Male, Female, Diverse: The Rise and Globalization of a 3rd Gender

Recently the universal gender binary has been undermined by the introduction of a third sex in states such Australia, India, Nepal, and Germany. This talk explains the surprising rise of a third gender by analyzing the 2018 introduction of a legal third sex (“diverse”) in Germany. Theoretical and historical legacies of the pre-modern state and medical discourses of gender variance are contrasted with the re-introduction of a third sex as result of effective transnational social movement activism through the UN and human rights discourses. Intersex activists pushing for change reframed the discourse on gender assignment from an emphasis on “medical correction” towards an emphasis on “legal protection.” This shift led to a deeper questioning the gender binary by some international organizations, national parties, and courts. The rise and diffusion of the third gender category offers insights about the meaning of gender, state power and social movements.

Angelika von Wahl of Lafayatte College will lead this discussion, and Ting Ting Cheng, attorney at Legal Momentum (formerly the National Organization of Women Legal Defense Fund) will serve as a discussant. This event will be followed by a reception. This is part of BGIA's James Chace Lectures and is supported by Foreign Affairs magazine

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For more information, call 845-758-6822.

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4

Location: BGIA, 108 W 39th St, Suite 1000, New York, NY 10018

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