Natural History of Homosexuality

by Francis Mark Mondimore

Book Overview

Selected by Choice Magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title

A terrible sin, a gift from the gods, a mental illness, a natural human variation--over the centuries people have defined homosexuality in all of these ways. Since the word homosexual was coined in 1869, many scientists in a variety of fields have sought to understand same-sex intimacy. Drawing on recent insights in biology and genetics, psychiatrist Francis Mondimore...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801854407
• ISBN13: 9780801854408
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

An agreable discovery of facts

I've just finished reading Dr. Mondimore's book. Since I am more familiar with literature and the arts there was a large spectrum I was quite ignorant of. I am Mexican and eventhough I was quite aware that the Aztecs really hated what we now call homosexuality, I was pretty ignorant of other othre views of this pehenomenon in other pre-Hispanic cultures. Dr. Mondimore's book covers such a huge range of aspects (history, history of mentalities, medicine, psychology, sociology, politics) that I became sort of dizzy at the end. Nevertheless the author delivers all his stuff in such a lively way that once I started reading, I had great pains at stop reading. For me the book was illuminating.

The Best General Work on Homosexuality I've Encountered

As a lesbian fascinated with lesbian and gay studies and history--and having participated in the making of some of it--I was more than interested in reading Dr. Mondimore's book. What I found was a book with overall balance, an excellent general source of information. I would recommend this book highly to heterosexuals, especially family members striving to deal with the homosexuality of a loved one. I would recommend it to the lesbian or gay seeking a better, broad-based understanding of themselves, their history, and the things which shape and influence them. Above all, I would recommend it to the person or group harboring an antihomosexual prejudice, be it from religious, cultural, or personal beliefs.There are some criticisms of the book: his treatment of lesbianism and the particular issues affecting gay women is, for the most part, shallow. Granted, there is not as much material available, but there is more than he utilized. Whether from a desire not to offend or from other motivations, his record of the last 30 years of gay history is shallow, as is the discussion of groups vigorously opposing homosexuals, such as the "religious right". It would not have been difficult to employ more depth, particularly since these things impact and will continue to affect the civil rights, health, and well-being of the literally millions of homosexual women and men in this country. Greater stress on what is happening today is needed. The theological issues impacting the civil rights of the entire gay community are not really addressed, although the scholarship which leads to persecution of the gay community by religious groups is profoundly flawed and resource materials readily available.These criticisms being understood, I would nevertheless highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, as a basic work which should be in any balanced library.

A good summary history

Mondimore, a practicing psychologist, has attempted to provide a low-cost, accessible, one-volume treatment of the issue of homosexuality on several bases. This is a book used in various courses at my seminary to help with background to address the often difficult-to-deal-with topic of homosexuality. Part of the Johns Hopkins series on Gay Studies, this book is credible and authoritative. In the first half of Mondimore's book, he explores historical and biological issues. Part I deals specifically with history. He starts by stating frankly a fact most people don't realise -- the word homosexuality did not exist prior to 1869, when it appeared (in Germanic form) in a governmental pamphlet. Prior to this, there had been euphemisms and other definitive terms, but this word itself did not exist. Mondimore explores the concept, therefore, rather than instances of the word, in cultures from ancient Greece and Rome, to Native American cultures, through old Europe and into the present. One of Mondimore's shortcomings must surely be the Euro-centric focus, although early in the book he addresses African, Asian and Pacific peoples. In Part II, Mondimore addresses the scientific/biological bases for homosexuality, both historical fictions and the extent to which modern science has (and has not) gotten in this area of research. The nature-vs.-nurture debate is here in full force. Issues of heredity, hormonal influences on the embryo, theories of brain constructions and variations, and psychological-impact on physical development are all considered here. The famous twins studies, the ideas of cooperation/competition between nature and nurture for various kinds of patterns of action, orientation, and growth are considered in sufficient detail to make the text interest for the scientific literati as well as remaining accessible to those who find scientific explanations a challenge. In the second half of Mondimore's book, as he says, 'we will now leave behind hormones and neurons and molecules and talk about people.' Parts III and IV are devoted much more to psychological, sociological, and political issues. Part III begins with Mondimore asking the questions What makes someone come to identify himself or herself as having sexual orientation? What is the process by which people come to identify themselves as homosexual? Mondimore asserts that the first step in this process is the learning of labels and understanding categories of sexual orientation. Gender identity is reinforced early in communities and assumed by children, which is not necessarily sexual at this time. Some children begin to sense a differentness, which is borne out in studies of homosexual adults who have a higher-than-average tendency toward things associated with the opposite gender (play activities, etc.). Children often become aware of their own differentness as well as labels at the same time, often early in life, which can lead to prehomosexual children (a term used by Mondimore from soci

Useful to inform ploarized dialogues about homosexuality

Mondimore's book helps shed light on a subject where more heat than light is perennially generated. As a pastor who deals with the issue and needed basic information to inform my views, Mondimore does a valuable service for readers looking to research the often misinformed and misunderstood issues around homosexuality. The book follows a well thought out sequence and it is clearly written. Most valuable are the sections on the history, anthropology and sexual biology of homosexuality. As the church wrestles with this topic --from an often uninformed and polarized position, Mondimore's book can be a useful reference tool to explore and dialogue about the issues.

I know the cover is ugly, but the book is pretty good.

I had to write a book report for Biology class and I thought this was the least boring choice on the list of acceptable books. When I got my hands on it, though, it looked so nasty, old, and clinical that I wasn't too eager to settle down and read it.Well, it turns out the author broke the book into sections focused on particular topics, such as historical, social, and biological points of view, so that you don't get overwhelmed. Inside each topic, there are a number of sections (like for biological analysis: effects of levels of particular hormones reaching the fetus during embryonic development, retrospective and prospective studies, hormonal organizing, and tests on lab animals) so you can get at exactly what you're into.Mondimore also makes connections from one topic to the next, and building this way makes it flow well and somewhat organizes it all as it spills into your head.Overall, it's one of the better all-in-one overview books, and the author is queer but presents his material objectively, so if you're trying to pick out a book on this topic, I'd recommend this feller.