Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:683-687
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
Treatment for the parents of feminine boys
LE Newman
Because extreme boyhood femininity is often a precursor of adult
transsexualism, transvestism, and homosexuality, the author recommends
early intervention for boys who meet specific behavioral criteria of gender
disturbance. It is necessary to involve the parents in such treatment and
to deal with the resistances they may have to recognizing and working on
the problem as well as problems within the marital relationship that may
affect the child's behavior. These boys are remarkably responsive to
treatment given between the ages of 5 and 12, becoming more masculine in
behavior and more comfortable with their identity as males.
