How do we develop our sexual orientation? Very little can be said
for sure, but this much psychologist Michael Bailey, Ph.D., can say: A
lot of sexual development doesn't depend on modeling yourself on your
parents.
In a study he conducted--the largest ever--of homosexual fathers
and their adult sons, he found that few offspring grow up to be
homosexual. The overwhelming majority are heterosexual. And whatever the
sexual orientation of the sons, it bears no relationship at all to the
amount of time they spend with their fathers.
Among 55 fathers who were gay or bisexual, there were 82 sons at
least 17 years old. Whether sexual orientation was measured via behavior,
fantasy, or identity, nine percent of the sons were homosexual. "It's no
higher than you would expect based on genetic studies, since fathers and
sons are related genetically," says Bailey, an associate professor at
Northwestern University.
Gay sons lived with their fathers for an average of 6.4 years,
versus 11.2 years for heterosexual sons.
For Bailey, the study provides supporting evidence that
homosexuality is not environmentally transmitted. It probably starts much
earlier, he says.
In a second report, which like the first appeared in an issue of
Developmental Psychology (Vol. 3 1, No. 1) devoted exclusively to
research on sexual orientation, Bailey reviewed 41 studies of homosexuals
and their behavior as children. Every study showed the same thing--most
gay men were at least somewhat feminine very early in childhood. And most
extremely feminine boys grow up to become gay men. "Childhood sex-typed
behavior is the single strongest predictor of adult sexual orientation,"
he says.
Especially for men, sexual orientation is established early in
life. Bailey himself is tracking genetic transmission, and others point
to prenatal influences.
Whatever the final equation of factors influencing sexual
orientation and identity, there's an immediate implication for the
increasing number of gays and lesbians forming families. His study, says
Bailey, "fails to provide empirical grounds for denying child custody to
gay or lesbian parents because of concern about the child's sexual
orientation." Apparently homosexuality just isn't catching.
Tags:
17 years,
adult sons,
amount of time,
associate professor,
behavior,
childhood,
fathers and sons,
gay men,
gay parent,
gay sons,
genetic studies,
genetic transmission,
homosexuality,
michael bailey,
northwestern university,
overwhelming majority,
prenatal influences,
sexual development,
sexual orientation,
supporting evidence
