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Harry Benjamin Sexual Orientation Scale

Sex and Gender Disorientation and Indecision

(Persons Born Genetic Males, substitute genders for persons born Genetic Females) 

List Of Types :

• Type 1 - Transvestite - (Pseudo)
• Type 2 - Transvestite - (Festishistic)
• Type 3 - Transvestite - (True)
• Type 4 - Transsexual - (Non-Surgical)
• Type 5 - Transsexual - (Moderate Intensity)
• Type 6 - Transsexual - (High Intensity)

TYPE 0 
Normal sexual orientation and identification, heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual. The ideas of "dressing" or "sex change" are foreign and unpleasant. Includes the vast majority of all people. 

TYPE I - Tranvestite (Pseudo)

• Gender "feeling" : Masculine
• Dressing Habits and Social Life : Normal male life. May get a "kick" from "dressing". Not truly TV.
• Sex Object Choice and Sex Life : Usually heterosexual. Rare bisexual. Masturbation with fetish. Feels guilt. "Purges" and relapses.
• Conversion Operation (SRS) : Not considered in reality.
• Hormone Therapy/Estrogen Therapy : Not considered. / Not indicated.
• Psychotherapy :Not wanted. Unnecessary.
• Remarks : Only a sporadic interest in "dressing". Rarely has a female name when "dressed".

TYPE II - Transvestite (Fetishistic)

• Gender "feeling" : Masculine
• Dressing Habits and Social Life :Lives as a man. Dresses periotically or part time. Dresses under male clothes.
• Sex Object Choice and Sex Life :Usually heterosexual. May be bisexual or homosexual. "Dressing" and "sex change" in masturbation fantasy mainly.
• Conversion Operation (SRS) :May consider in fantasy. Rejected
• Hormone Therapy/Estrogen Therapy : Rarely interested. / May help to reduce libido.
• Psychotherapy : May be successful in favorable environment.
• Remarks : May imitate male & female double personality with male and female names.

TYPE III - Transvestite - True

• Gender "feeling" : Masculine (but with less conviction)
• Dressing Habits and Social Life : "Dresses" constantly or as often as possible. May live and be accepted as a woman. May dress under male clothes.
• Sex Object Choice and Sex Life : Heterosexual except when dressed. Dressing gives sexual satisfaction, relief of gender discomfort. Common to purge and relapse.
• Conversion Operation (SRS) : Rejected but the idea is attractive.
• Hormone Therapy/Estrogen Therapy : Attractive as an experiment. / Can be helpful as a diagnostic.
• Psychotherapy : If attempted, almost never successful as to cure.
• Remarks : May assume a double personality. Trend may be toward Transsexualism

TYPE IV - Transsexual - Non-Surgigal

• Gender "feeling" : Uncertain Wavering between TV and TS. May reject "gender".
• Dressing Habits and Social Life : "Dresses" often as possible with insufficient relief of gender discomfort. May live as man or as a woman.
• Sex Object Choice and Sex Life : Libido low. Genrally asexual or autoerotic.May be bisexual.
• Conversion Operation (SRS) : Attractive but not required.
• Hormone Therapy/Estrogen Therapy : Needed for comfort & emotioal balance.
• Psychotherapy : Only as guidance, most often refused and unsuccessful.
• Remarks : Social life dependant on circumstances. Often identifies as "transgenderist".

TYPE V - True Transsexual - Moderate Intensity

• Gender "feeling" : Feminine "Trapped" in a male body.
• Dressing Habits and Social Life : Lives and works as a woman if possible. Insufficient relief from "dressing".
• Sex Object Choice and Sex Life : Low libido. Asexual, autoerotic, or passive homosexual activity.May have been married and have children.
• Conversion Operation (SRS) : Requested.
• Hormone Therapy/Estrogen Therapy : Needed for a substitute for or preliminary to SRS operation.
• Psychotherapy: Rejected. Unless as to cure. Permissive psychological guidance.
• Remarks : Operation hoped for and worked for, often attained.

TYPE VI - True Transsexual - High Intensity

• Gender "feeling" : Feminine. Total "psycho-sexual" inversion.
• Dressing Habits and Social Life : Usually lives & works as a woman. No relief from "dressing". Gender discomfort intense.
• Sex Object Choice and Sex Life : Intensely desires relations with normal male as a "female" if young. Later libido low. Heterosexual, bisexual or lesbian identification. May have been married and have children.
• Conversion Operation (SRS) : Urgently requested and usually attained.
• Hormone Therapy/Estrogen Therapy : Required for partial relief.
• Psychotherapy : Psychological guidance or psychotherapy for symptomatic relief only.
• Remarks : Despises her male sex organs. Strong danger of genital self-mutilation or even suicide if too long frustrated before SRS is attained

Back to list of types

Original version: Harry Benjamin © 1966, Julian press
Modified version: Anne Curr © 1995, Basic Books