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Gordon Walker on transsexualism
Robin Pinnel is a publicist at Joseph Henry Press. They added the following review to the JHP site in August 2003. Parts in blue are being used by JHP. Original newsletter: www.psychsociety.com.au/units/interest_groups/gay_lesbian/glip_news_august03.pdf (PDF: requires reader) Contact information for the reviewer:
GLIP News by Gordon Walker, Convener This is a book, written by a leading researcher in the field, is about understanding
sexual orientation and identity. Although the author makes much use of research,
this is not a textbook; any educated person with an interest
in this topic would find the material very accessible. The stories of various
boys and men are woven together with the discussion of research to create a
highly interesting and very worthwhile book. In fact once I started I had difficulty
putting down! Broadly speaking it is an examination of the relationship
between male homosexuality and femininity. As the author says, to say that femininity
and homosexuality are closely bound together has been politically incorrect
for some time now, but nevertheless factually correct. The book then goes on
to demonstrate this across the sexual orientation spectrum. The book is therefore a challenge to the postmodern position on gender, although
the author clearly occupies the middle ground between social constructionism
and essentialism. This is demonstrated in his discussion of feminine boys and
of those labeled gender identity disordered (GID) in particular. In looking
at the debate between those on the left who want them left alone to be as feminine
as they want to be and those on the extreme right who view homosexuality as
arrested psychosexual development, he draws the reader's attention to research
that shows that therapy directed at reducing femininity in highly feminine boys
reduces the number who ultimately seek a sex-change, and therefore increases
the number who as adults identify as gay. He suggests that an alternative to
this would be to allow such boys to become women very early (pre-puberty) so
that they can have better outcomes as women. The author uses a range of research to clearly challenge the view that pronounced
femininity in boys is the result of socialisation. The question of where does
extreme femininity come from is also examined Similarities and differences between gay and straight men are also examined.
Broadly speaking, although gay men have interests more in line with those of
women, in attitudes to sex and the body homosexual and heterosexual men were
shown to be essentially the same; the differences in behaviour come about because
heterosexually men are basically constrained in their behaviour by women. The
author provides a very accessible and readable account of the sometimes confusing
array of studies that have attempted to account for sexual orientation and draws
the conclusion that there is some fundamental biological influence that transcends
culture. The last section of the book focuses on transsexualism, and
produces a compelling argument for recognising two main types: homosexual and
non-homosexual types, with the latter being erotically obsessed with the image
of themselves as women. A very much more complex picture emerges than the popular
image of a woman being trapped inside a man's body. The great value of this book lies in the way it has brought
together a wide range of research on important questions relating to sexual
orientation. This gives the reader a wonderful opportunity to reflect further
on what being other than heterosexual might mean. Gordon Walker Letter to Dr. Walker from WOMAN Network
It is reported that Dr. Walker is making inquiries about the matter and will
respond after he's had time to review the matter. |
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