58.

"Any aspect of sexual behavior...may be simultaneously determined biochemically, anatomically,,,and by...cul- tural factors...like economics, religion and social or- ganization" (Honigman)

The social attitude toward transvestism varies a great deal among different cultures. Some social groups do not recognize transvestism at all (the Samoans) others cultivate it (Mojave Indians). Certain societies not only

openly approve of transvestism but keep the transvest- ites in a high social esteem (shamans in Siberia). Some cultural groups forcibly procure artificial, quasi-eu- nuchoid transvestites, used later for homosexual rituals.

There are a number of examples of such "compulsory transvestism", usually enforced by tribal tradition. Plains Indians "expedted so much of their youth that many were drived to accept women's dress and a woman's role" ("Janett Thompson"). "Sarimbavy," found among the Movas of Madagascar, are usually brought up as girls, because their parents desired to have a girl (Ellis). Ehlers described the "Pu-Mea" (men-women) in Indochina, brought up as women, and living among them. Sometimes they "marry" other men (most often the impotent opium smokers), such "marriages" being socially accepted. Frazer reported that among the Sea-Dyaks of Borneo some men live as women after a dream regarded as a "call to do it".

In Western culture there is only one example of socially enforced, temporary transvestism resembling the "Sarimbavy". On the island of Maarken in Holland there is an unusual custom to dress boys as girls till they are seven. Jelgersma regards this as a "symbolic castra- tion", imposed by men "to guard against the incestuous tendencies of children among a seafaring population.'

(((Ed Note. Those dutch kids must really be precoc- ious--insest at 7 yet! But what happens at 8 and be- yond? One important thought comes here---it would be most interesting to know whether this custom had any bearing on the frequency of adults being TVs. My