Philosopher Rona Dinur Criticizes "Intentional Confusion" of Transgender and Intersex Issues in Gender Discourse

Rona Dinur, a scholar holding a PhD in Philosophy from Hebrew University and an LL.M in Law from Harvard, recently voiced strong criticism regarding the conflation of transgender and intersex issues within what she terms "genderist literature." In a tweet posted by her account, @RonaDinur, she stated, "It isn't relevant. There's just a long history of the trans and so-called 'intersex' issues being intentionally confused in genderist literature, because they think they both 'destabilize gender' or whatever.

Dinur's comment highlights a nuanced but often misunderstood distinction between two separate, though sometimes intersecting, concepts. Transgender individuals are people whose gender identity—their internal sense of being male, female, or another gender—differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This identity is distinct from biological sex characteristics.

In contrast, intersex individuals are born with variations in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or external genitalia, that do not fit typical binary definitions of male or female. These are biological differences, not gender identities. Historically, intersex individuals, particularly infants, have often undergone medically unnecessary surgeries to "normalize" their bodies into either a male or female binary, a practice increasingly criticized by human rights advocates.

The "genderist literature" Dinur refers to often includes academic theories, such as those by Judith Butler, which explore the social construction of gender and, in some cases, argue that even biological sex is a social construct rather than a purely biological reality. Dinur's assertion that these issues are "intentionally confused" suggests a deliberate effort to blur these distinctions, potentially to serve a broader agenda of "destabilizing gender" binaries.

While transgender individuals may seek medical interventions to align their physical appearance with their gender identity, intersex advocates often fight against unwanted medical interventions performed without their consent. Despite these distinct experiences, both communities frequently face discrimination and advocate for human rights, sometimes collaborating on shared goals such as bodily autonomy and legal recognition beyond a strict gender binary.