Dicussion on 'hermaphrodite' (was Of accents & dialects

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 Hermaphrodite is an outdated term, rarely used by the medical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 'Hermaphrodite' may be an outdated term, but why choose 'INTERsex'?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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