The ethics of (intersex) avoidance

Vianna, Kevin William (2025) The ethics of (intersex) avoidance. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (913kB)

Abstract

This thesis critically examines the ethical implications of using Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) to avoid the birth of intersex children, challenging the arguments presented by Robert Sparrow in "Gender Eugenics? The Ethics of PGD for Intersex Conditions" (2013). Sparrow defends the use of PGD for intersex avoidance to promote the future child's well-being. Still, this work contends that such practices are ethically indefensible and perpetuate harmful societal narratives. First, it employs the Expressivist Critique to illustrate how reproductive decisions in the context of intersex avoidance perpetuate the devaluation of intersex lives, challenging the notion of ethical neutrality in such practices. Second, exploring intersex avoidance through the lens of Donna Haraway's Cyborg Feminism, the thesis highlights the cultural and psychological implications of rejecting intersex identities and reinforcing binary gender norms. Third, it examines parental ethics, advocating for an approach to parenting that embraces openness while emphasizing the ethical dimensions of reproductive decisions. The thesis ultimately calls for a more inclusive understanding of intersex variations, urging a re-evaluation of societal and ethical frameworks to foster a diverse and accepting community.

Actions (login required)

View Item