What is Peer Support
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What is Peer Support and How Does It Work?
This fact sheet is intended for people with intersex variations/innate variations of sex characteristics, and for family members and carers.
In its most basic form peer support is the practice of people with common experiences coming together to share information and provide each other with support, understanding and belonging. There are different ways that peer support can be structured. It can be provided one on one or in a group setting. There might be times where it’s focused on sharing knowledge of lived experiences, reaching common goals, inspiring or empowering one another, group activities, or just socialising.
While intersex is a term used to describe a wide range of variations in sex characteristics, intersex people have a lot of shared experiences. Intersex people sometimes visit the same doctors and specialists. They may have a similar history of medicalisation and human rights abuses. Many intersex individuals face the same challenges navigating disclosure, as well as potentially dealing with social stigma and misinformation. While these experiences are not necessarily universal, having tools to deal with these issues if and when they occur can be beneficial. Intersex people can also face very similar challenges in schools and workplaces, navigating relationships, making decisions about healthcare, and standing up to discrimination. Having the opportunity to learn how other intersex people face these challenges creates the opportunity to anticipate issues before they occur and address them in a safe and meaningful way.
Real Psychosocial Support
Key arguments used to justify medical intervention on intersex people are based on the ideas that it is better to be seen as “normal” in society than not, or that it may promote parental bonding and reduce psychological outcomes. There is no evidence to support these arguments. They are mostly based on an assumption that bodily differences will be singled out for bullying and discrimination. This creates a social context that may make medical intervention seem desirable where it wouldn’t be if bullying and discrimination are addressed instead. Peer support can help address these forms of social coercion so that intersex individuals recognise they are free to make choices that are best for them and their bodies. Choices regarding medical intervention can be complex but having support to choose for yourself is important.
Intersex peer support creates the opportunity to put someone in a social environment where their differences are understood, accepted, and celebrated. Mental and physical wellness can be supported by building self-confidence and resilience and fostering a sense of pride in being intersex. It also means that when someone faces some kind of hardship or discrimination on the basis of being intersex, that there are resources, and peers to support them. Peer support should be seen as absolutely vital in the care of an intersex person because it offers the opportunity to understand intersex issues outside of a context of shame and secrecy.
Where to Find Peer Support
The peer support space in Australia is one that is continuously evolving as the need for peer support is better understood. While resources for peer support are limited, there are intersex people across Australia who are ready to meet with other intersex people and work with them. A lot of intersex peer support is available online, with opportunities to meet in person relying on demand and community support.
There are key intersex-led organisations in Australia in InterAction for Health and Human Rights, Intersex Peer Support Australia, and InterLink. These can be good starting points when looking for more local or more specific supports and organisations. The main thing to be aware of is who runs a peer support group and it may be motivated. Groups led by parents or by clinicians can place an undue focus on medical intervention rather than building empowerment from a place of intersex pride. They may still have useful resources to tap into but they may be forceful. Getting a referral from an organisation like IPSA can help to put you in touch with the groups or organisations that are most likely to meet your needs.
A given peer support group may not fulfill your needs at a particular time or stage of life, or you may not be in a position where you are comfortable engaging in these spaces. These groups may however, prove useful in future. It is important to ‘try out’ peer support settings without feeling discouraged or disappointed if a particular group doesn’t work out for you. You may want to keep notes of what each group does and does not offer, in case you wish to revisit it in the future.
How does Peer Support Work?
Some places will hire intersex peer workers and these are people who have some experience with social work and experience working with the intersex community or living with an intersex variation. These are professional roles that can provide a lot of flexibility in their support, as they provide one on one support and as facilitators of peer support groups. They may have more direct experience in dealing with particular systems or services, access to larger support networks, and more capacity to follow up on individual needs.
Online communities have spaces where you can ask questions and contribute to discussions, as well as repositories of peer-written resources and information. Online communities can also provide opportunities to access mentors, volunteers who may have some capacity to work with someone one on one. It can take a little time to figure out how to fit in with an online community, and having someone more established in the community helping you can help ease that process. These can be a great source of information, but can be more limited in practical face to face support.
Peer support groups provide face to face opportunities for socialisation and discussion. This is a great way to meet intersex people more locally who may have a better awareness of more local resources and supports available. Building connections in this space can create a lot of great support opportunities as well as putting people in your corner at times when it can count. Peer support groups may meet sporadically or regularly depending on what is available in your area. They can be activity focused or discussion focused, it’s worth keeping an eye on online networks for availability.
Of course depending on where you find peer support they may offer any combination of these peer support structures. Sometimes getting to know one person in the community can open up a lot of doors to peer support.
Some Considerations
It is important to remember that peer support draws in a diverse group of people who can both affirm and challenge our ideas, values and understandings. People accessing these groups or services may be at different points in their life, diagnosis, or understanding of their variation. They could also have different ways of sharing space or processing things which can be a great opportunity to grow and learn from one another, you may find this frustrating or upsetting or you may find this informative and invaluable. People may access these groups and services periodically throughout different stages, or they may attend regularly and routinely.
Sharing these spaces has been demonstrated to have many benefits, however these spaces can also be unpredictable. People may bring up challenging or triggering topics in discussion, or engage in advanced conversations that leave you feeling confused and left out. They may talk over others, take up a lot of space or use language you find disrespectful. In most cases group facilitators and peer workers are experienced and well-trained in managing these behaviours and people’s use of the space. You should always report any concerning behaviour in these groups to the group organisers or facilitators so that they can manage the situation.
Peer Support for Parents
Unfortunately, because peer support is under-resourced, the opportunities for peer support for the parents of intersex children can be even more limited. Some peer support groups may be willing to accommodate parents based on capacity. It’s always worth checking if a group is autonomous (by intersex people for intersex people), or open to parents, guardians, partners, or allies. With younger intersex people, peer support might be more likely to make an exception for parental support of the young person in that space.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t pathways to establishing peer support. Peer support groups can exist where there is demand and capacity. Starting a group online has never been easier and opportunities to establish in person groups can be as simple as reaching out to a peer worker or community organisation. Capacity is built when someone is willing to turn up. If there are some more parents engaged with intersex peer support in your immediate community, there is demand.
The main feedback received from people who engage with intersex peer support is that they often wish they’d found it sooner. Building communities of people who can help each other creates the conditions for self-empowerment and an environment that is sheltered from shame and stigma.
Finding Support
Intersex Support Organisations
InterAction for Health and Human Rights – https://interaction.org.au/ – Information and Advocacy
Intersex Peer Support Australia – https://isupport.org.au/ – Peer support
interLink – www.ilink.net.au
- +61 7 3017 1724
- info@ilink.net.au
- PO Box 1372 Eagle Farm QLD 4009
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