J. Michael Bailey

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John Michael Bailey (born 2 July 1957 in Lubbock, Texas) is an American psychology professor, best known for his controversial work on homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexualism.

Bailey obtained his B.A. in Mathematics from Washington University in 1979 and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas, Austin in 1989, where he studied under behavior genetics researcher Lee Willerman. He became a professor at Northwestern University in 1989.

In the 1990s, Bailey published several papers that suggested a heritable component for sexual orientation. Following the 2003 publication of his first and only book The Man Who Would Be Queen, Northwestern University opened a formal investigation into charges of research misconduct against Bailey.[1] In late 2004, Bailey resigned his Psychology Department Chair following the completion of the investigation. The university made it clear that this change had nothing to do with the book, though they refused to reveal the findings of the investigation. He still serves as a Northwestern professor.[2] A lengthy investigation by Dr. Alice Dreger, an ethics scholar at Northwestern University found "he is essentially blameless".[3]. Her results have been accepted for publication at The Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Contents

Research and publications

Bailey is well-known for research involving biology and sexual orientation. In the early 1990s he coauthored with Richard Pillard a series of twin studies which examined the rate of concordance of sexual identity among monozygotic twins (52% concordance), dizygotic twins of the same sex (22%), non-twin siblings of the same sex, and adoptive siblings of the same sex (11%).[4][5]

The Council for Responsible Genetics and other researchers have criticized this work for using a self-selected sample,[6] a problem which his later studies have attempted to remedy.

Bailey has also attempted to replicate a 1993 finding by Dean Hamer claiming to have discovered a "gay gene." Many criticized Hamer's initial announcements as examples of science by press conference. These findings have yet to be replicated.

Based on Bailey's interpretation of evolutionary psychology, homosexuality is an evolutionary mistake or paradox, and may represent "a developmental error."[7] He has linked homosexuality to higher levels of psychopathology and has suggested that aborting a fetus after fetal screening for sexual orientation is "morally acceptable."[8]

In December, 2006, Bailey controversially suggested that selecting the sexual orientation of one's offspring would be beneficial because it, "would further a parent’s freedom to raise the sort of children they want to raise.”[9]

The Man Who Would Be Queen

Main article: The Man Who Would Be Queen

In 2003, Bailey published The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. This book deals with a variety of gay- and transgender-related topics in a popular science style, summarizing research done on the topic that supports Bailey's opinions. The book is divided into three sections: The Boy Who Would Be Princess, The Man He Might Become, and Women Who Once Were Boys.

The first section deals with young boys considered to have a psychological condition referred to as gender identity disorder (GID). This term is used to describe patients, usually children, who exhibit a large amount of salient gender-atypical behavior such as cross-dressing, boys preferring to play with dolls, identification with female characters in stories or movies. He relates this through a scenario about a boy named "Danny" who, according to his mother, exhibited such behaviors. This section also discusses some case studies of boys who were, for varying reasons, reassigned to the female sex shortly after their birth, and emphasizes the fact that, despite this, they tended to exhibit typically male characteristics and often a desire to identify as a male. The most prominent of these men being David Reimer who lost his penis at an early age and whom psychologist John Money futilely attempted over a number of years to socialize as a female.

The second section deals primarily with homosexual men, including a suggested link between GID and male homosexuality later in life due largely to the research of Richard Green. In particular, he discusses whether homosexuality is a congenitally or possibly even genetically related phenomenon. This includes references to his studies as well as those of Simon LeVay and Dean Hamer. He also discusses the behavior of gay men and its typically masculine and feminine qualities.

The third section is primarily about male to female transsexualism and has spurred much controversy surrounding the book and its author. In this section, Bailey propounds a behavioral model due to Ray Blanchard that male to female transsexuals fall into two categories related to their reasons for a desire to transition. (Compare autogynephilia for a discussion of this theory.) He also discusses the process by which this transition occurs. By the end of the book, Bailey's recommendation to Danny's mother to force Danny to conform to gender roles has "cured" Danny of his "disorder". Critics have pointed out the parallels with other "gay cure" narratives, as well as parallels with the success reported by John Money in "treating" David Reimer (later proven to be academic fraud).

The book led to a heated debate[10] and a formal investigation into Bailey's research practices. It also led to a heated debate within the field of sexology, where the book was lauded by Bailey's academic collaborators, but denounced by some researchers working in this field, who deemed it "reductionism" and "not science."[11]This controversy was also the reason Ray Blanchard left the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association. Bailey's defenders, including noted researcher Steven Pinker, have stated that they believe the attacks on him constitute an academic witch hunt, instituted by scholars associated with the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center who reject any research in the etiology of homosexuality on political grounds.[12]

In 2004, the book was announced as a finalist in the Transgender category of the 2003 Lambda Literary Awards. Ultimately the Lambda Literary Foundation withdrew The Man Who Would Be Queen from consideration for the award[13] and fired their executive director.[14]

Sexual arousal patterns of bisexual men

Bailey once again stirred controversy in 2005 as senior author of a study which claimed male bisexuality does not exist, based on results of controversial penile plethysmograph testing.[15] The testing found that of men who identified as bisexual, 75% were only aroused by homosexual imagery, and 25% were only aroused by heterosexual imagery. The study received wide attention after a New York Times piece on the study that coincided with the opening of the 2005 International Academy of Sex Research convention.[16] That piece, titled "Gay Straight or Lying: Bisexuality Revisited" took an oft-repeated phrase Bailey uses to claim that male bisexuals are "lying."[17] The article and study were criticized by LBGT groups[18] and by FAIR;[19] noted transsexual Lynn Conway stated that the research "attacks the identities of yet another sexual minority group."[20]

Critics argued the sample size was relatively small, consisting of only one hundred (100) men. Also all of these subjects were "self-selected", from ads placed in LGBT and "alternative" publications. Then the researchers had to disregard results of thirty-five percent (35%) of this population, as non-responders.

Other critics criticized the entire premise of the study, that in men arousal in response to pornographic stimulus equals orientation.[21] The late Dr. Fritz Klein, a sex researcher and the author of The Bisexual Option argued, "social and emotional attraction are very important elements in bisexual attraction."[16]

Still others argued that measuring genital arousal to two minute sequences of pornographic gay or lesbian films, is a crude and inaccurate measure, which could be easily influenced by external factors such as discomfort with the research process itself as well as there being issues with the use of plethysmograph.[22]

Charges of research misconduct

In 2003, a male-to-female transsexual research subject at Northwestern University accused Bailey of having sex with her while she was his research subject. She has refused to offer details or discuss the accusation, which Bailey has denied.[23] Though it could neither be proven nor disproven, email records have suggested that Bailey may have been elsewhere on the date of the alleged contact.[3]

It was also suggested that Dr. Bailey violated scientific standards by, “conducting intimate research observations on human subjects without telling them that they were objects of the study.” Bailey countered by stating that, "I interviewed people for a book [...] This is a free society, and that should be allowed." The New York Times has reported independent research that has concluded that "two of the four women who complained to Northwestern of research violations were not portrayed in the book at all. The two others did know their stories would be used, as they themselves said in their letters to Northwestern."[3]

Responses to Controversy

Following an appearance by Bailey on CBS 60 Minutes,[24] The Advocate published an opinion piece that asserted, "Bailey’s insistence on his authority in defining what does and doesn’t qualify as gay and his dedication to discovering a 'cause' for gayness is only temperamentally different from those who insist on finding a 'cure.'"[25]

In 2006, the Chicago Free Press announced it would no longer accept ads for studies conducted by Bailey. In an editorial entitled "Bad Science," the newspaper said would not allow itself to be used "to further the dubious agenda of someone who believes he should not be held accountable to our community."[26]The Free Press editor told Editor & Publisher that an e-mail blast to a listserv from Bailey himself was the source of most letters protesting the decision.[27] Journalist Jim D'Entremont countered that "Bailey's critics follow the familiar patterns of ideologues seeking to discredit scientists whose findings they deem politically wrong."[28]

References

  1. ^ Becker, Robert (November 18, 2003). NU investigates charges over book. Chicago Tribune
  2. ^ Wilson, Robin (12/10/2004). Northwestern U. Will Not Reveal Results of Investigation Into Sex Researcher. Chronicle of Higher Education
  3. ^ a b c Criticism of a Gender Theory, and a Scientist Under Siege New York Times
  4. ^ Bailey JM, Pillard RC (1991). A genetic study of male sexual orientation. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48, 1089-1096.
  5. ^ Bailey JM , Benishay DS (1993). Familial aggregation of female sexual orientation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 272-277.
  6. ^ Do genes determine if we are lesbian, bisexual, gay, or straight? Position Paper by The Council for Responsible Genetics. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
  7. ^ Bailey JM. Homosexuality and mental illness. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999 Oct;56(10):883-4.
  8. ^ Greenberg AS, Bailey JM (2001). Parental selection of children's sexual orientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2001 Aug;30(4):423-37.
  9. ^ Science told: hands off gay sheep Times Online (UK)
  10. ^ Aaron Tobler A 20/20 Focus on Gaydar: Examinations of Sexuality in Television New Magazines. Neoamericanist
  11. ^ Bockting WO (August 1, 2005). Biological reductionism meets gender diversity in human sexuality. The Journal of Sex Research
  12. ^ Wilson, Robin (June 20, 2003). Dr. Sex. Chronicle of Higher Education.
  13. ^ Letellier, Patrick (March 16, 2004) Group rescinds honor for disputed book. PlanetOut
  14. ^ Schwartz Nomi Lambda Literary Foundation Announces Major Changes. American Booksellers Association News
  15. ^ Rieger G, Chivers ML, Bailey JM (2005). "Sexual arousal patterns of bisexual men". Psychological science : a journal of the American Psychological Society / APS 16 (8): 579-84. DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01578.x. PMID 16102058. 
  16. ^ a b Carey, Benedict (July 5, 2005). Straight, Gay or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited. New York Times.
  17. ^ The phrase was used in 2003 publicity for Bailey's book in the publisher's online promotional materials, and in the book itself on pages 96 and 133.
  18. ^ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (July 2005). The Problems with "Gay, Straight, or Lying?" (PDF) Retrieved July 24, 2006.
  19. ^ FAIR (July 8, 2005). New York Times Suggests Bisexuals Are "Lying": Paper fails to disclose study author's controversial history.
  20. ^ Conway, Lynn (July 6, 2005). J. Michael Bailey attacks the identities of yet another sexual minority group. via [[LynnConway.com. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
  21. ^ http://main.bisexual.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3799 "Gay Straight or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited," Revisited - Part 1 by William Burleson June 26 2007
  22. ^ Barker and Howell, The Plethysmograph: A Review of Recent Literature, 20 Bull. Am. Acad. of Psychiatry and Law 13 (1992)
  23. ^ "Northwestern U. Psychologist Accused of Having Sex With Research Subject." The Chronicle of Higher Education, 19 December 2003
  24. ^ Stahl, Lesley (March 12, 2006). The Science of Sexual Orientation. 60 Minutes
  25. ^ Ehrenstein, David (April 6, 2006). Kinder, gentler homophobia. The Advocate
  26. ^ Staff editorial (August 9, 2006). "Bad Science." Chicago Free Press
  27. ^ Fitzgerald, mark (August 15, 2006). Chicago Gay Paper Nixes Ad From Controversial Sex Researcher. Editor & Publisher
  28. ^ D'Entremont, Jim (October 2006). Political Science. The Guide

Selected bibliography

  • Bailey JM, Miller JS, Willerman L (1993). "Maternally rated childhood gender nonconformity in homosexuals and heterosexuals". Archives of Sexual Behavior 22 (5): 461-9. PMID 8239975. 
  • Bailey JM, Pillard RC, Neale MC, Agyei Y (1993). "Heritable factors influence sexual orientation in women". Archives of General Psychiatry 50 (3): 217-23. PMID 8439243. 
  • Greenberg AS, Bailey JM (1993). Do biological explanations of homosexuality have moral, legal, or policy implications? Journal of Sex Research, 30, 245-251.
  • Bailey JM, Zucker KJ (1995). Childhoood sex-typed behavior and sexual orientation: A conceptual analysis and quantitative review. Developmental Psychology, 31, 43-55.
  • Bailey JM, Nothnagel J, Wolfe M (1995). "Retrospectively measured individual differences in childhood sex-typed behavior among gay men: Correspondence between self- and maternal reports". Archives of Sexual Behavior 24 (6): 613-22. PMID 8572910. 
  • Bailey JM, Pillard, RC (1995). Genetics of human sexual orientation. Annual Review of Sex Research, 6, 126-150.
  • Bailey JM (1995). "Sexual orientation revolution". Nature Genetics 11 (4): 353-4. DOI:10.1038/ng1295-353. PMID 7493006. 
  • Dunne MP, Martin NG, Bailey JM, et al (1997). "Participation bias in a sexuality survey: psychological and behavioural characteristics of responders and non-responders". International Journal of Epidemiology 26 (4): 844-54. PMID 9279618. 
  • Bailey JM (1999). "Homosexuality and mental illness". Archives of General Psychiatry 56 (10): 883-4. PMID 10530627. 
  • Bailey JM, Pillard RC, Dawood K, et al (1999). "A family history study of male sexual orientation using three independent samples". Behavior Genetics 29 (2): 79-86. PMID 10405456. 
  • Bailey JM, Dunne MP, Martin NG (2000). "Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 78 (3): 524-36. PMID 10743878. 
  • Bailey JM (2003). The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. Washington, D.C: Joseph Henry Press. ISBN 0-309-08418-0. 

See also

External links

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