Year: 2024 | Month: December | Volume: 11 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 173-187
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20241221
Navigating Marginality: Intersex Realities in Ghana and the Struggle for Equality and Inclusion
Jacob Kwakye1, Leonard Addae2
1School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
2Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana.
Corresponding Author: Jacob Kwakye
ABSTRACT
Intersex variations encompass a range of biological conditions where an individual's sex characteristics do not align with traditional male or female categories. This study explores the lived experiences of intersex individuals in Ghana, focusing on how societal perceptions, cultural beliefs, and institutional frameworks shape their identities, relationships, and access to resources. Drawing on the theoretical framework of social constructionism, the study examines how deeply entrenched cultural norms and religious teachings construct rigid gender binaries, perpetuating stigmatization, exclusion, and systemic discrimination against intersex individuals. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants (n=18), including intersex individuals and key informants from social and health institutions. The findings reveal significant challenges, including familial and communal ostracism, inadequate and coercive healthcare practices, and the absence of explicit legal protections. Despite these barriers, the resilience and advocacy of intersex individuals emerged as a powerful counter-narrative, emphasizing agency and collective efforts to challenge societal norms. This study calls for transformative cultural and institutional reforms, advocating for inclusive education, patient-centered healthcare, and robust legal protections. By documenting these experiences, the research contributes to the broader discourse on gender diversity and underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure the rights, dignity, and inclusion of intersex individuals in Ghanaian society.
Keywords: Intersex; Ghana; Gender Diversity; Cultural Norms; Social Constructionism
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