Skip to main content
Log in

Effeminacy. I. A quantitative rating scale

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although effeminacy is recognized to be a complex and important phenomenon, until now it has been only scantily studied, and has not been clearly defined or measured. In this paper, we review the literature and present an Effeminacy Rating Scale that quantifies the behavioral fragments comprising the overall clinical picture of effeminacy. We also present data obtained in a trial of the scale on a sample of 16 homosexual and 16 heterosexual males. The scale was found to have a high interrater reliability (0.93) and can therefore be used to study effeminacy quantitatively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakwin, H. (1968). Deviant gender-role behavior in children — relations to homosexuality.Pediatrics 41: 620–629.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gough, H. G. (1952). Identifying psychological femininity.Educ. Psychol. Meas. 12: 427–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, H. G. (1966). A cross-cultural analysis of the CPI femininity scale.J. Consult. Psychol. 30: 136–141.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, R. (1968). Childhood cross-gender identification.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 147: 500–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, R., and Money, J. (1960). Incongruous gender role: Non-genital manifestation in prepubertal boys.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 131: 160–168.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, R., and Money, J. (1961). Effeminacy in prepubertal boys.Pediatrics 27: 286–291.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hays, W. L. (1963).Statistics for Psychologists Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holemon, E., and Winokur, G. (1965). Effeminate homosexuality: A disease of childhood.Am. J. Orthopsychiat. 35: 48–56.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., and Martin, C. E. (1948).Sexual Behavior in the Human Male Saunders, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebowitz, P. S. (1972). Feminine behavior in boys: Aspects of its outcome.Am. J. Psychiat. 128: 1283–1289.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1967). “It's only a phase”: Femininity in boys.JAMA 201: 314–315.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1968).Sex and Gender Science House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1971). The term “transvestism.”Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 24: 230–237.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuger, B. (1966). Effeminate behavior present in boys from early childhood. I. The clinical syndrome and follow-up studies.J. Pediat. 69: 1098–1107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuger, B., and Taylor, P. (1969). Effeminate behavior present in boys from early childhood. II. Comparison with similar symptoms in non-effeminate boys.Pediatrics 44: 375–380.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Reprint requests should be sent to Dr. Alan F. Schatzberg, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schatzberg, A.F., Westfall, M.P., Blumetti, A.B. et al. Effeminacy. I. A quantitative rating scale. Arch Sex Behav 4, 31–41 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541884

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541884

Key words

Navigation