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Chapter 4 (continued)
Boyhood Manifestations (cont.)
Atypical Interests and Behavior
Two of the most widely acknowledged childhood patterns among pre-homosexual boys are non-masculine behavior and problems in relationships with male peers.14(pXVI) Peer relationships will be the subject of the next section. Researchers have demonstrated that some behaviors that are considered male-typical (such as rough-and-tumble play) are affected by prenatal hormones.1(p928) One reason for considering such a relationship between prenatal hormones and childhood behaviors is that the differences in childhood behaviors between pre-heterosexual and pre-homosexual boys begin very early in life. However, Byne and Parsons point out that boys and girls are treated differently from the moment they are born. Children establish GENDER IDENTITY by age three and GENDER CONSTANCY—which determines what sex they will use as a model for their behavior—soon after. Gender identity and constancy are determined mostly by social factors, which suggests that gender typical behavior, as well as gender-atypical behavior, could be the result of social input even at age three or four.9(p236)
Gender non-conformity is the term most commonly used to describe a higher than normal interest in opposite-gender activities and lower than normal interest in activities of one’s own gender. Gender non-conformity in childhood is considered to be the most reliable predictor of adult homosexuality,9(p236) or at least to be “a very strong predictor” of this.18(p76) In their major study, researchers Bell, Weinberg, and Hammersmith found that gender non-conformity ranks as the most significant factor in the development of homosexuality among the 15 developmental variables they studied. Their research and hypotheses suggest that boys who feel they are different from other boys with regard to their degree of masculinity and their playtime interests (in other words, boys that show gender non-conformity) are more likely to “Feel Sexually Different from other boys,” to “experience Homosexual Arousal” in childhood or adolescence, to have “Homosexual Genital Activities in Childhood,” and to “have more extensive involvement in Homosexual Activities in Adolescence.” They also state that gender non-conformity in adolescence tends to cause individuals to feel alienated from their peers. All of the factors listed increase the probability of adult homosexual behavior.18(p76-77)
As mentioned above, gender non-conformity also includes interest in activities that are typical of the opposite gender. For boys this may include interest in dolls, dressing up like a girl, preferring the company of girls in game playing, preferring the company of older women rather than men, and having a greater sexual interest in boys than girls in sex play.14(p61) It may also include aesthetic and intellectual interests,1(p926) physical effeminacy,17(p205) and even the desire to be a woman.17(p194)
Gender non-conformity also includes a relative absence of typically masculine interests. Researchers Hockenberry and Billingham concluded that this second aspect of gender non-conformity (absence of male interests) predicts adult homosexuality more strongly than the first aspect (interest in feminine activities). They listed five factors that effectively discriminated between pre-heterosexual and pre-homosexual boys. They were: 1) “whether he plays with boys or girls,” 2) “his preference for boys’ or girls’ games,” 3) “whether he imagines himself as a sports figure,” 4) “whether he reads adventure and sports stories,” and 5) “whether or not he is considered a sissy.”19(p60) Other researchers have noted that pre-homosexual boys often avoid “activities thought to be injurious”17(p316) as well as “play that involves fighting and rough-and-tumble team sports.”1(p928) Bieber’s study provides a comparison between boyhood characteristics of homosexuals versus heterosexuals (see table below).17(p175)
Comparison of Boyhood Characteristics
Homosexual Group |
Control Group |
|
| “excessively fearful of physical injury” | 75% |
46% |
| “avoided physical fights” | 89% |
55% |
| “participated in competitive group games” | 17% |
63% |
| “played baseball” | 16% |
62% |
Two other atypical behaviors that are more common among pre-homosexual boys should be mentioned. They are early sexual activity and attempted suicide. Early sexual activity will be discussed in greater length under the section “Sexual Experimentation” below. However, it is worth mentioning here that the Bieber study showed that “significantly more homosexuals begin sexual activity before adolescence than do heterosexuals and more homosexuals are more frequently sexually active during preadolescence, early adolescence, and adulthood than are heterosexuals.”17(p189) Davies and Rentzel suggest that boys who withdraw due to fear of playing team sports may pursue solitary activities such as sexual experimentation with other shy boys.13(p48)
Regarding suicide, one study of a group of homosexual youths showed that 30% had attempted suicide, and more than half of these attempts were carried out in ways that indicate they meant to succeed. Friedman and Downey suggest that such factors as fears about “coming out,” self-hatred due to homosexual feelings, and HOMOPHOBIA among those close to the person may increase the likelihood of suicide attempts.1(p926)
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GENDER CONSTANCY: the knowledge that one’s designated sex does not and can not change.21(p119)
GENDER IDENTITY: “the person’s conviction that they are female or male.” This is usually established by age three. Most homosexual persons do not experience difficulty with gender identity.22(p185)
HOMOPHOBIA: an extreme and irrational fear of one’s own, or another’s, homosexuality.