Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2: Sexual InversionEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2: Sexual Inversion
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
HISTORY XVII.--Age 25; is employed in an ordinary workshop, and
lives in the back alley of a large town in which he was born and
bred. Fair, slight, and refined in appearance. The sexual organs
are normal and well developed, and the sexual passions strong.
His mother is a big masculine woman, and he is much attached to
her. Father is slight and weakly. He has seven brothers and one
sister. Homosexual desires began at an early age, though he does
not seem to have come under any perverse influences. He is not
inclined to masturbation. Erotic dreams are always of males. He
declares he never cared for any woman except his mother, and that
he could not endure to sleep with a woman.
He says he generally falls in love with a man at first sight--as
a rule, some one older than himself and of higher class--and
longs to sleep and be with him. In one case he fell in love with
a man twice his own age, and would not rest until he had won his
affection. He does not much care what form the sexual relation
takes. He is sensitive and feminine by nature, gentle, and
affectionate. He is neat and orderly in his habits, and fond of
housework; helps his mother in washing, etc. He appears to think
that male attachments are perfectly natural.
HISTORY XVIII.--Englishman, born in Paris; aged 26; an actor. He
belongs to an old English family; his father, so far as he is
aware, had no homosexual inclinations, nor had any of his
ancestors on the paternal side; but he believes that his
mother's family, and especially a maternal uncle who had a strong
feeling for beauty of form, were more akin to him in this
respect.
His earliest recollections show an attraction for males. At
children's parties he incurred his father's anger by kissing
other small boys, and his feelings grew in intensity with years.
He has never practised self-abuse, and seldom had erotic dreams;
when they do occur they are about males.
His physical feeling for women is one of absolute indifference.
He admires beautiful women in the same way as one admires
beautiful scenery. At the same time he likes to talk with clever
women, and has formed many friendships with frank, pure, and
cultivated English girls, for whom he has the utmost admiration
and respect. Marriage is impossible, because physical pleasure
with women is impossible; he has tried, but cannot obtain, the
slightest sexual feeling or excitement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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