Is it genetic?

[Wendae]

The never ending question...why? Why am I this way?
I found out years ago that an uncle on my father's side was a crossdresser and always suspected my aunt on my mother's side was a lesbian. This makes me wonder if it could be genetic. This would be hard to prove I think because in most families crossdressing would not be a topic for around the dinner table, except for the crazy uncle or aunt that lives in the upstairs back room, and a closely guarded secret.
Does anyone know of any studies done along the lines of inherited crossdressing traits?
I really don't spend much time wondering any more and accept it as part of my person but the thought crossed my mind so I thought I'd ask. Re-incarnation works pretty well for me.

[JoAnnDallas]

See my new posting under "Transgender Issues"

[Merinda]

As a fetus I was a victim of having my developing brain blasted with estrogen when my mother had many injections to avoid miscarriage.

I have no doubt this is why "I am what I am".

[Carolynn]

My mother was given a progestin called DES which was routinely used to prevent miscarriages from 1938 into the 1970's (I think 1973). Intersex and some TS activists charge that DES bears some responsibility for them being as they are, though the evidence for the kind of mutations they claim is very uncertain. Ironically, DES was proven in the late 1960's/early 1970's to have no effect on miscarriages and it was dropped from the physician's arsenal. Another thing that supposedly contributed to the withdrawal of DES as an anti-miscarriage potion was that there were some birth defects associated with the use of DES, but activists charge the pharmaceutical industry has tried to keep that very quiet due to risk of class action suits by LOTS of people. The latter may be activist paranoia, but you can look it up on the web.

[Robyn Katie]

Hi Wendae,

Not sure whether the CD trait really can be passed down genetically, but it certainly is a live option. Transgender studies are in their infancy, and in a few years I suspect we'll know a great deal more.

I do know I was never stable in my gender.

And I have suspected (because of some dresses hung on a rack in the attic that I never saw my mother wear) that my father may have cross-dressed. I do know he shaved his armpits, something men simply didn't do in the 1940s-50s when I grew up.

So in my life, at least, the hand-me-down genes could be there.

But experiential factors could have done it, too. Trying on mom's lingerie is something many kids do. But when I did it, I was overwhelmed by the lovely feelings, which made me a CDer for life. I rebelled against it from time to time ... purged ... but the need and desire was far stronger than any contrary impulse.

So for me it's a toss-up. If you or any of us do come up with studies about genetic vs. conditioned influence, I'd be very interested to hear about them!

Love, Robyn Katie