#74 - On Gender Atypical Individuals and Intersex

A Way Beyond the Rainbow

In this episode, we continue our discussion of gender nonconformity with Br. Mobeen Vaid, and we discuss the notions of gender atypical individuals from an Islamic perspective, as well as the concepts of intersex/disorders of sexual development from a medical perspective.
What are the differences between al-khunthā al-mushkil (ambiguous khunthā), al-mukhannath al-khilqī (congenital mukhannath) and al-mukhannath ghayr al-khilqī (affected or non-congenital mukhannath)? Does khunthā represent a third gender? To what extent does Islam accommodate gender atypical individuals and guarantee their legal rights under Shari'a? Who is the verse in the Qur'an about "men who possess no sexual desire for women" referring to exactly? Biologically and medically speaking, how do intersex syndromes arise and how can they be treated? These and other questions are explored in this episode.
References used in this episode:
- “And the Male Is Not like the Female”: Sunni Islam and Gender Nonconformity (Part 1) by Mobeen Vaid
- “And the Male Is Not like the Female”: Sunni Islam and Gender Nonconformity (Part 2) by Mobeen Vaid and Waheed Jensen
Extra resources:
- Intersex Society of North America - official website
- Support and advocacy groups for intersex individuals - here and here

Chapters

1. #74 - On Gender Atypical Individuals and Intersex (00:00:00)

2. Episode Introduction (00:00:38)

3. On al-Khunthā al-Mushkil (Ambiguous Khunthā) and Intersex (00:01:59)

4. Does the Category of Khunthā Indicate a Third Gender? (00:16:27)

5. On al-Mukhannath al-Khilqī (Congenital Mukhannath) (00:24:50)

6. On Islam's Accommodation of Gender Atypical Individuals (00:31:37)

7. On al-Mukhannath Ghayr al-Khilqī (Affected or Non-Congenital Mukhannath) (00:41:44)

8. On Perceived Precedence to Hate Crimes (00:52:26)

9. On Men Who Possess No Sexual Desire for Women (01:07:29)

10. On Intersex Syndromes: Medical Perspectives (01:28:53)

11. Ending Remarks (01:49:47)