Julie Cohen’s documentary, “Every Body,” explores the lives of intersex individuals and challenges the binary gender system. The film opens with a montage of gender reveal parties, highlighting society’s obsession with the idea of two genders. These parties assume that children will conform to normative behaviors based on their assigned sex at birth. However, roughly 1.7 percent of the world’s population are born with intersex traits, which don’t fit into the male/female binary.
“Every Body” follows the stories of three intersex people living openly and expressively. River Gallo, Alicia Roth Weigel, and Sean Saifa Wall share their experiences of growing up and the traumas they endured due to societal expectations and medical interventions. Weigel, born with XY chromosomes, had her testes removed as a child to declare her as biologically female. Similarly, Wall, born without a uterus, was assigned female at birth despite identifying as male. Gallo, who did not have testes as a child, was placed on testosterone at the age of 12, forcing them to go through puberty as a boy.
The documentary also explores the history of the intersex movement and the struggles intersex people have faced. It includes footage from the first meeting of the Intersex Society of North America in 1996, where activists shared their stories of coercive surgeries and the mental toll it took on their lives. “Every Body” debunks common misconceptions about intersex identities and reveals the dehumanizing treatment intersex people have endured.
Cohen’s film not only educates viewers about intersex identities but also emphasizes the importance of solidarity with the intersex community. It highlights the connection between the continued attack on trans rights and the fight for bodily autonomy. The documentary points out that bills attempting to ban gender affirming care often make exceptions for intersex people, as long as the state approves of surgery. This reveals the moral panic behind these proposed restrictions and the need for greater awareness and collective action.
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One notable strength of “Every Body” is its sensitive and compassionate approach to storytelling. The interviews with the main participants are relaxed and comfortable, infused with humor and accompanied by an energetic score. This tender approach prevents the film from feeling exploitative and leaves the audience with a sense of optimism for the future of the intersex community.
In conclusion, “Every Body” challenges the binary gender system and sheds light on the experiences of intersex individuals. Julie Cohen’s documentary educates viewers about intersex identities, exposes the historical mistreatment of intersex people, and emphasizes the importance of solidarity and collective action. With greater awareness and understanding, a future with more acceptance and support for the intersex community is possible.
