Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-6192846-20150613141203/@comment-26871067-20150818181447

148.0.151.141 wrote: The correct term is an intersex person, hermaphr*dite is a medical slur You're confusing the two terms, they're not interchangable. Hermaphrodite is a term that can refer to any creature, not just humans, that can play either the "Insemenating" or "Impregnated" role in reproduction (not just having the parts: they have to both work). It requires two fully functional sets of genitalia that, on humans, is seen separatley on either sex. In fact there's debate if this even can happen in humans. However, it's been shown in plants and certain smaller animals (like snails). Intersex is a broader term exclusive to humans, that encompasses tissue and (primarily) hormonal differences from the usual XX/XY pattern. The reason I'm not saying which one I would apply to this situation is that this is mothy. For all we know this kid could be half-twin god/half-tree. Actually, the first contributer is right, sorry to get off-topic.

Despite the legitimate usage of the term hermaphrodite in regards to non-human species, when it's used to refer to human beings it's considered highly offensive. Trans and intersex people often hear this term leveled at them (along with "he-she" and "shemale") purely as an insult. It is indeed a medical slur at this point in time.

Given the context in which the term is being used nowadays, it's starting to be on-par with "negro" as a slur - something that, outside of the context of society, wouldn't necessarily be offensive, but due to its usage and social context, is highly so. I use this comparison because both terms used to be the semi-official medical terms, but are now seen as slurs.

15 years ago this wouldn't have been the case, but in regards to a human being, functional hermaphrodites do not exist. The way it's looked at amongst trans and intersex people, calling a person a hermaphrodite is 1. highly sexualized/fetishized (the term is seen a lot in porn) and 2. dehumanizing.

In the context of human beings, the term is almost universally considered amongst the people who have it used to describe them as disparaging and hurtful. It's a slur.