The Sissy Boy Syndrome: The Development of Homosexuality

by Richard Green and Richard Green

Book Overview

Homosexuality, Gay and Lesbian Studies, Gender Studies, Sociology This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300036965
• ISBN13: 9780300036961
• Release Date: September 1987
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

We Told You So !!!

I should first say that, of the extensive reading I've done on the subject of homosexuality I think this study is - by far - one of the most important. Why? Because it rings so true to my own experience. An important cravet is called for, however. What this study doesn't seem to say, and what junk psychology practioners from NARTH jump on, is that most homosexual boys who exhibit gender non-conformist behavior in childhood have basically shed the more visible signs of it by adulthood. Peer pressure - trying to fit in - and not adult professional intervention, gives the greatest motivation to modify the behavior. Also, the simple process of growing up is enough for most boys to leave behind the things of childhood and embrace adult interests. Whatever the outcome, the simple presence of gender non-conformist behavior is no barrier to happiness and success as an adult. Parents who agonize over little Joe saying he wants to marry Arnold Schwarzenegger would be rewarded with a happier son by helping him find his own center - then helping him find his own Arnold, settle down and make himself a solid foundation of home, family and career. The alternative is to treat him like a leper, never honor or encourage commitment, vote for laws that bar him from accepting the responsibilities of marriage, and thereby insure that gay-hating people can continue to say that gay relationships are doomed to failure. The Library Journal's review of "Sissy Boy" is in stark contrast to what I've been reading of this study since it was first published. The reviewer states that "3/4 of the first group reported being homosexual or bisexual..." "...while only a single member of the second group reported such an orientation." That's not the case. Green decided to publish this study after 3/4 of his focus group had reached age 18 and self-identified as homosexual. The other 1/4 had not yet reached age 18. What was actually learned is that of the 3/4 of the group who reached 18, **all** of them identified as homosexual. Of the "masculine" control group **none** of them reported being homosexual and **one** identified as bi-sexual. A longitudinal study with those numbers doesn't need to wait for everyone to reach the age of 18. It would have news to Green if even 5 to 10 per cent had identified as homosexual. This study asks the question, "What kind of adults will boys who exhibit gender non-conformist behavior become." The researcher finds the boys who exhibit the behavior and then simply leaves them alone until they reach adulthood. Then he pops the question; something like, "Are you homosexual, bi-sexual or heterosexual?" In short, 100% of the focus group reaching age 18 self-reported being homosexual, or as Green and other researchers put it, they grew up to be "ordinary homosexuals." The idea that homosexuality could be predicted among children with such an astounding degree of accuracy isn't astounding or new to homosexuals themselves, but only to people

This book validates sissy boys everywhere!

This book is one of the very few available that validates boys who go through a sissy stage during their childhood in an intellegent fashion. Through research and analytical thinking and writing, Green finally validates that in his research he found that "it is not playing with girl toys and idenfifying with female play that makes a boy gay, it is a strong indicator that he already is gay however". Green found that 75% of the males subjects he interviewed who played with girl toys as young boys grew up gay. He is clear that it does not make them gay. Of course we know it wouldn't. Being a tomboy doesn't make girls lesbian and we accept that stage of development for girls. THANK YOU Dr. Green!