, if any, actually are acknowledged hermaphrodites. I've never encountered anyone who was (Of course, I've never personally encountered anyone I knew to be a eunuch either.) I would think that the same sort of social awkwardness which eunuchs apparently sometimes experience, would also be experienced by hermaphrodites. It's also conceivable that some of the same health issues with which eunuchs have to deal--depression, possible calcium deficiencies, and chronic fatigue--might also be problems for hermaphrodites, if they have hormone deficiencies.

So, I'm just curious whether my impressions regarding hermaphrodites are generally correct--do any archive members have experiences with hermaphroditic persons, and are there some similarities between their physical conditions and social circumstances and those of eunuchs? I have to think that the relatively small numbers of both gender types, must exacerbate any problems which might exist, since that would produce some sense of social isolation, and would also be associated with some neglect in terms of medical care, since medicine generally isn't oriented to extensive research into the health problems of people who are, in terms of their physical characteristics, small minorities. As always, if you belong to a group that is perceived to be a large part of society, you tend to wind up better off than those who appear to be marginal individuals.

For whatever it may be worth, I believe the appropriate term today is "Intersexed," rather than "Hermaphrodite." Actually, a better term, I think.

We have several members who report themselves as intersexed. Perhaps they might respond here in a more informed position than I could as a desexed nun who has none.... there I go again.

For what I know: hermaprhodites do have a sex. Genetically they are male or female, with chromosomes XY or XX.

A short court of embryological anatomy learns us that the genitalia of male and female have the same roots. The presence of testosterone will decide what will happen. Testes and ovaries develop as the same basic 'gonads' in the region of the kidneys. Gonads that become testes only descend a bit further to the outside of the body. The external organs of male and female foetus begin in the same way. The same basic structure can form either penis or clitoris. The same structure can form either scrotum or labia.

Sometimes an error happens. And at birth one can then see something as an underdeveloped penis or oversized clitoris. Undescended testicles or hypospadia are very minor forms of the same error in development.

Babies born in such an intersexed state are genetically tested to see what sex they really belong to. Then a choice will be made: XY = boy, XX = girl. Possible medical interventions will guide that baby to a fysical boy or girl.

I know of one exeption, but that exception is only seen at puberty. There is a form of intersexuality residing in the resistance to testosterone. These children do have XY, and are genetically boy, but the cells are irresponsible for testosterone. Which means that each organ devellops in a feminine way: No penis but clitoris. No scrotum but labia. And the gonads are ... testicles. But they are non functional and almost always cryptorchid. That child does develop a vagina but no womb. At puberty these boy/girls stay more or less intersexed, generally relatively tall, very slim, with pronounced cheeks and shoulders. They have the typical appearance of a mannequin, and often have a job like this.

To finish: the word 'mannequin' is derived from the dutch word 'manneken', which means 'little man'.

Greetings,

Vesal

kristoff wrote: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:42 pm For whatever it may be worth, I believe the appropriate term today is "Intersexed," rather than "Hermaphrodite." Actually, a better term, I think.

We have several members who report themselves as intersexed. Perhaps they might respond here in a more informed position than I could as a desexed nun who has none.... there I go again.

Is that a desexed nun that has none or a desexed nun that gets none -- or both?

Slammr (imported) wrote: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:46 am Is that a desexed nun that has none or a desexed nun that gets none -- or both?

Definitely Both!

Definitely Both!

Ah...pity. You and me both. I might have some, but I don't get any.