Jim Ambrose spent his childhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, living as a girl named Kristi. He enjoyed a supportive family and excelled at soccer, even earning a college scholarship for the sport. Despite the love from his parents, Alice and John Ambrose, Jim often felt uneasy in his body. His mother encouraged a feminine look, insisting on dresses and even a permanent wave for his hair.
Born with ambiguous genitals and XY chromosomes, Jim underwent surgery as an infant in 1976. Doctors decided to shape his genitals to appear female, believing it was the easier option. Dr. Richard Carter, the surgeon, later explained that decisions back then focused purely on anatomy. “It was exclusively an anatomical decision, because it was much easier to make it look like a clitoris than to try to make it look like a penis,” he said.
The truth remained hidden until Jim turned 19 and started college. In a feminist studies class, students discussed a book chapter about children born with atypical genitals. As Jim flipped through the pages during the discussion, the description matched his life perfectly. Doctors and parents often chose a gender and raised the child accordingly, the text explained.
Shocked, Jim obtained his medical records right after class. Sitting in his car, he read the first line mentioning a karyotype of XY. “I start from the top, and it immediately says ‘karyotype, XY’. And I’m like wait, what the hell is that why are they doing chromosome tests on me,” he recalled. Anger followed as he confronted his parents about the years of secrecy.
Jim felt the decision caused unnecessary pain, including bullying over his appearance. His parents believed they acted in his best interest, following medical advice of the era. At age 12, his mother mentioned a future vaginoplasty, leaving him in tears. Years later, he stopped estrogen hormones and switched to testosterone, finally feeling more comfortable.
Jim eventually underwent a double mastectomy to align his body with his identity. Now 50, he lives happily with his partner Yvonne and advocates for intersex rights. His story appears in the Channel 4 documentary The Secret of Me. The film highlights how such surgeries still occur worldwide despite growing criticism.
Approximately one in 2000 babies is born with genital differences that may lead to surgical intervention. Intersex variations involve chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy that do not fit strict male or female categories. Conditions like androgen insensitivity syndrome or congenital adrenal hyperplasia can cause ambiguous genitals at birth.
In past decades, medical practice favored early surgery to assign a gender. Experts argued nurture could override nature in gender identity. Today, many activists and organizations push for delaying non-essential procedures until the individual can consent.
Critics point out risks of trauma, loss of sensation, and mismatched identity. Some countries have restricted such surgeries on minors. Intersex people often face stigma and lack of awareness in society.
Jim’s experience underscores the emotional impact of withheld information. He describes the revelation as turning his world upside down. Yet finding community has helped him heal and speak out.
Intersex awareness grows through personal stories like his. Education on variations of sex characteristics remains crucial for better support.
Share your views on the ethics of early gender assignment surgeries for intersex children in the comments.
