TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of environment upon gender identity and sexual orientation
T2 - A lesson for parents of children with intersex or gender confusion
AU - Lee, Peter
AU - Houk, Christopher P.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2005/7
Y1 - 2005/7
N2 - Two histories of physically normal men with persistent gender issues highlight the major impact played by parental input on the sexual and gender development of children. Both men had been subjected to firm, harsh behavior modification by their parents, particularly their mothers, during childhood in response to effeminate behavior. While both men continue to manifest major gender/sexual issues as adults, their outcomes have been dramatically different. The first man takes female hormones and denies any satisfaction from his sexuality. This individual remains convinced that he has female internal sexual organs and monthly internal menstrual bleeding. Although he has a career, he has become alienated from his family and is a social cripple. The second man has a successful career, lives a heterosexual life with his children and wife of 20 years and is involved in his community. He is visually attracted to men and remains obsessed with male pornography. This individual credits his mother with directing him toward a successful heterosexual life, which he feels has prevented the emotional burden of an active homosexual life. These two cases illustrate the tremendous influence played by environment and parental input on the sexual perspectives of developing children.
AB - Two histories of physically normal men with persistent gender issues highlight the major impact played by parental input on the sexual and gender development of children. Both men had been subjected to firm, harsh behavior modification by their parents, particularly their mothers, during childhood in response to effeminate behavior. While both men continue to manifest major gender/sexual issues as adults, their outcomes have been dramatically different. The first man takes female hormones and denies any satisfaction from his sexuality. This individual remains convinced that he has female internal sexual organs and monthly internal menstrual bleeding. Although he has a career, he has become alienated from his family and is a social cripple. The second man has a successful career, lives a heterosexual life with his children and wife of 20 years and is involved in his community. He is visually attracted to men and remains obsessed with male pornography. This individual credits his mother with directing him toward a successful heterosexual life, which he feels has prevented the emotional burden of an active homosexual life. These two cases illustrate the tremendous influence played by environment and parental input on the sexual perspectives of developing children.
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U2 - 10.1515/JPEM.2005.18.7.625
DO - 10.1515/JPEM.2005.18.7.625
M3 - Review article
C2 - 16128238
AN - SCOPUS:23644453954
SN - 0334-018X
VL - 18
SP - 625
EP - 630
JO - Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 7
ER -