Behzad S Khorashad1, Zahra Aghili2, Baudewijntje P C Kreukels3, Mehran Hiradfar4, Ghasem M Roshan1, Mozhgan Afkhamizadeh5, Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan6, Nosrat Ghaemi7, Behnaz Khazai8, P T Cohen-Kettenis3. 1. Evolution and Human Behavior Group, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 2. Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 3. Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 5. Endocrine Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 6. Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 7. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 8. Evolution and Human Behavior Group, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: behnazkhazai@icloud.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Few studies exist on the psychosexual outcome of homogeneous groups of individuals with 5α-reductase deficiency type 2 (5α-RD-2) and the relation between gender changes and parental hostile and benevolent sexism, which are two components of ambivalent sexism that assume a stereotypical approach toward women in an overtly negative way or a chivalrous, seemingly positive way. AIM: To report on the psychosexual outcome of individuals with 5α-RD-2 and to investigate its relation to the level of parental sexism in a relatively large sample of Iranians with 5α-RD-2. METHODS: Twenty participants (mean age = 19.5 years, SD = 6.345) with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of 5α-RD-2 who were assigned the female gender at birth and raised as female were included in the study. Participants and their parents were interviewed and their medical records were assessed. Parents also completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), which includes hostile and benevolent sexism subscales. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychosexual outcome and parental hostile and benevolent sexism measurements. RESULTS: Twelve of 20 participants (60%) were diagnosed with gender identity disorder not otherwise specified (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision). Ten of these transitioned to the male gender. The other 10 participants (50%), including the two diagnosed with gender identity disorder not otherwise specified, continued living in a female gender role. When comparing the ASI subscale scores between families of participants who changed their gender and those who did not, no significant difference was found for ASI total and hostile sexism scores, but there was a difference for benevolent sexism (P = .049): those whose daughters had changed their gender had higher benevolent sexism scores. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of gender change and gender dysphoria reported in the literature was confirmed in this relatively large and homogeneous sample of Iranians with 5-α-RD-2 raised as female. Prenatal exposure to testosterone is hypothesized to play a role in the development of gender identity and sexual orientation, but parental attitudes also might be important. Although gender change in individuals with 5-α-RD-2 is often attributed to high levels of hostile sexism in some cultures, our findings show this to be associated with benevolent sexism.
INTRODUCTION: Few studies exist on the psychosexual outcome of homogeneous groups of individuals with 5α-reductase deficiency type 2 (5α-RD-2) and the relation between gender changes and parental hostile and benevolent sexism, which are two components of ambivalent sexism that assume a stereotypical approach toward women in an overtly negative way or a chivalrous, seemingly positive way. AIM: To report on the psychosexual outcome of individuals with 5α-RD-2 and to investigate its relation to the level of parental sexism in a relatively large sample of Iranians with 5α-RD-2. METHODS: Twenty participants (mean age = 19.5 years, SD = 6.345) with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of 5α-RD-2 who were assigned the female gender at birth and raised as female were included in the study. Participants and their parents were interviewed and their medical records were assessed. Parents also completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), which includes hostile and benevolent sexism subscales. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychosexual outcome and parental hostile and benevolent sexism measurements. RESULTS: Twelve of 20 participants (60%) were diagnosed with gender identity disorder not otherwise specified (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision). Ten of these transitioned to the male gender. The other 10 participants (50%), including the two diagnosed with gender identity disorder not otherwise specified, continued living in a female gender role. When comparing the ASI subscale scores between families of participants who changed their gender and those who did not, no significant difference was found for ASI total and hostile sexism scores, but there was a difference for benevolent sexism (P = .049): those whose daughters had changed their gender had higher benevolent sexism scores. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of gender change and gender dysphoria reported in the literature was confirmed in this relatively large and homogeneous sample of Iranians with 5-α-RD-2 raised as female. Prenatal exposure to testosterone is hypothesized to play a role in the development of gender identity and sexual orientation, but parental attitudes also might be important. Although gender change in individuals with 5-α-RD-2 is often attributed to high levels of hostile sexism in some cultures, our findings show this to be associated with benevolent sexism.