Sex-Typed Body Movements as a Function of Severity of Gender Disturbance in Boys

Abstract

Specific sex-typed body movements and gestures were recorded in a group of 23 gender-disturbed boys, aged 7 to 17 years, using three standardized procedures- behavioral observation of nine expressive gestures during a 10-minute test period, ratings of sitting, standing and walking on the Barlow Gender-Specific Motor Behavior Form, and ratings of book-carrying behavior. The study found significantly higher frequencies of hand clasp, hyperextension, and limp wrist gestures in gender-disturbed boys as compared to a nonclinical control group. There were significant correlations between severity of gender disturbance and both the frequency of hyperextension gestures and the percentage of feminine motor behaviors recorded on the Barlow Gender-Specific Motor Behavior Form. However, sex-typed carrying behavior did not discriminate between normal and gender-disturbed boys.