For intersex people -- those born with sex characteristics outside the traditional definitions of female and male -- the stakes to appear "normal" are high. Drawing on her personal experience, Susannah Temko reveals the shame, prejudice and harm faced by the intersex community, as they're forced to conform to a binary understanding of sex that ultimately hinders their health and well-being. She calls on us all to discard outdated notions of biological sex and accept the complexity within humanity.

Susannah Temko: What it means to be intersex

What it means to be intersex

Intersex individuals, making up to 1.7% of the population, challenge the binary view of sex, advocating for visibility and rights.

Routine surgeries on intersex babies to 'normalize' their anatomy cause irreversible harm, highlighting a need for medical reform.

Embracing intersex variations as natural, rather than disorders, can foster a more inclusive society, valuing diversity over conformity.