Gender Variance- required reading

[Daniel]

Supporting Boys or Girls When the Line Isn’t Clear

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/us...rtner=homepage

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 1 — Until recently, many children who did not conform to gender norms in their clothing or behavior and identified intensely with the opposite sex were steered to psychoanalysis or behavior modification.

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The biological underpinnings of gender identity, much like sexual orientation, remain something of a mystery, though many researchers suspect it is linked with hormone exposure in the developing fetus.

Studies suggest that most boys with gender variance early in childhood grow up to be gay, and about a quarter heterosexual, Dr. Menvielle said. Only a small fraction grow up to identify as transgender.

A fascinating article. I certainly see myself in it: I wanted to put on girl stuff as a kid. And did. In secret- that is- until my mother found out and all hell broke loose. Oh yeah....I started stammering that year.

One of those who grew up gay? You bet.

It heartens me to know that kids are now being treated a bit differently- or at least can be - if one opens one's eyes.

[marutidas]

I remember thinking when I was five, that girls get to wear such cool stuff. I played with barbies with my step sisters too.

[Zerbie]

Huh! How about that? I think it's terribly sad to punish and frighten a child for experimenting and exploring. That's how we learn.

As for me, I alternated between phases when I went all for the femme and frills, and phases that involved avoiding dresses and lace and girly toys in favor of hiking, fishing, fighting, tree climbing. Maybe a year to six months would be an ultra-girly phase, and then the next 6 months to a year would be a more gender-neutral/"tomboyish" phase. Which, I never thought of this before, seems to reveal an already established pattern of identifying sequentially with one gender and it's stereotype, and then later more with the other. But my best friends were always boys.

I played with Barbies too. Lesbian Barbies (I thought they were too pretty to waste on the Ken dolls. )

Lesbian Barbies and gay Kens, yes I was a precocious little monster. I had two Ken dolls, each of whom had a structural flaw, so I figured they were a good couple. The blonde Ken had a weak left arm that always fell out of the socket when he was touched, and the dark Ken had a loose head that swiveled full round (like the exorcist.) I used to bang those Ken dolls together and watch as one's arm fell off and the other's head swiveled round in endless circles. It was macabre!

[scott snedeker]

Daniel, Zerbie, Maritudas,

You all are amazing! The Titans of spiritual giving!

Affirmation and Attraction. If all children were encouraged to search their emotional touchstones and only focus on what makes them feel good, and receive affirmation of their sexuality instead of prudish Victorian suffocation then I think the next generation of adults would attain a level of self-esteem never before seen!

Love and affirmation,
Scottymaude.jpg

[BruceChris]

http://carcino.gen.nz/images/index.p...9a680/7c021ab8

P&L, BC

[Zerbie]

I love it!!

[Deb]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

I played with Barbies too. Lesbian Barbies (I thought they were too pretty to waste on the Ken dolls. )

Lesbian Barbies and gay Kens, yes I was a precocious little monster. I had two Ken dolls, each of whom had a structural flaw, so I figured they were a good couple. The blonde Ken had a weak left arm that always fell out of the socket when he was touched, and the dark Ken had a loose head that swiveled full round (like the exorcist.) I used to bang those Ken dolls together and watch as one's arm fell off and the other's head swiveled round in endless circles. It was macabre!

Damn girl!!! the is funny.. I can so relate. love that lesbian barbie... sweet as.....