A Childhood Shattered by Surgery
In a Mumbai hospital, 12-year-old Aarav (name changed) was prepped for “corrective” surgery to “normalize” his intersex body. The procedure—meant to help—left him with lifelong pain and trauma. Today, Aarav joins a rising wave of Indian intersex campaigners fighting to end non-consensual surgeries on children, calling them unnecessary and harmful.
What Is Intersex? Understanding the Spectrum
Intersex refers to individuals born with sex characteristics (chromosomes, genitals, or hormones) that don’t fit typical male or female definitions. Experts estimate 1 in 2,000 babies are visibly intersex, though numbers may be higher due to underreporting.
Despite being a natural biological variation, intersex bodies face medical pathologization. For decades, doctors worldwide—including in India—have performed gender-“assigning” surgeries on infants, often without disclosing risks or alternatives to parents.
The Lifelong Scars of Forced Surgeries
Ritika (name changed), a 28-year-old Delhi activist, underwent surgery at age five. “No one asked me. I grew up feeling broken,” she says. Now working with Intersex Asia, she fights to spare others her pain.
Doctors cite social stigma or fertility as reasons for surgery, but intersex adults report devastating consequences: chronic pain, lost sexual sensation, and psychological distress. Many, like Aarav, endure repeat surgeries after botched procedures.
Global Progress and India’s Lagging Reforms
Countries like Germany and Malta now require informed consent for intersex surgeries. In 2019, the Indian Psychiatric Society declared intersexuality not a disorder—yet surgeries persist.
Activists demand letting children choose when they’re older. “If a child is healthy, why force irreversible changes?” asks Gopi Shankar of Srishti Madurai.
Legal Gaps and Social Stigma
India lacks laws protecting intersex children. While the 2017 Right to Privacy Judgment affirmed gender identity rights, enforcement is weak. In 2019, Tamil Nadu banned non-consensual surgeries in government hospitals—a milestone awaiting national adoption.
Resistance remains: many doctors still push early surgeries, and parents fear bullying. “We need awareness, not scalpels,” says Dr. Sanjay Sharma, advocating for delayed interventions.
How to Support the Movement
Activists urge:
1. Legal bans on non-consensual surgeries.
2. Parental counseling on alternatives.
3. Education to normalize intersex identities.
As survivors speak out, momentum grows. “We deserve autonomy over our bodies,” says Aarav. The fight continues—one story, one law at a time.
(Names changed for privacy. Support resources: Intersex Asia | Srishti Madurai.)
