Tumtum: Difference between revisions
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== Physical characteristics == | == Physical characteristics == | ||
The classical description of the physical characteristic of ''tumtum'' says they have a flap of skin or a membrane hiding ordinary female or male genitals. One form of a ''tumtum'' has exposed testicles and an unexposed penis.<ref name="Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagigah, 4a" /><ref name="encyclopedia" /> As long as the skin covers their genitals, they are considered doubtful men and women. As long as the skin is present, they are not able to be circumcised or have sex. Their status as ''tumtum'' can be changed by surgery, though they will still always have different rights and duties than those of other men and women. In the Talmud, one ''tumtum'' from the town of Bairi had surgery to cut away this skin, so he was able to be re-categorized as a man. He later fathered seven children. Rabbis differ in whether ''tumtum'' are legally obligated to have that surgery.<ref name="encyclopedia" /> This description does not exactly match any [[intersex]] condition known today.<ref name="talmudology" /> | The classical description of the physical characteristic of ''tumtum'' says they have a flap of skin or a membrane hiding ordinary female or male genitals. One form of a ''tumtum'' has exposed testicles and an unexposed penis.<ref name="Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagigah, 4a" /><ref name="encyclopedia" /> As long as the skin covers their genitals, they are considered doubtful men and women. As long as the skin is present, they are not able to be circumcised or have sex. Their status as ''tumtum'' can be changed by surgery, though they will still always have different rights and duties than those of other men and women. In the Talmud, one adult ''tumtum'' from the town of Bairi had surgery to cut away this skin, so he was able to be re-categorized as a man. He later fathered seven children. Rabbis differ in whether ''tumtum'' are legally obligated to have that surgery.<ref name="encyclopedia" /> | ||
This description does not exactly match any [[intersex]] condition known today.<ref name="talmudology" /> Today, ''tumtum'' can be interpreted as a category for other situations in which a person's sex organs are hidden or undeveloped.<ref>Elliot N. Dorff. "Modern Conservative Judaism: Evolving Thought and Practice." Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 2018. https://books.google.com/books?id=vi9ZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT237&dq=%22tumtum%22+jewish+nonbinary&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU1fXhtp7sAhUQCKwKHa_nDSMQ6AEwAXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=%22tumtum%22%20jewish%20nonbinary&f=false</ref> The classical description of ''tumtum'' having surgery to reveal their true sex can also be interpreted as the transition of a [[transgender]] person.<ref name="kukla met" /> | |||
== Gender role == | == Gender role == | ||