Archives of Sexual Behavior

, Volume 14, Issue 5, pp 413–419 | Cite as

Preadult feminine behaviors of male transvestites

  • Neil Buhrich
  • Neil McConaghy
Article

Abstract

Feminine behaviors during the childhood and adolescence of volunteer male transvestites who had shown a period of fetishism were investigated. The transvestites were categorized into two groups. Twenty who were satisfied with cross-dressing were termed nuclear transvestites, and 14 who desired at least a partial feminization were termed marginal transvestites. It was found that during their preadult years marginal transvestites showed significantly more feminine behaviors than nuclear transvestites, and both transvestite groups reported significantly more feminine behaviors than “normal” controls.

Key words

transvestism gender identity preadult fetishism 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Benjamin, H. (1966).The Transsexual Phenomenon. Julian Press, New York.Google Scholar
  2. Bieber, I., Dain, H. J., Dince, P. R., Drellich, M. G., Grand, H. G., Gundlach, R. H., Kremer, M. W., Rifkin, A. H., Wilbur, C. B., and Bieber, T. B. (1962).Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study. Basic Books, New York.Google Scholar
  3. Buhrich, N. (1976). A heterosexual transvestite club—psychiatric aspects.Aust. J. Psychiat. 10: 331–335.Google Scholar
  4. Buhrich, N., and Beaumont, T. (1981). Comparison of transvestism in Australia and America.Arch. Sex. Behav. 10: 269–280.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  5. Buhrich, N., and McConaghy, N. (1977a). The clinical syndromes of femmiphilic transvestism.Arch. Sex. Behav. 6: 397–412.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. Buhrich, N., and McConaghy, N. (1977b). The discrete syndromes of transvestism and transsexualism.Arch. Sex. Behav. 6: 483–495.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Buhrich, N., and McConaghy, N. (1978). Two clinically discrete syndromes of transsexualism.Brit. J. Psychiat. 133: 73–76.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. Congalton, A. A. (1969).Status and Prestige in Australia. Cheshire, Melbourne.Google Scholar
  9. Edelstein, E. L. (1960). Psychodynamics of a transvestite.Amer. J. Psychother. 14: 121–131.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  10. Ehrhardt, A. A., and Meyer-Bahlburg, F. L. (1981). Effect of prenatal sex hormones on gender related behavior.Science 211: 1312–1318.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  11. Evans, R. (1969). Childhood parental relationships of homosexual men.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 33: 129–135.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  12. Freund, K., Steiner, B. W., and Chan, S. (1982). Two types of cross-gender identity.Arch. Sex. Behav. 11: 49–63.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  13. Gosselin, C., and Wilson, G. (1980).Sexual Variations—Fetishism, Sadomasochism and Transvestism. Faber & Faber, London.Google Scholar
  14. Grant, V. W. (1961). The cross-dresser—a case study.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 131: 149–159.Google Scholar
  15. Green, R. (1974).Sexual Identity Conflict in Children and Adults. Basic Books, New York; Gerald Duckworth, London; Penguin, Baltimore.Google Scholar
  16. Green, R. (1975). Sexual identity: research strategies.Arch. Sex. Behav. 4: 357–362.Google Scholar
  17. Green, R. (1985). The gender identity disorder of childhood and later sexual orientation.Amer. J. Psychiat. Google Scholar
  18. Grellert, E. A., Newcomb, M. D., and Bentler, P. M. (1982). Childhood play activities of male and female homosexuals and heterosexuals.Arch. Sex Behav. 11: 451–478.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  19. Hooker, (1965). An empirical study of some relations between sexual patterns and gender identity in male homosexuals. In Money, J. (ed.),Sex Research-New Developments. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.Google Scholar
  20. Hutt, C. (1972).Males and Females. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, England.Google Scholar
  21. Kagan, J. (1969). On the meaning of behavior—illustrations from the infant.Child Develop. 40: 1121–1134.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  22. Korner, A. F. (1969). Neonatal startles, smiles, erections and reflex sucks as related to state sex and individuality.Child Develop. 40: 1039–1040.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  23. Money, J., Hampson, J. G., and Hampson, J. C. (1955). The examination of some basic sexual concepts—the evidence of human hermaphroditism.Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 97: 301–319.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  24. Pauly, B. (1968). The current status of the change of sex operation.J. Nerv. ment. Dis. 147: 460–471.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  25. Person, E. S., and Ovesey, L. (1978). Transvestism—new perspectives.J. Amer. Acad. Psychoanal. 6: 301–323.Google Scholar
  26. Stoller, R. J. (1968). Differential diagnosis: Transvestism and transsexualism. In Sutherland, J. O. (ed.),Sex and Gender Hogarth Press, London.Google Scholar
  27. Stoller, R. J. (1971). The term transvestism.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 24: 230–237.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  28. Stoller, R. J. (1973). Male transsexualism: Uneasiness.Amer. J. Psychiat. 130: 536–539.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  29. Spensley, J., and Barter, J. T. (1971). The adolescent transvestite on a psychiatric service: Family patterns.Arch. Sex. Behav. 1: 347–386.Google Scholar
  30. Whitam, (1977). Childhood indicators of male homosexuality.Arch. Sex. Behav. 6: 89–96.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  31. Whiting, B. (1963).Six Culturatures—Studies of Child Rearing. Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
  32. Whiting, B. (1963).Six Cultures—Studies of Child Rearing. Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
  33. Zuger, B. (1979). Effeminate behavior present in boys from childhood: Ten additional years of follow-up.Compreh. Psychiat. 19: 363–369.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Plenum Publishing Corporation 1985

Authors and Affiliations

  • Neil Buhrich
    • 1
  • Neil McConaghy
    • 2
  1. 1.Psychiatric DepartmentSt. Vincent's Hospital, DarlinghurstSydneyAustralia
  2. 2.Prince of Wales HospitalRandwickAustralia

Personalised recommendations