IF YOU'RE male, having more older brothers makes it more likely you'll be gay???

Question

agree?

newscientist mag says so,
So do u know any real life gays like that?

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9413-male-sexuality-may-be-decided-in-the-womb.html

Answer 1

Look everyone. Try and understand some basic logic. Nobody said that all younger brothers are gay and all older brothers are straight. They said "more likely". Does nobody understand what that means? It could mean that 1% of younger brothers are gay and 1.5% of older brothers are gay. So the survey could still be correct even though the vast majority of younger brothers are straight and a huge number of older brothers are gay. Understand? So all of you saying "Oh I'm an older brother and I'm gay so this study is wrong" should understand that that doesn't prove a thing.

As for whether the study is true or not. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Lots of studies come out saying one thing and lots of similiar studies come out and find the opposite result. And these kind of studies have a knack of finding what they expect to find. I don't know enough about the history and reputability of these studies to say one way or another.

But please everyone, read the bleeding article! The study described in the article strongly suggests a BIOLOGICAL not SOCIAL explanation. Only the number of biological older brothers matters. If an only son is adopted by a family of 15 older boys it does not make any difference on his likelihood to be gay. See?

For the record I believe we are genetically predisposed to straight/bi/gay attractions to different degrees, but that the way our social environment shapes us can make experience some of these potential attractions and not others. Basically I think it's a combination of genetic, biological and social factors.

Answer 2

This is the first I've heard of this story. I grew up in a family of 10 kids, 5 boy/5 girls. 4 older sisters. 4 Older brothers. I am inclined to believe that people are born gay or straight and act on it when the social situation creates an environment condusive to such action.. ie. responding to sexual advancements from the sex you are born with an interest in genetically. However, if scientific evidence surfaced which absolutely defied the genetic option, I would be more inclined to believe that having older sisters could influence the sexuality of young boys who have no other role models to look up to and who therefore imitate the behavior of their older sisters. However, at this time I do not believe that anyone can turn or be turned gay. Either you are or you aren't. Just like you either like sushi or you don't. As long as nobody is getting hurt but the fish, who cares?

Answer 3

I disagree, I think the dominant influence of women and lack of a strong male figure may possible have something to do with it. It may have nothing at all to do with it. If something like this is the answer it rules out the born gay hypothesis. Then familys with two or three sons will spotlight that last son just to make sure that doesn't happen.

Answer 4

The important thing to remember about the study is that it looked at statistics across the board and their trends, and also studied the likely hood of behaviour aspects with young stepsons, and adopted children-all of which proved negative. Therefore it can not be behavioural.

But trends are not fact. They are simply what they are-a likely hood. I am also the oldest brother of three brothers and only I am gay. I hope everyone who answered this question bothered reading the report before popping their mouths off about it.

Answer 5

I have 2 older brothers, I'm gay. Works for me. But personally I think I'm gay because I was molested as a child by a family member and I thought that since I "got" love that way, maybe that was how it was supposed to be. So I'll never know for sure. I've been seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist for a decade and they say it doesn't MATTER as long as I'm happy, why i'm gay isn't important.

Answer 6

Absolute BSH*IT. I read that article and it would appear that some scientist is trying his hardest to convince ous of this rubbish. Just consider how many families there are with just boys. If it were the case we would have a lot more gay people, and all surveys say that the percentage of gays within any society is negligible to the point of inconsequential.

Answer 7

I read something similar in news week a few years ago but their story claimed that the mother can build up an immunity to testosterone causing the second child to have lower levels. I believe it but it is not always the case because I am the oldest of my sister and I, and I was never molested as a kid. Go figure.

Answer 8

no. i disagree. having alot of brothers makes you harder. they beat you up and you guys play rough. i think if youre a guy and youre getting raised by a bunch of females in the house would probably promote your chances of being gay. since females are feminine and tend to share their feelings alot, they would probably express their girl problems around the household, and the male would start picking up some of the stuff.

Answer 9

I'm gay and I have an older brother & a half brother old enough to be my father.

Answer 10

I saw a report on these findings. The experiment was quite well done and must carry some authority. I am bisexual but am the oldest son.