Comments on: Gender atypical stuff

By: Boo

Boo — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 16:42:00 +0000

Point taken- but it seems in line with a lot of what the other researchers like Bailey choose to define as “gender atypical behavior.” At some level a lot of what they choose to assign as “masculine” or “feminine” is pretty arbitrary.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 09:41:00 +0000

I agree wtih Dr. Drescher (also a hard core gay activist) on the following. Now, if a few people can change, how can SSA be a purely genetic, hardwired thing?

Note that even though Jack is gay, and is an activist, he will still agree that SOME can change. (but as for how much, and whether or not one should, he has other thoughts)

Jack Drescher on change

* “Despite our differing interpretations of his study, both Dr. Spitzer and myself are of the opinion that there is a small group of people whose sexual orientation can change, sometimes even without any therapy. But neither of us believe that everyone’s sexual orientation can change. To claim that everyone can change or that everyone should change is simply not true. To scientifically argue for that position in opposition to gay and lesbian civil rights is not only a misuse of Dr. Spitzer’s study but a travesty of science itself.”

By: Throckmorton

Throckmorton — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 08:04:00 +0000

You might be referring to the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. This was constructed by Daryl Bem’s ex-wife Sandra.

By: Boo

Boo — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 06:58:00 +0000

One problem (among many) with this line of thinking, Bem’s childhood gender conformity scale contains some pretty weird stereotyping, According to Bem, “feminine” behaviors include:

Act like a little child.
Believe everything somebody tells you
Are shy
Smile and laugh a lot

and “masculine” behaviors include:

Try to make other people do what you want
Make decisions easily

As we all know, girls are never manipulative or decisive while boys are never shy, credulous, childish, or exuberant.