Abstract
A sample of 11 male gender-dysphoric patients meeting DSM-III criteria for transsexualism was seen over a 3-year period by a military psychiatrist. Eight patients had extensive military experience, including combat duty in some cases. At the time of evaluation three were on active duty, one was a Department of Defense employee, and four were veterans. Evidence is presented for a hypermasculine phase of development that coincides with the age of enlistment in nearly all cases. The psychodynamic underpinnings of the choice to enlist in transsexual males are discussed. Outcome of military service was premature discharge in over 60%. The military's management of genderdysphoric servicemen is described. Current military policies, in association with the proposed hypermasculine phase of transsexual development, may actually result in a higher prevalence of transsexualism in the military than in the civilian population.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, A. (1955).The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology translated by P. Rabin (original work published 1923). Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.
American Psychiatric Association. (1980).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed.), APA, Washington, DC.
Chodoff, P. (1982). Hysteria and women.Am. J. Psychiat. 139: 545–551.
Cowell, R. (1954).Roberta Cowell's Story William Heinermann Ltd., London.
Dank, B. (1971). Coming out in the gay world.Psychiatry 34: 180–197.
Doe v. Alexander (1981). 510 F. Supp 900, D. Minn.
Fenichel, O. (1945).The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis Norton, New York.
Gershman, H. (1968). The evolution of gender identity.Am. J. Psychoanal. 28: 80–90.
Glass, L. L. (1984). Man's man/ladies' man: motifs of hypermasculinity.Psychiatry 47: 260–278.
Goldwert, M. (1985). Mexican machismo: the flight from femininity.Psychoanal. Rev. 72: 161–169.
Harry, J. (1984). Homosexual men and women who served their country.J. Homosex. 10: 117–125.
Harry, J., and DeVall, W. (1978).The Social Organization of Gay Males Praeger, New York.
Jones, F. D., Deeken, M. G., and Eshelman, S. D. (1984). Sexual reassignment surgery and the military: Case reports.Milit. Med. 149: 271–275.
Jorgensen, C. (1967).A Personal Autobiography Paul S. Erikson, New York.
Levine, E. M., Shaiova, C. H., and Mihailovic, M. (1975). Male to female: The role transformation of transsexuals.Arch. Sex. Behav. 4: 173–185.
Levine, S. B., and Lothstein, L. M. (1981). Transsexualism or the gender dysphoria syndromes.J. Sex. Marit. Ther. 7: 85–113.
Meyer, J. K. (1974). Clinical variants among applicants for sex reassignment.Arch. Sex. Behav. 3: 527–558.
Money, J. (1980).Love and Love Sickness Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Morris, J. (1974).Conundrum Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York.
Mosher, D. L., and Sirkin, M. (1984). Measuring a macho personality constellation,J. Res. Pers. 18: 150–163.
OpJAGAF 1982/24 (1984).Med. Services Dig. 35: 2.
Ovesey, L. (1969).Homosexuality and Pseudohomosexuality Science House, New York.
Richards, R. (1983).The Renee Richards Story: Second Serve Stein and Day, New York.
Roberto, L. G. (1983). Issues in diagnosis and treatment of transsexualism.Arch. Sex. Behav. 12: 445–473.
Steiner, B. W., Satterberg, J. A., and Muir, C. F. (1978). Flight into femininity: the male menopause?Can. Psychiat. Assoc. J. 23: 405–410.
Stoller, R. J. (1974). Symbiosis anxiety and the development of masculinity.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 30: 164–172.
Stoller, R. J. (1975).Perversion: The Erotic Form of Hatred Pantheon, New York.
Stoller, R. J., and Herdt, G. H. (1982). The development of masculinity: A cross-cultural contribution.J. Am. Psychoanal. Assoc. 30: 29–61.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brown, G.R. Transsexuals in the military: Flight into hypermasculinity. Arch Sex Behav 17, 527–537 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542340
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542340