What students say about intersex: a comparative study at two universities

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the intersex subcategory of a comparative study at the University of Madeira, UMa (Portugal) and the Federal University of Sergipe, UFS (Brazil) on “Voices of university students on sexual and gender diversity, their relationship with co-education and with pedagogical innovation.” The methodology of this research was qualitative. We applied a questionnaire with open and closed questions and the viewing of a video on the subject. We performed content analysis on the data obtained. The results compared show that there is a lack of knowledge about the concept of intersex among former students from both universities and little participation in conversations and debates on the subject. However, both former UMa and UFS students value the concept of intersex and recognize the need to discuss it. Former students at the Federal University of Sergipe are more participatory than those at the University of Madeira and are in agreement with the construction / reconstruction of intersexual identity centered on individual subjectivity. They also recognize that there are prejudices and taboos that make it difficult for intersex people to assert themselves. Intersexuality is a complex topic for most participants, but there was a general interest in knowing and respecting intersex people, as well as in supporting them in the reconstruction of intersexual identity by valuing the individual's personal and subjective perspective. with the fight for the causes of the intersexual movement, since the freedom of intersex people involves respect for humanity and for the biological diversity of these people.