Seems like we homos (and, um...homettes) really dropped the ball on this topic. For someone who reads a lot of science and sociology books, I've read surprisingly little on sexuality. (Does Wads: True Homosexual Experiences Vol. 6 count?)

I've been meaning to pick up A Separate Creation: The Search for the Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation.

If you want to observe, come hang out with my 3 year old daughter. I've been incredibly careful not to do the doll or "femine" thing with her. Multiple ball games, football, basketball (m and w), and baseball.... lots of neutral toys(in fact, lots of "boy" sticker books which she loves), puzzles, and plenty of gender neutral play... and damn... does she want to play with dolls and is all about clothes and shoes (no idea where that came from because neither of us have been shoe-aholics) despite me or wifey's modeling non-typical gender roles... for damns sake, I'm a stay at home dad and she does what I want to do. I've worked hard to not have a biased "typical gender" situation for my daughter, but she is all about the stereotypical girl, and this is with minimal TV. Fucking Disney Princesses, and all that jazz. At this point, whatever makes her happy. She's a girly girl. And it came without outside interference, TV, or anything else.

I've never been so sure that roles are hardwired in our brains than I am now. Still think nurture vs nature makes up most of who we are, but by my experience, we're well on our way before our surroundings enforce what direction we're heading.

schaden - thanks for the vignette... i actually ended up buying "The Gender Riddle" for my flight to Indianapolis (and I DID try at the library, but all of these books were checked out), and the author relates a very similar story at the beginning about her own children. It's turned out to be a really good choice, and she makes a pretty good case that biology strongly influences gender (both normative and non-), and lays out a social history of perspectives on transgendered peeps.

Keep an eye out for identical twin studies. That shit is almost always fascinating.

i have read a few beebo brinker books.

similar to schad, my ex and i encouraged our daughter (first born) to play with building toys, balls, etc and she would have very little to do with any of it. she played with barbie and worked on her crafts.

my son would have very little to do with dolls with the exception of a beanie baby collection. he was rough, loud and basically into playing with sticks and rocks.

they were raised by two lesbians. go figure.

Laura, you make a lovely woman and that's what matters.

How do you know--have your seen any of the women she's made?

This is a dangerous question............Is there such a thing (?) I have been studying this for quite a while at school...........and balance does not seem to exist in this realm.


(posted by Blotter's Girlfriend!)

If you're looking for a book rooted in essentialism in its purest form--GO FOR IT.........but I thought the question was about gender..........sex and gender are two distinct entities.

....

....Seriously....neat.

Vincent, your post count is 69.

ELL OH ELL!