Progress and Politics in the Intersex Rights Movement (Dreger and Herndon, 2009)
10/11/2026
"Progress and Politics in the Intersex Rights Movement" is an article by Alice D. Dreger and April M. Herndon, published in 2009 in GLQ. It reviews changes in medicine, activism and theory on intersex since 1990 and examines the role of academic feminism in the intersex rights movement.
What is "Progress and Politics in the Intersex Rights Movement"?
It is a peer-reviewed journal article. Full citation:
Dreger, A. D., & Herndon, A. M. (2009). Progress and Politics in the Intersex Rights Movement. GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 15(2), 199–224. https://doi.org/10.1215/10642684-2008-134
Duke University Press publishes the journal, and the Crossref record dates the article to April 2009.
Who are Alice Dreger and April Herndon?
They are academic feminist scholars who have worked with the Intersex Society of North America, according to the article's abstract in the Crossref record. The text is therefore a balance sheet written by authors close to the movement, not an outside survey.
What does the article argue?
It makes four main points:
- It takes Suzanne Kessler's 1990 critique of intersex medicine as its starting point and traces what followed in medicine, advocacy and theory.
- It examines how academic feminism shaped the movement's ideas and daily work.
- It finds that medical and social attitudes improved over roughly fifteen years, while holding that children born with intersex conditions still need care that puts long-term well-being first.
- It argues that some feminist approaches to intersex created intellectual and political problems of their own.
The article also covers the nature–nurture debate and the terms "intersex," "hermaphroditism" and "disorders of sex development." For vocabulary, see this overview of intersex terms.
Why is it still cited?
It is a first-hand assessment of the movement at the end of the 2000s. Writers on intersex ethics and politics cite it for its account of how feminist theory and activism interacted and for its treatment of identity and terminology. For the lived-experience side, see what intersex means in daily life.
How has it aged?
It is a snapshot of 2009 and reads best next to the clinical document that preceded it.
| Topic | What the 2009 article describes | Earlier context |
|---|---|---|
| Terminology | Competing terms for intersex conditions | The 2006 consensus statement in Pediatrics (Lee et al., 2006) |
| Medical attitudes | Improvement over about fifteen years | Kessler's 1990 critique |
For current anatomy and care, see variations in intersex anatomy and healthcare for people with AIS.
Where can I read it?
The DOI link in the citation leads to the publisher's page at Duke University Press; access may require a subscription or institutional login. No copy of the PDF is hosted here. For treatment background, see current AIS medical management. AIS means androgen insensitivity syndrome.
FAQ
Who wrote "Progress and Politics in the Intersex Rights Movement"?
Alice D. Dreger and April M. Herndon, both academic feminist scholars who have worked with the Intersex Society of North America.
Where was it published?
In GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, volume 15, issue 2, 2009, pages 199–224.
What is the article about?
A review of progress in intersex medicine, activism and theory since 1990, with attention to the role of academic feminism in the movement.
Is the full text free?
That depends on the publisher's access terms. This site does not host a copy.
Sources
- Dreger, A. D., & Herndon, A. M. (2009). GLQ, 15(2), 199–224. Publisher record via DOI 10.1215/10642684-2008-134, and the Crossref record for the same DOI.
- Lee, P. A., Houk, C. P., Ahmed, S. F., & Hughes, I. A. (2006). Consensus Statement on Management of Intersex Disorders. Pediatrics, 118(2), e488–e500.
This information is general and does not replace medical advice. It gives no diagnosis, dosage or treatment recommendation. This site is an independent informational archive and does not speak for any support group.