Journal of Homosexuality · 1977 · 245 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesGender StudiesSocial PsychologyGenderLgbtq StudiesMasculinity StudiesGender IdentityGender Identity DevelopmentLgbtq PsychologySexual Identity FormationSexual OrientationSex-role TheorySexual Orientation Identity Development
Social sex‑role encompasses an individual’s femininity and masculinity, while sexual orientation refers to their physical and affective preferences for same‑ or opposite‑sex partners. The paper investigates the four components of sexual identity—biological sex, gender identity, social sex‑role, and sexual orientation—and aims to clarify the terminology used in research on these constructs. The authors discuss theories on how each component develops and interacts, forming and sometimes conflicting within an individual’s sexual identity.
This paper examines the four components of sexual identity: biological sex, gender identity, social sex-role, and sexual orientation. Theories about the development of each component and how they combine and conflict to form the individual's sexual identity are discussed. As defined here, social sex-role includes the individual's femininity and masculinity. Sexual orientation includes the individual's physical and affectional sexual preferences for relationships with members of the same and/or opposite biological sex. This paper may help to clarify meanings of the following terms used in research on sexual identity; sex, gender, femininity, masculinity, heterosexuality, and homosexuality.