The Sissy Boy Syndrome: The Development of Homosexuality

by Richard Green

Uses a 15-year study of two groups of boys and their parents to examine the impact of early sexual role behavior on the development of homosexuality

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Del · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is an often quoted source regarding persistence among trans children and adolescents. This book presents a series of case studies Green conducted for his research in sexual identity. One of the case studies is that of a transwoman whom Green identifies as “Todd.” Green conceptualizes transwomen as those who are “expressing a moral rejection of homosexual attractions.” Additionally, he associates adult “transsexualism” as resulting from an “absence of parental concern permit[ting] the continued evolution of this identity” (p. 300). The nature of Green’s questioning is problematic for several reasons:
• Parents are almost blamed for cross-sex behaviors
o Asking if anyone thought cross-sex behaviors exhibited during childhood “was funny or cute or encouraged”
o When denied, asking if the child was “always disobedient of your wishes?”
• Focuses on identifying “influences” and “causes”
o Family – Focused on mother’s role
o Peer Groups – Focused on socializing with girls
• Primes parents – “Why do you think it developed?”
o Results in response bias in participants – “He was around his mother quite often then.”
• Hostile interview environment putting everyone on the defensive

The primary focus of this research was on homosexuality. Its inclusion of discussion on trans issues should be disregarded as it conflates homosexuality and transsexuality—two distinct and often mutually exclusive topics. Green clearly demonstrates his lack of understanding of this distinction as discussed in his conceptualization of transwomen and his assumption that all transwomen are straight (transwoman in romantic relationships with cisgender males). He repeatedly indicates his bias through his use of hostile questioning and use of pronouns in describing transwomen. Finally, he endorses reparative therapy with his open discussion of trans experience as problematic behavior that should be “corrected” during childhood in order to prevent a “failed outcome” of adult transgender identity.

[Jakub Štefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was in high school I had a movie class. In which we watched many different types of movies. From the truly beginnings of cinematography to the modern era - some of them were truly avant-garde and surrealistic. After watching them the whole class analyzed what we watched. Of course, some statements were hit or miss, sometimes we didn't know what the author wanted to say. That's my feeling when I read some comments under books about these topics. "Did they read the same book as me ?" If you go to Wikipedia and read about Richard Green you will find that he did conversion therapies on children to make them heterosexual...Really? This is an excerpt from the book, where a homosexual boy answers Green after admitting his homosexuality. The boy feels bad because of his religious upbringing:

R.G. What do you think now? Do you think I am disappointed?
Kyle: No.
R.G: No, I'm not disappointed. I'm not ecstatic: I'm not disappointed. It's not a question of my approving or not approving of who you are. It's finding out who you are, and if you are having conflict somewhere, to see if I can find a way to handle the conflict. (Shortened)

"The goal was to reduce the stress you were feeling back then."

As I read these comments I ask myself: Some people truly don't want to question, huh?
This wasn't a pleasant read, it was a long and tedious read. The author in some parts makes arguments against many theoretical approaches (cognitive, psychoanalytical even biological) in the field of psychology and psychiatry and leaves the ending open. After reading I'm not surprised, there was such diversity of outcomes and circumstances... I would add more excerpts from the book to hammer this point. But Goodreads only allows pictures on the web, so sadly I cannot. My feelings about the author and this work can be summarized by the last sentences in the book when asks participant how he feels about the study:

SON: I feel, "Good, he used something."
R.G.: He used something?
SON: Yes-all that, it was worth something.

For me, it was worth hearing stories of these boys and their thoughts (And occasional professional shutting down of theories as not complex enough to encompass all their experiences).