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The current issue of The Onion contains an interesting article titled "New Children's Book Helps Kids Deal With Pain And Isolation Of Plastic Surgery." The article is obviously made-up just like any other in this parody publication, but it seems almost realistic in the context of plastic surgeries on intersex children.
The article states: "As a pediatric plastic surgeon, Dr. Jessica Krieg changes little faces and lives for the better. Yet for all the good she does, she is all too aware that rhinoplasty and liposuction can be difficult, scary experiences for a child. With her new book, Norah's New Nose, she hopes to change all that. 'These children, on the threshold of becoming something--and someone--beautiful, are often scared and unsure of what's about to be done to them,' Krieg said. 'In Norah's New Nose, I try to show them there's nothing to fear, and that when it's over, there's no need for shame.'"
Few would consider it necessary to perform rhinoplasty or liposuction on young children in order for her or him to grow up with a healthy self-esteem, but many doctors are so convinced that it is unthinkable for a child to grow up healthy with an intersex genitalia intact that they would recommend invasive cosmetic surgeries on children as young as six month old.
Granted, it is difficult to grow up when you are different. But is it worth causing irrevocable scars on the child's physical, emotional, and sexual well-being just to make her or him "fit in"? We as the society need to address shame and isolation associated with intersexuality through honest communication and education, rather than using medical technologies to eliminate "shameful" bodies.
Posted by Emi on Apr 20, 2003