Des/reconocer la intersexualidad: notas críticas a propósito de un documento elaborado por un comité de bioética

Abstract

In this paper we analyze an article published in the journal Archivos Argentinos de Pediatría, which presents recommendations of the bioethics committee of the Gutiérrez hospital for the ‘treatment’ of intersex infants. In the first part of this paper, we use Judith Butler’s perspective on sex, gender and sexual difference in order to claim that the regarded article uses a normalizing, moralizing and oppressive discourse in the face of what does not fit into pre-established categories. Secondly, we critically review the concept of autonomy presupposed in the document, insofar as it assumes a self-conscious and individual self proper to political liberalism. Finally, we argue that the position expressed in the article needs to be revised in the light of other perspectives that recognize the ecstatic and social condition of bodies, not only to make medical and hospital institutions less coercive, but also to do justice to the diversity of sexed bodies.