The Homosexual as Seen by the Marriage Counselor

by Mrs. Lee R. Steiner, Psychologist

The marriage counselor faces as daily fare the so-called battle of the sexes. If she (or ho) is attempting to understand the dynamics involved, she is faced with tho dilemma of functioning in a profession where anyone can be an authori‍ty because no one is. If we are to function as true scientists we still need some validated data regarding what masculinity is; what femininity is; what the normal limits of each are; what a desirable blend is. In essence, the blend is marriage.

Every ethical marriage counselor confesses the lack of true data here. And we all confess that the various psychological professions have developed cliches of one sort or another to cover this lack of data. We speak of personality, as being the "whole you." We also realize that our grandmothers knew that. In counseling we teach the need to compromise, the need to accept the mate for what he is, the need to love, the need to be unselfish, etc. Kuch of this is a sort of codification of the Sermon on the Mount, probably because many of our best marriage counselors are ministers.

I make this preliminary statement not to excuse my ignorance but rather to define it. And just so that I shall function as a psychologist is expected to, I shall cite you a case, from which I might digress for clarification of my point of view. Let me tell you very briefly about Mr. and Mrs. Brown:

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She is 32; small; boyish which means slight hips and bosom. Her problem is that she is depressed. Her marriage and life in general bore her. She resents her husband's pottiness and his constant criticism, especially regarding what he calls neatno sc. Everything must be neat be out of place. And

at all times. Not a magazine must

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