A retrospective study of childhood gender-atypical behavior in Samoan fa'afafine.
Retrospective studies, mostly conducted in Western cultures, indicate that childhood cross-gender behaviors are strongly predictive of androphilia in adult men. To test the cross-cultural validity of these findings, we conducted a study of fa'afafine in Independent Samoa. Fa'afafine are a heterogeneous group of androphilic males, some of whom are unremarkably masculine, but most of whom behave in a feminine manner in adulthood. A total of 53 fa'afafine, 27 control men, and 24 control women participated. Participants were asked how often they engaged in female- and male-typical behaviors in childhood. Results demonstrated that fa'afafine and women recalled engaging in significantly more female-typical behaviors and significantly fewer male-typical behaviors in childhood compared to the men. Fa'afafine's recalled female-typical and male-typical behaviors did not differ significantly from those of women. These results suggest that the relationship in males between gender-atypical behavior in childhood and adult androphilia is not unique to Western societies and may be a cross-culturally universal pattern of psychosexual development shared by most males who are predominantly androphilic.
Bartlett
Nancy H
NH
Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Hwy, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3M 2J6, Canada. nancy.bartlett@msvu.ca
Vasey
Paul L
PL
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018947:Samoa; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012801:Sibling Relations; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology*