Feminine Behavior in Boys: Aspects of Its Outcome

The author studied the outcome of 16 subjects who had exhibited feminine behavior as young boys. A structured interview, devised b culling from the literature those factors considered to be associated with gender identity disturbances, and a battery of psychological tests were administered. Six of the subjects showed markedly deviant gender identities; three were transsexuals, one a transvestite, and two homosexuals. There appeared to be two peaks for the age of onset of symptoms: before age six and after age ten. The data suggest that those with the earlier age of onset are more likely to develop severe gender identity disturbances.