Responding to Yellow

Doctors’ theories and quickness to implement “solutions” to fix the “problems” of intersex children is unnerving. And the higher than expected percent of babies born with gender anomalies means that these practices happen quite frequently. I also found the in depth descriptions of the methods of fixing intersex babies even more unsettling, especially because of the risks associated with them. It seems as if the ways by which doctors try to determine which of the two sexes to make the baby are fairly subjective and determined on a whim by the doctor. Because girls are deemed easier to make, you would think doctors would be more inclined just to make the baby a girl, in order to save some effort. Furthermore, the description of doctors of having “fixing fetishes” is creepy and makes it sounds as if doctors have a tendency to disregard the best interest of the baby and its family to display their techniques. Then when the author looks at the different theories that have been developed about the physiological aspects of determining the proper gender for intersex babies. Dr. Money’s ignorance is unbelievable, and the fact that he covered up the true results of his patient testing. His argument that nurturing and a child’s upbringing can influence a child’s gender tendency seems so farfetched. That goes along the lines of saying that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice. Overall, I really appreciated the author’s stance on shedding light these doctors’ practices and their quick impulses to make life-changing decisions without really consulting with or informing their patients.