Homosexual transsexual

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Homosexual transsexual is a controversial term used by some psychologists and sexologists to describe male-to-female transsexual women who are exclusively or predominantly attracted to males.[1][2][3] It is less frequently used by proponents to describe female-to-male transsexual men who are exclusively attracted to females.[4]

Proponents of the term define this category based on testing or self-report, noting that self-report is not always reliable.[1][2][5] Previous taxonomies used the terms "classic transsexual" or "true transsexual," terms once used in differential diagnoses.[6] Proponents have stated that many "non-homosexual" transsexuals systematically distort their life stories because "non-homosexuals" were often screened out as candidates for surgery [7] and because some see "homosexual transsexual" as a more socially desirable diagnosis. Key characteristics include conspicuous cross-gender behavior from childhood through adulthood, and a "homosexual" sexual orientation. The term is also part of a two-type taxonomy in which non-homosexual transsexual women have a condition called autogynephilia and are aroused by the idea or image of themselves as women.[8]

One author who has used the term in papers notes, "Transsexuals, as a group, vehemently oppose the label and its pejorative baggage."[2] Critics claim the term "homosexual transsexual" is "heterosexist "[9], "archaic" [10] and demeaning because it labels people by sex assigned at birth instead of their gender identity.[11]

Contents

[edit] History of the term

Richard Green states that since the term "transsexual" is very new, it is necessary to examine historical specifics to identify transsexuality in history, and distinguish it from other roles that are described as "change of sex", such as homosexuality and heterosexual cross-dressing customs.[12] Green describes the cultural roles of groups such as the Two-Spirit, Hijra, Kathoey and Khanith, stating that these people are mentally indistinguishable from modern western transsexuals.[12] In part, because of this history, past researchers have referred to the "homosexual" category as being the "classic", "primary" or "true" transsexual.[5] At one time due to the heteronormative bias of many psychologists, transsexual people who did not fit into this category were often screened from receiving hormones and sex reassignment surgery.[5][7]

[edit] Description by western science

The concept of a taxonomy based on transsexual sexuality was first proposed by Magnus Hirschfeld in 1923,[13] and codified by Harry Benjamin in the Benjamin Scale.[14] Kurt Freund proposed two types of cross-gender identity, based on his observation that gender identity disorder is different for homosexual males and heterosexual males.[15] Published reports measure a "homosexual transsexual" at a Kinsey Scale 5-6 or a Modified Androphilia Scale 9.86±2.37.[1][2] Ray Blanchard saw that homosexual transsexuals were younger when applying for sex reassignment, reported a stronger cross-gender identity in childhood, had a more convincing cross-gender appearance, and functioned psychologically better than "non-homosexual" transsexuals.[8] Blanchard found them comparatively short and light in proportion to their height than non-homosexuals.[16] Independent research done by Smith confirmed most of Blanchards findings, except for the difference in height-weight ratio.[17] Dorner found that when injected with Premarin (for the treatment of mild to severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause), homosexual transsexual men showed an increased luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone response compared to heterosexual or bisexual transsexual men.[18]

[edit] Sexual activity

Leavitt and Berger further categorized homosexual transsexuals by three patterns of sexual activity:

  • Inactive group (44%): sexually inactive
  • Avoidant group (19%): sexually active but avoided using their penis
  • Pleasure group (37%): sexually active and derived pleasure from their penis

Each group showed varying levels of masculinity and emotional disturbance in development.[2]

In The Man Who Would Be Queen, J. Michael Bailey saw that the homosexual transsexuals he described were comfortable with prostitution,[19] and that they had a masculine sexual appetite and simply lusted after men.[19]

Studies have variously found that between 10% and 36% of homosexual transsexuals report a history of sexual arousal to crossdressing. Bentler found 23%, while Freund reported 31%;[20][15] Leavitt and Berger reported 36% among all homosexual transsexuals, and 24% of the sexually active subjects;[2] Blanchard found significantly lower numbers than his peers: 15% in his first study on the topic, and 10% in a paper two years later.[21][8] Blanchard saw autogynephilia in lower levels when comparing homosexual and non-homosexual transsexuals, with levels of anatomic autogynephilia among some of the 117 androphilic subjects.[22] A lower percentage of the homosexual transsexuals reported being (or having been) married and sexually aroused while cross-dressing.[17]

[edit] Socioeconomic factors

Researchers have found several demographic features that homosexual transsexuals tend to have in common.[23][24] Ken Zucker found that homosexual transsexuals are of lower IQ and social class, immigrant status, non-intact family, non-Caucasian race, and childhood behavior problems[23] D.F. MacFarlane studied transsexuals in Australia and New Zealand.[24] MacFarlane found that in New Zealand that 90% of the homosexual transsexual prostitutes were Māori,[24] an ethnic group who are only 9% of the overall population.[24] In The Man Who Would Be Queen J. Michael Bailey notes that about 60% of homosexual transsexuals he studied in Chicago were Latina or black;[19] in his studies of gay males only 20% were non-white.[19] He saw that most homosexual transsexuals learn to live on the streets, resorting to prostitution, or shoplifting.[19] Bailey reported the opinions of two of his subjects who attributed the difference to genetics, or inflexible gender roles in their respective cultures.[19] MacFarlane similarly concluded that culture influenced the number of Māori homosexual transsexuals he observed.[24]

[edit] Blanchard, Bailey, and Lawrence theory controversy

Main article: Blanchard, Bailey, and Lawrence theory controversy

The "BBL Controversy" also known as the "Autogynephilia Controversy"[25] is an ongoing line of discussion in the transgendered community. The concept had not received much attention outside of sexology until sexologist Anne Lawrence, who self-identifies as an autogynephile, published a series of web articles about the concept in the late 1990s.[26] Lynn Conway and Andrea James responded to Lawrence's essay. In 2003, J. Michael Bailey's book "The Man Who Would Be Queen" was published. Lynn Conway started an investigation into the publication of Bailey's book by the United States National Academy of Sciences. One who was referred to in the book as "Juanita" claimed that Bailey made inappropriate sexual advances towards her.[27] Northwestern University investigated Bailey, but did not reveal the findings of that investigation and did not comment on whether or not Bailey had been punished.[28] According to a paper by, Bioethicist and intersex specialist Prof. Alice Dreger, Ph.D. two of the four transwomen who accused Bailey of misusing their stories were not mentioned anywhere in "The Man Who Would Be Queen".[29][30]

Some scientific concerns have also been raised; a purported transgendered psychologist writing under the pen name of Madeline Wyndzen identified four possible scientific concerns with Blanchard's model which center around lack of control groups, independent verification, statistical analysis, and supposing causation from non time sensitive observation.[31] Wyndzen is concerned that Blanchard's research promotes the politically and socially dangerous idea that transsexual people are mentally defective: "Rather than asking the scientifically neutral question, “What is transgenderism?” Blanchard (1991) asks, "What kind of defect in a male's capacity for sexual learning could produce … autogynephilia, transvestitism …?" (p. 246)."[31]

On the other hand in a study conducted in 2005 in the Netherlands Yolanda Smith conducted a study which addressed many of Wyndzen's criticisms.[17] She found that Blanchards observations were replicated in her sample. Smith found that homosexual transsexuals differed from non-homosexual transsexuals in terms of reported gender non conformity and fewer had been married.[17] She did not find the difference in height,weight, and height weight ratio that Blanchard reported.[17]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Lawrence, Anne & Latty, Elizabeth M (April), “Measurement of sexual arousal in postoperative male-to-female transsexuals using vaginal photoplethysmography.”, Archives of Sexual Behavior 34 (2): 135-145, 1573-2800, doi:10.1007/s10508-005-1792-z, <http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4169645/Measurement-of-sexual-arousal-in.html> 
  2. ^ a b c d e f Leavitt, Frank & Berger, Jack C. (October), “Clinical patterns among male transsexual candidates with erotic interest in males”, Archives of Sexual Behavior 19 (5): 491-505, 1573-2800, doi:10.1007/BF02442350, <http://www.susans.org/reference/tserotic.html> 
  3. ^ Goozen, S. H., Slabbekoorn, D., Gooren, L. J., Sanders, G., & Cohen-Kettenis, P. T. (2002). Organizing and activating effects of sex hormones in homosexual transsexuals. Behavioral Neuroscience, 116, 982-988.
  4. ^ Chivers, M. L., & Bailey, J. M. (2000). Sexual orientation of female-to-male transsexuals: A comparison of homosexual and non-homosexual types. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 29, 259-278.
  5. ^ a b c [Ray]; Leonard H. Clemmensen, Betty W. Steiner (December 1985). "Social desirability response set and systematic distortion in the self-report of adult male gender patients". Archives of Sexual Behavior 14 (6). Netherlands: Springer. 1573-2800. 
  6. ^ Benjamin H (1966). "Three different types of transsexual" The Transsexual Phenomenon.. Julian Press ASIN B0007HXA76.
  7. ^ a b Morgan AJ Jr (1978). Psychotherapy for transsexual candidates screened out of surgery. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 7: 273-282.
  8. ^ a b c Blanchard R, Clemmensen LH, Steiner BW (1987). Heterosexual and homosexual gender dysphoria. Archives of Sexual Behavior, Volume 16, Number 2 / April, 1987
  9. ^ Bagemihl B. Surrogate phonology and transsexual faggotry: A linguistic analogy for uncoupling sexual orientation from gender identity. In Queerly Phrased: Language, Gender, and Sexuality. Anna Livia, Kira Hall (eds.) pp. 380 ff. Oxford University Press ISBN 0195104714
  10. ^ Wahng SJ (2004). Double Cross: Transamasculinity Asian American Gendering in Trappings of Transhood. in Aldama AJ (ed.) Violence and the Body: Race, Gender, and the State. Indiana University Press. ISBN 025334171X
  11. ^ cf. Leiblum SR, Rosen RC (2000). Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy, Third Edition. ISBN 1-57230-574-6
  12. ^ a b Green R (1966). Transsexualism: Mythological, Historical, and Cross-Cultural Aspects. Benjamin H, The Transsexual Phenomenon. Julian Press ASIN B0007HXA76.
  13. ^ Hirschfeld M (1923). Die intersexuelle Konstitution. Jarhbuch fuer sexuelle Zwischenstufen. 1923: 3-27
  14. ^ Benjamin H (1966). The Transsexual Phenomenon. The Julian Press ASIN: B0007HXA76
  15. ^ a b Freund K, Steiner BW, Chan S (1982). Two types of cross-gender identity. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1982 Feb;11(1):49-63.
  16. ^ Blanchard R, Dickey R, Jones CL. Comparison of height and weight in homosexual versus non-homosexual male gender dysphorics. Archives of Sexual Behavior 1995 Oct;24(5):543-54.
  17. ^ a b c d e Smith, Yolanda L.S.; Stephanie Van Goozen, Aj Kupier, Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis (2005-12-15). "Transsexual subtypes: Clinical and theoretical significance" (PDF). Psychiatry Research 137 (3): 151–160. Elsevier. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2005.01.008. 
  18. ^ Dorner G, Rohde W, Schott G, Schnabl C (1983). On the LH response to oestrogen and LH-RH in transsexual men. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology. [[1983 Nov;82(3):257-67.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Bailey JM (2003). The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. Women Who Once Were Boys Joseph Henry Press, ISBN 0-309-08418-0.
  20. ^ Bentler P M (1976). A typology of transsexualism: Gender identity theory and data. Archives of Sexual Behavior 5: 567-584.
  21. ^ Blanchard R (1985). Typology of male-to-female transsexualism. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 14, 247-261.
  22. ^ Blanchard R (1989). The concept of autogynephilia and the typology of male gender dysphoria. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 177, 616-623.
  23. ^ a b Cohen-Kettenis, Peggy T.; Owen A., Kaijser V., Bradley S. and Zucker K. (February 2003). "Gender-Dysphoric Children and Adolescents: A Comparative Analysis of Demographic Characteristics and Behavioral Problems.". Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 31 (1): 41–53. Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1023/A:1021769215342. 
  24. ^ a b c d e MacFarlane, D. F. (August 1984). "Transsexual prostitution in New Zealand: Predominance of persons of Maori extraction". Archives of Sexual Behavior 13 (4): 301–309. Netherlands: Springer. doi:10.1007/BF01541903. 
  25. ^ [|James, Andrea], A defining moment in our history. Examining disease models of gender identity., <http://www.tsroadmap.com/info/gender-identity.html>. Retrieved on 30 March 2008 
  26. ^ Lawrence AA (October 1998). Men Trapped in Men's Bodies:"An Introduction to the Concept of Autogynephilia. annelwrence.com (originally). Retrieved on 2006-08-21.
  27. ^ Maria (2004). Maria's Story (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  28. ^ Wilson, Robin. Northwestern U. Concludes Investigation of Sex Researcher but Keeps Results Secret. Chronicle of Higher Education, 2004].
  29. ^ [Alice] (17 January 2008). Alice Domurat Dreger, PhD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Humanities & Bioethics (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  30. ^ [Alice] (2007). "The Controversy Surrounding The Man Who Would Be Queen: A Case History of the Politics of Science, Identity, and Sex in the Internet Age.". Archives of Sexual Behavior. Springer. 
  31. ^ a b Wyndzen MH (2004). A Personal & Scientific look at a Mental Illness Model of transsexualism. Division 44 Newsletter, v.20(1), 3. American Psychological Association.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links