The Intermediate Sex: A Study of Some Transitional Types of Men and WomenCarpenter, Edward
General
The Intermediate Sex: A Study of Some Transitional Types of Men and Women
Carpenter, Edward
Homosexuality; Sex
In the first place, then, the extreme specimens--as in most cases
of extremes--are not particularly attractive, sometimes quite the
reverse. In the male of this kind we have a distinctly effeminate type,
sentimental, lackadaisical, mincing in gait and manners, something of a
chatterbox, skilful at the needle and in woman’s work, sometimes taking
pleasure in dressing in woman’s clothes; his figure not unfrequently
betraying a tendency towards the feminine, large at the hips, supple,
not muscular, the face wanting in hair, the voice inclining to be
high-pitched, etc.; while his dwelling-room is orderly in the extreme,
even natty, and choice of decoration and perfume. His affection, too, is
often feminine in character, clinging, dependent and jealous, as of one
desiring to be loved almost more than to love.[10]
On the other hand, as the extreme type of the homogenic female, we have a
rather markedly aggressive person, of strong passions, masculine manners
and movements, practical in the conduct of life, sensuous rather than
sentimental in love, often untidy, and _outré_ in attire;[11] her figure
muscular, her voice rather low in pitch; her dwelling-room decorated
with sporting-scenes, pistols, etc., and not without a suspicion of the
fragrant weed in the atmosphere; while her love (generally to rather soft
and feminine specimens of her own sex) is often a sort of furor, similar
to the ordinary masculine love, and at times almost uncontrollable.
These are types which, on account of their salience, everyone will
recognise more or less. Naturally, when they occur they excite a good
deal of attention, and it is not an uncommon impression that most persons
of the homogenic nature belong to either one or other of these classes.
But in reality, of course, these extreme developments are rare, and for
the most part the temperament in question is embodied in men and women
of quite normal and unsensational exterior. Speaking of this subject
and the connection between effeminateness and the homogenic nature in
men, Dr. Moll says: “It is, however, as well to point out at the outset
that effeminacy does not by any means show itself in all Urnings. Though
one may find this or that indication in a great number of cases, yet
it cannot be denied that a very large percentage, perhaps by far the
majority of them, do _not_ exhibit pronounced Effeminacy.” And it may be
supposed that we may draw the same conclusion with regard to women of
this class--namely, that the majority of them do not exhibit pronounced
masculine habits. In fact, while these extreme cases are of the greatest
value from a scientific point of view as marking tendencies and limits of
development in certain directions, it would be a serious mistake to look
upon them as representative cases of the whole phases of human evolution
concerned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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