The Boy in the Pink Coat

Erik Erikson (15 June 1902 - 12 May 1994) is recognized as one of the grandfathers of ego psychology and the leader in the theory of lifespan development. Erikson suggested, and I agree, that human development continues the full-span of a lifetime. He describes eight psychosocial developmental stages, established at birth and ending in death. According to Erikson, living human beings are always developing.Although Erikson's stage theory can be viewed a genesis of his own marginalization as a child, raised Jewish in anti-Semitic, Nazi-dominated Europe, his stage theory is often applied quite linearly, seemingly focusing more on the normal development of heterosexually-developing, white, middleclass males. We will be applying Erikson's model of psychosocial development, however, to the homosexually-developing individual, with a few small modifications. First, we will recognize that homosexually-developing adolescents are presented with unique psychosocial developmental challenges. We will then establish a place for h/er within the paradigm of normal development, in order to recognize and prepare for these unique challenges. Next, we will attempt to bring more clarity to the early developmental needs of the homosexually-developing person by recognizing the impact gender prescription may have on early development. We will examine the pervasive role heterosexuality plays in defining the dominant feminine and masculine gender identities; and we will attempt to identify the potential for psychological harm in the absence of a viable alternative to the masculine or feminine gender for homosexually-developing people. Finally, we will offer suggestions, in particular the concept of the gay social gender, for meeting these challenges and overcoming them.