HOW DOES PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF INTERSEX MATTER?

Early medical intervention on intersex traits has been justified by the rationale that people with variable sex characteristics will face unbearable social stigma. Yet the psychological evidence for this assumption is lacking.

During this talk, Professor Peter Hegarty (University of Surrey) will discuss historical and contemporary perceptions of intersex traits, presenting evidence for the role of conceptual framing in creating stigma, both in everyday life and in high-stakes medical encounters.