Robert Stoller’s Sex and Gender: 40 Years On

Abstract

By its title, Sex and Gender announced a conceptual breakthrough in distinguishing basic elements of human experience. In Robert Stoller's first book, patients illustrating this divergence were lucidly presented. Transvestites and the newly publicized transsexuals were two examples. Clinical and dynamic distinctions between the two formed a basis for Stoller's criteria for patient selection for "sex change." They remain current. The complex identity of the intersexed was described with sensitivity and insight. It, too, remains timely. An innovative description of the genesis of boyhood transsexualism was presented in considerable detail. This finding is less commonly reported today but is also not looked for. Stoller was sympathetic to the request for sex change. He credited a biological contribution to the development of masculinity and femininity. Both stances were remarkable for a psychoanalyst. Robert Stoller introduced the term "gender identity." It is now our vocabulary when we articulate this bedrock of personhood.

Exhibition of Traditional Gender Roles through Symbolic and Semiotic use of Language in Alice Munro’s ‘Royal Beatings’

“…The expectations of society from men and women compel them to perform their traditional gender roles. Green (2010) reports that the term 'Gender Roles' or more appropriately 'Gender Identity' was introduced by Robert Stoller and according to Tyson (2004), the traditional gender roles cast men as protective, rational, decisive and strong, they cast women as weak, emotional (irrational), submissive and nurturing. These roles are also socially defined which is in fact 'Doing Gender' about which West and Zimmerman (1987) argued that gender is something that we 'perform' and not something we are and they founded a new paradigm of 'doing gender'.…”

Türki̇ye’deki̇ Sosyal Hi̇zmet Uzmanlarinin Toplumsal Ci̇nsi̇yet Algisinin Beli̇rlenmesi̇

“…Toplumsal cinsiyet kavramının ilk olarak ne zaman, nerede ve/veya kim tarafından kullanıldığına yönelik farklı iddialar bulunmaktadır. Ancak yaygın kabule göre toplumsal cinsiyet kavramı ilk olarak Robert Stoller tarafından 1968 yılında yayınlanan "Sex and Gender" adlı kitapta kullanılmıştır (Young-Bruehl, 1996;Green, 2010; Görgün Baran, 2012;Avşar, 2017). Sonraki süreçte toplumsal cinsiyet kavramının kadın-erkek arasındaki eşitsizliğin, özel-kamusal alan arasındaki farklılığın, cinsiyet-iktidar arasındaki adaletsizliğin ve bunların da ötesinde kadınlara yönelik her türlü hak taleplerinin merkezinde yer alan bir kavrama dönüştüğü görülmektedir.…”

Social stigma, legal and public health barriers faced by the third gender phenomena in Brazil, India and Mexico: Travestis, hijras and muxes

“…They wish to live their ‘transvestility’ in social and professional contexts; being neither male nor female, just travesti (Peres, 2012). Most of them do not seek sex reassignment surgery (SRS) (Green, 2010) (although they may seek hormone therapy in pursuit of a more feminine phenotype) to avoid sexual dysfunction (i.e. erectile dysfunction) as they are sexually active and satisfied with their genitals (Lionço, 2008).…”