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Two types of cross-gender identity

Archives of Sexual Behavior volume 11, pages 49–63 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

A revision of the typology of male cross-gender identity was carried out by means of formalized, easily replicable methods. The results suggest (1) that there are two discrete types of cross-gender identity, one heterosexual, the other homosexual; (2) that transvestism, and closely related conditions of cross-gender identity, occur exclusively or almost exclusively in heterosexuals; (3) that of the two types of transsexualism distinguished in this study, type A is, in heterosexuals, very rare or completely nonexistent; (4) that (in the course of time) transvestites or borderline transsexuals (defined below) may develop sustained cross-gender identity, as observed by Stoller (1971); (5) that although, according to Hoenig and Kenna (1974), transsexualism by itself is not an anomalous erotic preference, it is (virtually) always either preceded by transvestism or accompanied by homosexuality or cross-gender fetishism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Section of Behavioural Sexology, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Kurt Freund M.D., D.Sc. (Head)

  2. Consulting Sexologist, Ontario Correctional Institute, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

    Kurt Freund M.D., D.Sc. (Head)

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Betty W. Steiner M.B., F.R.C.P.(C), F.A.P.A. (Associate Professor, Head)

  4. Gender Identity Clinic, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Betty W. Steiner M.B., F.R.C.P.(C), F.A.P.A. (Associate Professor, Head)

  5. Research Assistant, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Samuel Chan B.Sc., B.Ed.

Authors
  1. Kurt Freund M.D., D.Sc.
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  2. Betty W. Steiner M.B., F.R.C.P.(C), F.A.P.A.
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  3. Samuel Chan B.Sc., B.Ed.
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Additional information

This study was supported by Grant#764 of the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, Canada.

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Freund, K., Steiner, B.W. & Chan, S. Two types of cross-gender identity. Arch Sex Behav 11, 49–63 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541365

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541365

Key words

  • cross-gender identity
  • erotic sex preference
  • transvestism
  • transsexualism