Intersex euphoria! Positive experiences of intersex variations

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Abstract

People with intersex variations are mostly framed within conservative psycho-medical research, or critical empowerment Intersex Studies literature. In both literatures their framing has negative aspects either negating their bodies, identities, health or function; or positioning within discriminatory contexts. Resisting deficit-based framings, this article uses the concept ‘euphoria’ to investigate when, why and how 272 Australian online survey participants (aged 16-87yrs) had positive experiences of their intersex variations. Upon diagnosis under one fifth described what this piece calls Category Validation, Difference Legitimisation, Knowledge Integration, Medical Sense-making or Sudden Hope euphorias. Post-diagnosis euphorias were more common; most often Body Positivity euphoria. Also, Acceptance, Autonomous Control, Relative Gains or Fitness Edge euphorias emerged. Euphorias had different feelings, stimuli, processes and impacts. Body Positivity euphoria was most connected and conducive to other euphorias, and has external stimuli which could be invested in further.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)73-96
Number of pages23
JournalSociologie
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Italian translation of title: Euforia intersessuale! Esperienze positive di variazioni intersessuali

Keywords

  • intersex
  • euphoria
  • dysphoria
  • body
  • positivity
  • diagnoses
  • diagnosis
  • category
  • validation
  • knowledge
  • integration
  • health
  • education
  • wellbeing
  • professional

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