Re: Dicussion on 'hermaphrodite' (was Of accents & dialects

Right. Intersex refers to sex (it's right there in the word!) while
androgyne refers to gender.  In the social construct sense, not the
linguistic one. :)



On 11/2/08, Ina van der Vegt <gijsstrider@...> wrote:
> 2008/11/2 caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...>:
>>> Ina van der Vegt <gijsstrider@...> wrote:
>>
>>> Hermaphrodite is an outdated term, rarely used by the medical
>>> community anymore. The correct term would be intersexed person.
>>
>> 'Hermaphrodite' may be an outdated term, but why choose 'INTERsex'?
>> The prefix 'inter-' suggests, to me, location, either figurative or
>> literal.  It seems to me that 'ambisexual' or 'ambisexed' would better
>> describe the person/condition.  I have also seen the word 'androgyne'
>> which I rather like.  Given that it's not an entry in the AHD, I
>> assume that it's a back formation from 'androgynous/androgyny.'
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>
> Androgyne refers to a gender orientation (One of the several forms of
> transgenderism), while Intersex refers to a physical condition. They
> are not mutually exclusive, of course, but aren't the same either. A
> physical (fe)male might identify as an Androgyne, while an Intersexed
> person might identify as a (wo)man.
>
> Don't ask me where the terms come from, but it's how they are used in
> modern day official circles. However, I can give my attempt at their
> ethymology anyway.
>
> Intersex refers to in between (Inter) the sexes. Just like Interstate
> is in between states. Intersex is used for all cases in which sex is
> difficult to determine, and all specific disorders are named by their
> actual name.
>
> Androgyne most likely comes from Androgynous (reminiscent of both
> sexes, usually difficult to determine the actual sex), which is how
> Androgynes feel themselves, and often attempt to look like.
>
> Ina
>
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Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>