Alternative gender categories in different cultures: lessons to be learnt. Commentary on Lang and Kuhnle: intersexuality and alternative gender categories in non-Western cultures (Horm Res 2008;69:240-250).

摘要

Sex and sexuality is a fascinating subject discussed both for physical and behavioral aspects and finding the curiosity of humans throughout history and cultures. However, the approach to and communication about these sensitive issues depends heavily on cultural, social, and religious beliefs. This has also led to different societal attitudes towards humans not corresponding to the biological or behavioral concepts of male and female. In Western cultures, general acceptance of different ways of sexuality has been a matter of recent decades and is still under public discussion. Also in the medical profession, the attitude towards individuals with a disorder of sex development (DSD), an aberration of the usual pathways of male or female biological development, is only currently changing.