Suicide and Mental Health Research Group, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
Intersex Youth Aotearoa, Intersex Trust, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Cult Health Sex. 2021 Apr;23(4):457-471. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1863472. Epub 2020 Dec 24.
Young people born with variations in sex characteristics (VSC) or disorders of sex development (DSD) face numerous challenges in navigating issues relating to identity and to their lived and embodied experience. There is limited published research amplifying the voices of young people with a VSC, especially from Aotearoa/New Zealand. This qualitative study provides an up-to-date picture of the lived experience of 10 young people with a VSC in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The research was conducted in collaboration with the advocacy group, Intersex Youth Aotearoa, and explored the level of support provided by health services, peers and advocacy groups in relation to the ways the participants viewed themselves and their bodies, and their health related decision-making. Findings reveal the pressure on young people with a VSC to conform to cultural and societal norms, specifically, heteronormative and traditional constructs of how male and female bodies should look in Aotearoa/NZ society. Such views, often held and perpetuated by health professionals and parents, contributed to complexities surrounding identity, agency and acceptance of difference experienced by these young people. The implications of these findings are discussed, including the need for better psychological and peer support for young people.
出生时具有性别特征变异（VSC）或性别发育障碍（DSD）的年轻人在涉及身份认同和生活体验的问题上面临着诸多挑战。关于 VSC 年轻人的声音的已发表研究有限，尤其是来自新西兰的研究。这项定性研究提供了来自新西兰的 10 名 VSC 年轻人生活体验的最新情况。该研究是与倡导组织“新西兰跨性别青年”合作进行的，探讨了卫生服务、同龄人以及倡导组织在参与者如何看待自己和自己的身体以及他们的健康相关决策方面提供的支持程度。研究结果表明，VSC 年轻人面临着符合文化和社会规范的压力，特别是异性恋和传统的观点，认为新西兰社会中男性和女性的身体应该是什么样子。这些观点通常是由卫生专业人员和父母持有和延续的，导致这些年轻人在身份认同、代理权和接受差异方面感到复杂。讨论了这些发现的意义，包括需要为年轻人提供更好的心理和同伴支持。
