Abstract
Homosexual and nonhomosexual (relative to genetic sex) female-to-male transsexuals (FTMs) were compared on a number of theoretically or empirically derived variables. Compared to nonhomosexual FTMs, homosexual FTMs reported greater childhood gender nonconformity, preferred more feminine partners, experienced greater sexual rather than emotional jealousy, were more sexually assertive, had more sexual partners, had a greater desire for phalloplasty, and had more interest in visual sexual stimuli. Homosexual and nonhomosexual FTMs did not differ in their overall desire for masculinizing body modifications, adult gender identity, or importance of partner social status, attractiveness, or youth. These findings indicate that FTMs are not a homogeneous group and vary in ways that may be useful in understanding the relation between sexual orientation and gender identity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., APA, Washington, DC.
Bell, A. P., Weinberg, M. S., and Hammersmith, S. K. (1981). Sexual Preference: Its Development in Men and Women, Alfred C. Kinsey Institute of Sex Research, Bloomington, IN.
Bailey, J. M., and Zucker, K. (1995). Childhood sex-typed behavior and sexual orientation:Aconceptual analysis and quantitative review. Dev. Psychol. 31(1): 43-55.
Bailey, J. M., Gaulin, S., Agyei, Y., and Gladue, B. A. (1994). Effects of sexual orientation on evolutionarily relevant aspects of mating psychology. J. Person. Soc. Psychol. 66(6): 1081-1093.
Bailey, J. M., Kim, P., Hills, A., and Linsenmeier, J. A. W. (1997). Butch, femme, or straight-acting? Partner preferences of gay men and lesbians. J. Person. Soc. Psychol. 73(5): 960-973.
Bailey, J. M., Finkel, E., Blackwelder, K., and Bailey, T. (1999). Masculinity, femininity and sexual orientation (in preparation).
Blanchard, R. (1989). The classification and labeling of nonhomosexual gender dysphorias. Arch. Sex. Behav. 18(4): 315-334.
Blanchard, R. (1990). Gender identity disorders in adult women. In Blanchard, R., Steiner, B.W., et al. (eds.), Clinical Management of Gender Identity Disorders in Children and Adults. The Clinical Practice Series, No. 14, American Psychiatric Press, Washington, DC, pp. 79-91.
Blanchard, R., and Freund, K. (1983). Measuring masculine gender identity in females. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 51(2): 205-214.
Blanchard, R., Clemmensen, L., and Steiner, B. W. (1987). Heterosexual and homosexual gender dysphoria. Arch. Sex. Behav. 16(2): 139-152.
Buss, D. M., Larsen, R. J., Westen, D., and Semmelroth, J. (1992). Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, physiology, and psychology. Psychol. Sci. 3: 251-255.
Clare, D., and Tully, B. (1989). Transhomosexuality or the dissociation of sexual orientation and sex object choice. Arch. Sex. Behav. 18(6): 531-536.
Coleman, E., and Bockting, W. U. (1989). Heterosexual prior to sex reassignment surgery, homosexual afterwards. J. Psychol. Hum. Sex. 1(2): 69-81.
Coleman, E., Bockting, W. O., and Gooren, L. (1993). Homosexual and bisexual identity in sexreassigned female-to-male transsexuals. Arch. Sex. Behav. 22(1): 37-50.
Devor, H. (1993). Sexual orientation identities, attractions, and practices of female-to-male transsexuals. J. Sex Res. 30(4): 303-315.
Devor, H. (1997). FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society, Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
Dickey, R., and Stephens, J. (1995). Female-to-male transsexualism, heterosexual types: Two cases. Arch. Sex. Behav. 24(4): 439-445.
Ehrhardt, A., Gridanti, G., and McCauley, E. A. (1979). Female-to-male transsexuals compared to lesbians: Behavioral patterns of childhood and adolescent development. Arch. Sex. Behav. 8(6): 481-490.
Fleming, M. Z., MacGowan, B. R., and Salt, P. (1984). Female-to-male transsexualism and sex roles: Self and spouse ratings on the PAQ. Arch. Sex. Behav. 13(1): 51-57.
Fleming, M., MacGowan, B., and Costos, D. (1985). The dyadic adjustment of female-to-male transsexuals. Arch. Sex. Behav. 14(1): 47-55.
Freund, K. (1990). Courtship disorder. In Marshall, W. L., Laws, D. R., et al. (eds.), Handbook of Sexual Assault: Issues, Theories, and Treatment of the Offender, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 195-207.
Futterweit, W., Weiss, R. A., and Fagerstrom, R. M. (1986). Endocrine evaluation of forty femaleto-male transsexuals: Increase frequency of polycystic ovarian disease in female transsexualism. Arch. Sex. Behav. 15(1): 69-78.
Hawkins, R. O. (1990). The relationship between culture, personality, and sexual jealousy in men in heterosexual and homosexual relationships. J. Homosex. 19: 67-84.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., and Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, Saunders, Philadelphia.
Money, J., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1972). Man and Woman, Boy and Girl: The Differentiation and Dimorphism of Gender Identity from Conception to Maturity, Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore.
Money, J., and Schwartz, M. (1976). Fetal androgens in the early treated adrenogenital syndrome of 46 XX hermaphroditism: Influence on assertive and aggressive types of behavior. Aggress. Behav. 2(1): 19-30.
Money, J., Schwartz, M., and Lewis, V. G. (1984). Adult erotosexual status and fetal hormone masculinization and demasculinization: 46, XX congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia and 46, XY androgen-insensitivity syndrome compared. Psychoneuroendocrinology 9: 405-414.
Newton, E., and Walton, S. (1984). The misunderstanding: Toward a more precise sexual vocabulary. In Vance, C. (ed.), Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality, Routledge and Kegan Paul, Boston, pp. 242-250.
Pillard, R. C. (1991). Masculinity and femininity in homosexuality: "Inversion" revisited. In Gonsiorek, J. D.W. J. C. (ed.), Homosexuality: Research Implications for Public Policy, Sage, Newbury Park, CA, pp. 32-43.
Quinsey, V. L., and Lalumiere, M. L. (1995). Evolutionary perspectives on sexual offending. Sex. Abuse J. Res. Treat. 7(4): 301-315.
Roback, H. B., and Lothstein, L. M. (1986). The female mid-life sex change applicant: A comparison with younger female transsexuals and older male sex change applicants. Arch. Sex. Behav. 15(5): 401-415.
Singh, D., Vidaurri, M., Zambarano, R. J., and Dabbs, J. M. Jr. (1999). Lesbian erotic role identifi-cation: Behavioral, morphological, and hormonal correlates. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 76: 1035-1049.
Steiner, B. W., and Bernstein, S. M. (1981). Female-to-male transsexuals and their partners. Can. J. Psychiatry 26: 178-182.
Symons, D. (1979). The Evolution of Human Sexuality, Oxford University Press, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chivers, M.L., Bailey, J.M. Sexual Orientation of Female-to-Male Transsexuals: A Comparison of Homosexual and Nonhomosexual Types. Arch Sex Behav 29, 259–278 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001915530479
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001915530479