H E L P!! Are there any studies to indicate early signs of homosexuality???

Posted by Suzy M. on August 07, 1999 at 18:04:53
My sister's son is almost 5 yrs.old and since we all can remember, he's loved playing with dolls-especially Barbies and is very feminine. He loves dressing and pretending he's a girl, skipping and dancing like most girls his age would play. His heros are all girls. He NEVER plays in a boy character and has told his mother he is sad he's a boy.
My sister has never encourages his play with dolls and such but there are times when other kids and PARENTS make comments. How can she protect her son..how can we as family help??
Do we DIScourage his play with girl toys. He's an extremly bright little boy and senses the disatisfaction when people make comments. Are there studies to detect early signs of being gay?
H E L P!!

Posted by HVMA Ph.D. - KDK on August 09, 1999 at 08:33:44
Dear Suzy,
The play of a five-year-old is not sexual in nature and does not represent anything relative to his ultimate sexual orientation. It's important not to panic or become alarmed by this, because the anxiety will only be transmitted to your nephew and contribute to making him uncomfortable.
Many five-year-olds behave as you describe - i.e., boys preferring dolls and toys more commonly associated with girls, and girls who prefer play and toys that, traditionally, have been associated with boys. Of course, thinking has changed about these stereotyped sex roles as the years have progressed.
It's not the play per se that I would be worried about. Of more concern is your nephew's apparent overt statements that he is unhappy about who he is. Such unhappiness is not typical of a five-year-old, and might warrant an evaluation by a child mental health professional. The comments themselves, like many comments fron a five-year-old, cannot always be taken at face value. Nonetheless, they should not be overlooked, either. If your nephew is unhappy about being a boy, it would be wise to investigate why this appears to be so. Again, I am not referring to the sexual aspects of being a boy or a girl or to his eventual sexual orientation. It is your nephew's possibel unhappiness, not the nature of his play per se, that deserves attention.
This information is provided for purposes of general education. Always address particular questions about your child's health to your pediatrician or health care providers.
*Keyword: Gender, Play,