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{{one source|date=August 2012}}
⚫ #REDIRECT ]
The '''Sex Orientation Scale''' ('''SOS''') was ]'s attempt to classify and understand various forms and subtypes of ] and ] in biological males.<ref>Benjamin, H. (1966). ''The Transsexual Phenomenon.'' New York: The Julian Press, page 22.</ref> It was a seven-point scale (with three types of transvestism, three types of transsexualism, and one category for typical males); it was analogous to the Kinsey Scale as it relates to sexual orientation, which also had seven categories. He created this scale in 1966.<ref>Benjamin, H. (1966). ''The transsexual phenomenon.'' New York: The Julian Press, page 22.</ref> Much like Kinsey's understanding of sexual orientation, Dr. Benjamin understood the nature of gender identity and gender expression not as a discrete scale, but as a spectrum, a continuum with many variations. The Benjamin scale provides a rational and clinically useful way to understand different forms of transsexualism and to distinguish between how people commonly identify in relation to readyness for surgical and/or hormonal treatment changes.

==Gender Disorientation Scale==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Group !! Type !! Name !! Kinsey scale !! Conversion operation?
|-
|1 || I || Pseudo TV || 0-6 || Not considered in reality.
|-
| 1 || II || Fetishistic TV || 0-2 || Rejected.
|-
| 1 || III || True TV || 0-2 || Actually rejected, but idea can be attractive
|-
| 2 || IV || TS, Nonsurgical || 1-4 || Attractive but not requested or attraction not admitted.
|-
| 3 || V || TS, Moderate intensity || 4-6 || Requested. Usually indicated.
|-
| 3 || VI || TS, High intensity || 6 || Urgently requested and usually attained. Indicated.
|-
|}

Benjamin noted, "It must be emphasized again that the remaining six types are not and never can be sharply separated."<ref name="benjamin">Benjamin, H. (1966). ''The transsexual phenomenon.'' New York: Julian Press, page 23.</ref>
Benjamin added a caveat: "It has been the intention here to point out the possibility of several conceptions and classifications of the transvestitic and the transsexual phenomenon. Future studies and observations may decide which one is likely to come closest to the truth and in this way a possible understanding of the etiology may be gained." <ref>Benjamin, H. (1966). ''The transsexual phenomenon.'' New York: Julian Press, page 24.</ref>

Benjamin's Scale references and uses Dr. Alfred Kinsey's sexual orientation scale to distinguish between "true transsexualism" and "transvestism". But the strict relationship between gender identity (Benjamin's Scale) and sexual orientation (Kinsey's Scale) was just a result of the researcher's biases, not his scientific findings.

== Modern views ==
Conteporary views on gender identity and classification differ markedly from Harry Benjamin's original opinions. First, sexual orientation is no longer regarded a criterion for diagnosis, or for distinction between transsexuality, transvestism and other forms of gender variant behavior and expression. Modern views also exclude fetishistic transvestism from th spectrum of transsexual identity/classification, this type of transvestism is not related to gender expression or identity but is a distinctly sexual phenomenon most commonly practised by people who are neither transsexual nor homosexual.

== See also ==
⚫ * ]
* ]
* ]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*
* {{Dead link|date=August 2012}}

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Revision as of 21:59, 5 September 2012

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The Sex Orientation Scale (SOS) was Harry Benjamin's attempt to classify and understand various forms and subtypes of transvestism and transsexualism in biological males. It was a seven-point scale (with three types of transvestism, three types of transsexualism, and one category for typical males); it was analogous to the Kinsey Scale as it relates to sexual orientation, which also had seven categories. He created this scale in 1966. Much like Kinsey's understanding of sexual orientation, Dr. Benjamin understood the nature of gender identity and gender expression not as a discrete scale, but as a spectrum, a continuum with many variations. The Benjamin scale provides a rational and clinically useful way to understand different forms of transsexualism and to distinguish between how people commonly identify in relation to readyness for surgical and/or hormonal treatment changes.

Gender Disorientation Scale

Group Type Name Kinsey scale Conversion operation?
1 I Pseudo TV 0-6 Not considered in reality.
1 II Fetishistic TV 0-2 Rejected.
1 III True TV 0-2 Actually rejected, but idea can be attractive
2 IV TS, Nonsurgical 1-4 Attractive but not requested or attraction not admitted.
3 V TS, Moderate intensity 4-6 Requested. Usually indicated.
3 VI TS, High intensity 6 Urgently requested and usually attained. Indicated.

Benjamin noted, "It must be emphasized again that the remaining six types are not and never can be sharply separated." Benjamin added a caveat: "It has been the intention here to point out the possibility of several conceptions and classifications of the transvestitic and the transsexual phenomenon. Future studies and observations may decide which one is likely to come closest to the truth and in this way a possible understanding of the etiology may be gained."

Benjamin's Scale references and uses Dr. Alfred Kinsey's sexual orientation scale to distinguish between "true transsexualism" and "transvestism". But the strict relationship between gender identity (Benjamin's Scale) and sexual orientation (Kinsey's Scale) was just a result of the researcher's biases, not his scientific findings.

Modern views

Conteporary views on gender identity and classification differ markedly from Harry Benjamin's original opinions. First, sexual orientation is no longer regarded a criterion for diagnosis, or for distinction between transsexuality, transvestism and other forms of gender variant behavior and expression. Modern views also exclude fetishistic transvestism from th spectrum of transsexual identity/classification, this type of transvestism is not related to gender expression or identity but is a distinctly sexual phenomenon most commonly practised by people who are neither transsexual nor homosexual.

See also

References

  1. Benjamin, H. (1966). The Transsexual Phenomenon. New York: The Julian Press, page 22.
  2. Benjamin, H. (1966). The transsexual phenomenon. New York: The Julian Press, page 22.
  3. Benjamin, H. (1966). The transsexual phenomenon. New York: Julian Press, page 23.
  4. Benjamin, H. (1966). The transsexual phenomenon. New York: Julian Press, page 24.

External links

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