Research Papers

[Guest EmilyA]

I am doing a couple research papers for school. One for psychology and one for english. I am doing mine on GID for psych and gender expression for english. If anyone knows of any good sources for information please let me know. I need five psych journal sources for the GID paper. Other than that it's open. I would prefer to have more books, journals, and documentary sources than web pages though. Thanks in advance!

[Guest perlitarose]

Hi, EmilyA,

Here goes three, will send the other two in a different post. Good luck!!

The biology of human psychosexual differentiation

Hormones and Behavior, Volume 50, Issue 4, November 2006, Pages 589-601

Louis Gooren

Abstract

Most attempts to identify biological underpinnings of gender identity and sexual orientation in humans have investigated effects of sex steroids, so pivotal in the differentiation of the genitalia, showing strong parallels between animals and the human. The information on humans is derived from the so-called ‘experiments of nature’, clinical entities with a lesser-than-normal androgen exposure in XY subjects and a higher than normal androgen exposure in XX subjects. Prenatal androgenization appears to predispose to a male gender identity development, but apparently not decisively since 40–50% of 46,XY intersexed children with a history of prenatal androgen exposure do not develop a male gender identity. Obviously, male-to-female transsexuals, with a normal androgen exposure prenatally (there is no serious evidence to the contrary) develop a female gender identity, through unknown biological mechanisms apparently overriding the effects of prenatal androgens. The latest studies in 46, XX subjects exposed to prenatal androgens show that prenatal androgenization of 46,XX fetuses leads to marked masculinization of later gender-related behavior but does not lead to gender confusion/dysphoria. The example of female-to-male transsexuals, without evidence of prenatal androgen exposure, indicates that a male gender identity can develop without a significant androgen stimulus. So we are far away from any comprehensive understanding of hormonal imprinting on gender identity formation. Brain studies in homosexuals have not held up in replication studies or are in need of replication in transsexuals.

Genetic studies and the fraternal birth order hypothesis provide indications of familial clustering of homosexuality but in many homosexuals these genetic patterns cannot be identified. The biological explanations advanced for the birth order hypothesis lack any experimental support.

The endocrinology of transsexualism: A review and commentary

Psychoneuroendocrinology, Volume 15, Issue 1, 1990, Pages 3-14

Louis Gooren

Abstract

Testicular hormones play a decisive role in the sexual differentiation of the genitalia. There is now also an impressive body of knowledge, gathered predominantly from laboratory animals, of the influence of gonadal steroid hormones on the prenatal/perinatal sexual differentiation of the brain. The well-documented mechanisms in animals have been extrapolated, sometimes dogmatically, to the development of sexual orientation and gender identity/role in humans. In principle, it is doubtful that an animal model of human gender identity can be found. Studies in humans have shown that levels of circulating sex steroids and estrogen feedback on luteinizing hormone do not differ between transsexuals and controls.

The only reliable sources of information on hormonal influences on human gender identity formation are clinical syndromes in which the hormonal environment of the fetus has been atypical. Follow-up studies of such patients have provided evidence for possible effects of prenatal sex steroids on brain lateralization, sexual orientation and gender role stereotypes. However, a straightforward hormonal effect on gender identity (self-identification as male or female) has been difficult to ascertain up to the present time.

Regional gray matter variation in male-to-female transsexualism

Eileen Ludersa, Francisco J. Sánchezb, Christian Gaserc, Arthur W. Togaa, , , Katherine L. Narra, Liberty S. Hamiltona and Eric Vilainb

a Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, 635 Charles Young Drive South, Suite 225, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7334, USA

bCenter for Gender-Based Biology, Department of Human Genetics, UCLA School of Medicine, Gonda 5524, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

cDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07740 Jena, Germany

Received 7 November 2008; revised 13 March 2009; accepted 19 March 2009. Available online 31 March 2009.

Abstract

Gender identity—one's sense of being a man or a woman—is a fundamental perception experienced by all individuals that extends beyond biological sex. Yet, what contributes to our sense of gender remains uncertain. Since individuals who identify as transsexual report strong feelings of being the opposite sex and a belief that their sexual characteristics do not reflect their true gender, they constitute an invaluable model to understand the biological underpinnings of gender identity. We analyzed MRI data of 24 male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals not yet treated with cross-sex hormones in order to determine whether gray matter volumes in MTF transsexuals more closely resemble people who share their biological sex (30 control men), or people who share their gender identity (30 control women). Results revealed that regional gray matter variation in MTF transsexuals is more similar to the pattern found in men than in women. However, MTF transsexuals show a significantly larger volume of regional gray matter in the right putamen compared to men. These findings provide new evidence that transsexualism is associated with distinct cerebral pattern, which supports the assumption that brain anatomy plays a role in gender identity.

[Guest EmilyA]

Oh wow! Thanks a mil! This should be extremely useful in my paper. I was also planning on using the DSM 3,4, and the proposed 5th to show the changes made in diagnostic criteria and the overall change in the condition itself so far in order to show that it's becoming less psychological and more medical with psychological needs.

[Guest Michele H]

here are a couple more

"Patient-Reported Complications and Functional Outcomes of Male to Female Sex Reasignment Surgery" by Anne A. Larence, Arch Sex Behav (2006) 35-717-727. I tend to shy away from her research but this one is OK

"Endocrine intervention for transseuals", Levy, Crown & Reid, Clinical Endocrinology (2003) 59 409-418