The Future of Gender Declaration in Hospitals: Eliminating Confusion Between Sex and Gender

Introduction

As technology advances and societal understanding grows, the question arises: should hospitals declare a baby’s gender at birth? Currently, medical practitioners make a declaration based on the visible sex organs, which can be complicated due to intersex conditions. This article explores the necessity of gender declaration in hospitals, the difference between sex and gender, and the potential benefits of refraining from declaring a baby’s gender.

Current Practices and Challenges

The current practice of hospitals declaring a baby’s gender is based on the visible sex organs. However, this approach poses challenges, especially when dealing with intersex conditions where the genitals do not clearly identify one sex.

Intersex Conditions

Intersex conditions are relatively common but often underreported. These conditions occur when an individual is born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. While sexual organs can be used to make a gender determination, this is not always straightforward and can lead to unnecessary medical interventions and confusion.

Clarifying the Difference Between Sex and Gender

The confusion between sex and gender often leads to inappropriate sex assignment and unnecessary procedures. Herein lies the need for a clearer understanding of what sex and gender truly entail.

Defining Sex and Gender

Sex: This refers to the biologically and physically determined attributes that define male and female, including reproductive organs, hormones, and chromosomes.
Gender: This is a social construct that refers to the roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women.

The confusion arises because for most people, their sex and gender correlate, making it difficult to separate the two concepts. However, for a small percentage, these two can be disjointed. It is estimated that roughly 1 in 200 individuals do not have a clear correlation between their sex and gender.

Arguments Against Gender Declaration

Some argue that hospitals declaring a baby’s gender can lead to unnecessary gender-specification at a young age, which may cause confusion and identity issues as the child grows. Furthermore, it is suggested that gender should not be conflated with sex, as they are different constructs.

The suggestion is that hospitals should refrain from declaring a baby’s gender, and instead, leave gender labeling to the individual as they grow and develop their own identity. This approach acknowledges that gender can evolve over time and that biological sex is just one aspect of a person's identity.

Alternative Approaches

There are alternative approaches to handling gender and sex in medical and public contexts. For instance, some hospitals and countries do not declare a baby’s eye color at birth, recognizing that this trait can change in the early months of life. Similarly, gender should not be declared at birth unless there is a clear and necessary reason, such as specific medical conditions.

Removing gender declaration from birth certificates and hospital records can help promote a more flexible and inclusive understanding of gender identity, allowing individuals to self-identify as they grow and mature.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the practice of declaring a baby’s gender at birth is deeply ingrained in current medical procedures, it is essential to recognize the difference between sex and gender. By refraining from gender declaration at birth, we can promote a clearer understanding of these two concepts and support individuals in embracing their true identities as they grow and develop.