3.1.1 Stories of gender identity
- What did you learn from Bonnie’s story about intersex identities that you may have not been aware of?
- What would it be like for you to talk with Bonnie about their experiences?
Bonnie was generous to share her experience of intersexuality. I found her experience touching and informative in that intersex is an umbrella term that describes different variations: physical, hormonal and genetic.
Woman have XX and men have XY, Bonnie has XY and looks female.
Bonnie shared that she felt social stigma and that her family had hidden her situation to protect her from social judgment. They had done the same for her sister. That the family had been very secretive as they didn’t know what else to do. Bonnie had experienced problems with intimacy due to shame. Her advice to anyone young and going through this was for them to take their time with any decisions. She has discovered that she herself is a unique expression of the diversity of nature.
What it would be like for me to talk to Bonnie about her intersexuality? I would of course ask Bonnie how to ask her about her situation. As in wjat works best for her in such conversations and what it is that she would like me to know to start with. I would be curious to ask her what has supported her through this time? What have been some discoveries about ways of knowing herself that she would like to share? I’d ask what supported her to be able to start addressing her feelings? I am also curious about how she was able to feel so much care and empathy for her mothers choices at the time of her operation.
it would be interesting to me to ask her about her healing journey. Who has helped her and when did she know she was going to be okay? Also I wonder how she feels about relating now? How she talks to people about her situation? And what helps her to be able to share her story with other? And how the way she has shared her story make her feel? How has knowing others with similar stories been for her? I would want to be spontaneous and ask questions that felt appropriate, respectful and were sensitive in the moment.
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