When the twins were 2, Patrick found his mother's shoes. He liked wearing them. Thomas tried on his father's once but didn't see the point.As the article points out, we're still not sure how identical twins born in nearly identical environments can turn out so different in mindset, but we can certainly dispense with the notion that gender identity and sexual orientation are a matter of "choice."
When they were 3, Thomas blurted out that toy guns were his favorite things. Patrick piped up that his were the Barbie dolls he discovered at day care.
When the twins were 5, Thomas announced he was going to be a monster for Halloween. Patrick said he was going to be a princess. Thomas said he couldn't do that, because other kids would laugh at him. Patrick seemed puzzled. "Then I'll be Batman," he said.
Aug 14, 2005
not-so-identical twins
Jon Rowe points us to this "outstanding and very long" update on the scientific search for the roots of sexual orientation. I have never read a more balanced, comprehensive newspaper treatment of the subject. After recently watching Ma Vie En Rose (which I highly recommend), the description of Patrick, a real-life Ludovic, is especially interesting.
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3 comments:
While controversial in some chapters, Joan Roughgarden's "Evolution's Rainbow" has an excellent chapter on the science of development of sexual orientation.
Thanks for the recommendation. Ah, the public library. Worth every tax dollar.
Thanks for the heads up on the excellent article.
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