A Natural History of Homosexuality
Francis Mark Mondimore(Author)
Johns Hopkins University Press
Published on 25. December 1996
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-0-8018-5349-4 (ISBN)
Description
Drawing on recent insights in biology and genetics, psychiatrist Francis Mondimore set out to explore the complex landscape of sexual orientation. This work synthesizes research in biology, history, psychology, and politics to explain how homosexuality has been understood and defined from ancient times until the present. The author narrates tales of love and courage as well as discrimination and bigotry in settings as diverse as ancient Greece and Victorian England, early America and fin-de-siecle Vienna. He also tells stories of societies which accepted, incorporated or institutionalized homosexuality into mainstream culture, stories illustrating that same-sex eroticism was often accepted as a normal aspect of human sexuality. In 20th-century America, researchers first recognized that homosexuality might not be "pathological" when Alfred Kingsley and Evelyn Hooker conducted the first studies of sexuality not based on preconceived notions of normal sexual behaviour.
After reviewing sexual developments in the human foetus, the author reviews current biological research into the nature of sexual orientation and examines recent scientific findings on the role of heredity and hormones, as well as Simon Levay's 1991 brain studies. He explores "what happens between childhood and adulthood in an individual that makes him or her come to identify himself or herself as having a sexual orientation". He also explains our current understanding of bisexuality and the transgender phenomena of transexualism and transvestism. Finally, Mondimore analyzes the circumstances of such prominent scandals as the anti-homosexual trials of Oscar Wilde and Philip von Eulenberg, and recounts the Nazi persecution of homosexuals during the holcaust. this discussion includes a description of the ex-gay ministries and reparitive therapy as well as the Stonewall riots and AIDS, ending with the emergence of gay pride and community.
After reviewing sexual developments in the human foetus, the author reviews current biological research into the nature of sexual orientation and examines recent scientific findings on the role of heredity and hormones, as well as Simon Levay's 1991 brain studies. He explores "what happens between childhood and adulthood in an individual that makes him or her come to identify himself or herself as having a sexual orientation". He also explains our current understanding of bisexuality and the transgender phenomena of transexualism and transvestism. Finally, Mondimore analyzes the circumstances of such prominent scandals as the anti-homosexual trials of Oscar Wilde and Philip von Eulenberg, and recounts the Nazi persecution of homosexuals during the holcaust. this discussion includes a description of the ex-gay ministries and reparitive therapy as well as the Stonewall riots and AIDS, ending with the emergence of gay pride and community.
Reviews / Votes
An often well-researched and warmly presented book.A Natural History of Homosexuality-Journal of the American Medical Association Expressly meant for those not in the know on subjects like the historical persecution of gays, the psychology and biology of homosexuality, social issues like 'stigma management,' and even the thorny problems of transsexualism and transvestitism . . . A valuably balanced study written in clear language.
-Publishers Weekly Mondimore, a psychiatrist and author of Depression, the Mood Disease, adds this unique and thoughtful study of the growing number of titles on the subject of Homosexuality. . .what is unique is the author's ability to distill a vast array of data to create cogent, readable prose. . .Given the current level of discourse in our culture on this issue, Mondimore adds an important and reasonable, voice to the mix, and his work deserves wide readership.
-Library Journal This book is informative, concise, simple to read, and an excellent resource book.
-Rev. Dale PritchardPh.d, Lambda Book Report This book will serve as an excellent introduction for students. The practicing physician can recommend it to patients . . . Dr. Mondimore has packed an impressive amount of information into 250 pages; the result is the best overall presentation of homosexuality that I have seen.
-Richard Pillard, M.D., The New England Journal of Medicine
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
11 s/w Abbildungen
11 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
590 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8018-5349-4 (9780801853494)
DOI
10.56021/9780801853494
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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Francis Mark Mondimore
A Natural History of Homosexuality
Book
12/1996
Johns Hopkins University Press
€51.57
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Francis Mark Mondimore
A Natural History of Homosexuality
E-Book
12/1996
Johns Hopkins University Press
€21.99
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Person
Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D., is a psychiatrist and a member of the clinical faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is author of Depression, The Mood Disease, also available from Johns Hopkins.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I: Sexual Histories
Chapter 1. Before Homosexuality
Chapter 2. Sodomites and Urnings
Chapter 3. Peversion and Inversion
Chapter 4. Women's Voices
Chapter 5. Psychoanalysis
Chapter 6. Surveys and Inkblots
Part II: Sexual Biology
Chapter 7. Sexual Biology I
Chapter 8. Sexual Biology II
Chapter 9. Sexual Genetics
Chapter 10. Nature and Nurture
Part III: Sexual Identities
Chapter 11. Homosexual Identity Development
Chapter 12. Stigma Management
Chapter 13. Bisexual and Transgender Identities
Part IV: Sexual Politics
Chapter 14. From the Inquisition to the Holocaust
Chapter 15. Salvation and Repair
Chapter 16. Community and Power
Summing Up
Notes
Suggested Readings
Index
Acknowledgments
Part I: Sexual Histories
Chapter 1. Before Homosexuality
Chapter 2. Sodomites and Urnings
Chapter 3. Peversion and Inversion
Chapter 4. Women's Voices
Chapter 5. Psychoanalysis
Chapter 6. Surveys and Inkblots
Part II: Sexual Biology
Chapter 7. Sexual Biology I
Chapter 8. Sexual Biology II
Chapter 9. Sexual Genetics
Chapter 10. Nature and Nurture
Part III: Sexual Identities
Chapter 11. Homosexual Identity Development
Chapter 12. Stigma Management
Chapter 13. Bisexual and Transgender Identities
Part IV: Sexual Politics
Chapter 14. From the Inquisition to the Holocaust
Chapter 15. Salvation and Repair
Chapter 16. Community and Power
Summing Up
Notes
Suggested Readings
Index