Gender Diagnosticity for the Homosexual Community

I think a standardized and universal GD should be what we're striving for, but what SunnyZHENG and I were considering for future research was looking at smaller populations, such as the homosexual community, or even narrower, a subset of that community (Eg. gay men).

I'd like to hear other people's input on how examining homosexual populations would be different from heterosexual populations. Because if there's no difference, then it doesn't really open up possibilities for future research, but if there is, then it does!

I haven't added this information to the page yet, as I'd like to hear everyone else's input. Hopefully we'll get more responses by Tuesday!

Ok reading over your summary of the study done by Lippa (2002)I completely agree that GD scores should be included in a future research of this type, because GD scores are different within the same genders and they are represented differently within the same sexual orientations. I would say for future research instead of seperating out a small subtype that there is a mixture as you previously mentioned of (transgender, homosexual and heterosexual orientations) that way we can compare the trends between genders and then compare trends based on GD. Does this make sense? I could find another reference supporting the importance of including GD scores?

Also are we going to include in this page just how GD scores can be predictors of other aspects in life outcomes (ie. bullying)or are we focusing on how GD scores of homosexuals could change the results in occupation, activites, life outcomes, etc.

Could you clarify your point on comparing trends between genders and comparing trends based on GD?

The reason we were discussing examining the homosexual community separately was because GD may prove to be better indicators of mental health for homosexual individuals; gay men especially (as mentioned below). If we were to consolidate all sexual orientations, do you think key insights would be buried since both homosexual groups in the Heterosexual/Homosexual Gender Traits study averaged out?

I think it is worth reiterating the importance of GD as predictors of other aspects of life outcomes. I know it's mentioned in the studies, but I'm not entirely sure where else it is explicitly stated that GD can predict certain life outcomes, such as bullying and mental health. Anybody know?

Hi Schuolee,

good work! You've organized the topic and developed further. Yes we can narrow the sample size, not only in homosexual community, but specify different roles in both gay and lesbian. That is, separate participants into four groups: butches (masculine lesbians), flamers (gay men who are more femme), femme(feminine lesbian) and masculine gay men. [I don't know whether these slangs are right or I write them in a polite way, I just Google..If so, I apologize...] For example, participants are the equal sample size of Lesbians and gays. Researchers can test the masculine extent both in butches (masculine lesbians) and flamers (gay men who are more femme), to identity whether the butch is more masculine than the flamer or not. Thus, researchers can both test same-sex homosexual and opposite-sex homosexual, and then compared with the data of same-sex and opposite-sex heterosexualities.

Previous studies support the stereotypes that gay men are more feminine than heterosexual men, and lesbian women are more masculine than heterosexual women (Kite & Deaux, 1984). Thinking, for example, that gay men look more effeminate than straight men and lesbian women look more masculine than straight women.

Hey SunnyZHENG,

I wrote a possible entry to the Future Research article below. Narrowing the sample size and looking at specific subsets of the community is a great idea. I think a standardized GD (As mentioned by NicolaVanderliek) paired with narrow focus/small population is much more effective at uncovering any insights that may be "buried" through averages when using large populations/samples.