Main description:

The objective of this book is to propose a theory of transvestism and secondary transsexualism, and to provide information concerning these behaviors. My view of these topics is much like that of Benjamin (1966) and nearly all other gender researchers. It holds that a syndrome of similar behaviors can be identified, ranging from fetishism through transvestism, transgenderism, and secondary transsexualism. But de scription is one thing and explanation of causes is another. I agree with other gender researchers (e. g. , Green & Money, 1969; Stoller, 1985c) who have concluded that the causes of transvestism and transsexualism re main largely unknown. But the fact that we cannot fully explain the origins of transvestism or secondary transsexualism does not mean that a comprehensive theory is impossible. Indeed, excellent theoretical statements have been proposed concerning each of these topics (Ban croft, 1972; Buckner, 1970; Buhrich & McConaghy, 1977a; Money & Ehrhardt, 1972; Ovesey & Person, 1973, 1976; Person & Ovesey, 1974a,b; Stoller, 1968a, 1974, 1985c). It is with considerable respect, therefore, that we acknowledge both the strong shoulders on which we stand, and also the more practical fact that we have drawn heavily upon the many contributions of these researchers. The approach I have adopted has the same scientific difficulties that confronted all of these previous workers.

Contents:

1 Introduction.- Four Thematic Constructs.- Gender, Gender Identity, and Cross-Gender Identity.- The Complexity of Transvestism.- Transsexualism in History.- 2 The Spectrum of Cross Dressing.- Fetishism.- Fetishistic Transvestism.- Marginal Transvestism.- Transgenderism.- Primary and Secondary Transsexualism.- Drag Queens and Female Impersonators.- Outcomes of Transvestite and Transsexual Careers.- Summary.- 3 A Review of the Literature on Transvestism and Transsexualism.- Early Research and Clinical Description of Transvestism.- Contemporary Studies of Heterosexual Transvestites.- Treatment of Transvestism.- Personality Characteristics of Transvestites.- Childhood Origins of Transvestism.- Primary and Secondary Transsexualism.- Studies Differentiating Transvestites and Transsexuals.- Etiology of Transsexualism.- Follow-Up Studies of Sex Reassignment.- Summary.- 4 Self and Identity.- The Concept of Self.- The Self-as-a-Theory.- Alternative Selves, Divided Consciousness, and Cross-Gender Identity.- Identity and Gender Identity.- Gender Identity in Transvestism and Transsexualism.- Summary.- 5 Sexual Excitement, Fetishism, and Pleasure.- Sexual Script Theory.- Innate Affective Systems and Script Formation.- Sexual Excitement.- Fetishistic Behavior.- Summary.- 6 Research Results.- I: Survey Procedures and Results.- II: Explanations for Cross Dressing.- III: Frequency of Cross Dressing during Early, Middle, and Late Stages.- IV: Bem Sex-Role Inventory.- V: The Cross Dressing Inventory.- 7 Wives of Transvestites.- Survey Procedure and Results.- Problems as Seen by Wives.- Transvestism and Marital Sex.- Choice of Marital Partner: An Hypothesis.- Patterns of Marital Adjustment.- Cessation or Frustration of Cross Dressing.- Survey Wives' Comments to Prospective Wives of Transvestites.- Summary.- 8 A Theory of Heterosexual Transvestism and Secondary Transsexualism.- Foundations of a Theoretical Model.- Ideas Basic to Theory Development.- Definitions of Four Major Explanatory Constructs.- A Five-Stage Theory of Transvestism.- 9 Summary and Conclusions.- References.