Childhood gender nonconformity
Childhood gender nonconformity (CGN) is a phenomenon in which prepubescent children do not conform to expected gender-related sociological or psychological patterns, or identify with the opposite sex/gender.
[1] Typical behavior among those who exhibit the phenomenon includes but is not limited to a propensity to cross-dress, refusal to take part in activities conventionally thought suitable for the gender and the exclusive choice of play-mates of the opposite sex.
[9] Social learning theory emphasizes the rewards and punishments that children receive for sex appropriate or inappropriate behaviors.
In partial contrast to this view, certain animal studies have lent support for biologically determined gendered toy preferences.
These findings suggest that gendered preferences for toys can occur without the complex socialization processes found in humans.
The male interest in balls and wheeled toys may relate to the androgenised brains preference for objects that move through space.
[16] On the subject of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Fine presents the argument of correlation being confused for causality; are females with CAH interested in typically masculine activities due to their having an innate quality or is this a result of their association with boys and men as a gender?
[16] Children's preference for same-sex playmates is a robust finding that has been observed in many human cultures and across a number of animal species.
Preference for same-sex playmates is at least partially linked to socialization processes, but children may also gravitate toward peers with similar play styles.
Over time evolutionary forces may have selected for children's play activities related to adult survival skills.
Lippa's study found stronger correlations in CGN and adult personality traits in men than in women.
[19] One of the advantages of Lippa's study is the relatively high sample size of 950 participants, which was diverse both in terms of representations of sexual orientation and ethnicity.
Research has shown that the mother develops an immune response due to blood factor incompatibility with male fetuses.
The mother's immune response can disrupt typical prenatal hormones, like testosterone, which have been implicated in both childhood gender nonconformity and adult sexual orientation.
Bem proposed a theory on the relationship between childhood gender nonconformity, which he refers to as the "exotic become erotic" (EBE).
[10] Bem argues that biological factors, such as prenatal hormones, genes and neuroanatomy, predispose children to behave in ways that do not conform to their sex assigned at birth.
"[23] Bem was criticized for relying on a non-random sample of gay men from the 1970s and for drawing conclusions that appear to contradict the original data.
Bem also acknowledged that gay men were more likely to have older brothers (the fraternal birth order effect), which appeared to contradict an unfamiliarity with males.
Bem cited cross-cultural studies which also "appear to contradict the EBE theory assertion", such as the Sambia tribe in Papua New Guinea, which ritually enforced homosexual acts among teenagers, yet once these boys reached adulthood, only a small proportion of men continued to engage in homosexual behaviour - similar to levels observed in the United States.
[23] In 2003, Lorene Gottschalk, a self-described radical feminist suggested there may be a reporting bias linking gender nonconformity to homosexuality.
[26] A diagnosis of GID in children requires evidence of discomfort, confusion, or aversion to the gender roles associated with the child's genetic sex.
[27] Some advocates have argued that a DSM-IV diagnosis legitimizes the experiences of these children, making it easier to rally around a medically defined disorder, in order to raise public awareness and garner funding for future research and therapies.
In some cases families are not accepting of their child's non-conformity, typically lashing out with punishment grounded on homophobia and sexism.
Parents who recognize that they have gender non-conforming children sometimes experience a feeling of loss, shock, denial, anger, and despair.
Finally, "transporters" appear to be completely accepting of their child's gender nonconformity, while privately doubting its authenticity, and may say things like "it's just a phase" or "they'll grow out of it."
