Proposal & Outline

Proposal

Title:

Identical Twins: The Search for Sexual Identity

Abstract:

The body of the research was supported by the following research question: How does sexual identity differ within identical twins when twins share genetics?  The motivation behind this study is from my own personal experience. I am an identical twin, and I am heterosexual, while my twin brother is homosexual.  I plan to study if sexuality is genetic, or simply something we learn from various experiences from “growing up.”  Also I will be studying the perception on how a heterosexual twin is treated within a group of people, as compared to the twin that is homosexual. My hypothesis is that genetics are not genetic, and that the homosexual twin will be treated differently than the heterosexual twin.

Introduction:

In a hospital, a mother gives birth to two identical twin boys. The doctor smiles, and says to the mother “Congratulations, you have two handsome boys!” Right after the doctor says this though, his smile turns into a frown. The mother quickly asks “What is the problem?” The Doctor replies “Well, one of your boys seems to be homosexual!”

Of course this never happens, but what if it did? How would someone be able to react to this news?  More importantly, after years of assuming that the sexuality of your twins is going to be heterosexual, you suddenly find out that one of the twins is indeed, homosexual. My research paper aims to discuss a variety of issues involving sexual identity, mainly within identical twins.  My goal is to be able to discuss how we develop sexual identities.  Is it genetic? Is it a choice? Franz J. Kallman referred to people as “schizosexuals”, in reference that we can decide what we want at any point in time. (Kallman, 1952) Are there other factors that play into developing our “sexual role?”  Through primary research, I also plan to discuss how identical twins are affected emotionally when sexual identities differ.

When discussing how sexual identity is developed, I plan to research refereed journals on if sexual identity is genetic, or what influences our sexuality. This is probably going to be the toughest part, being as to my understanding, research on this topic is very scarce, and usually the result is that there is no conclusive evidence of whatever the answer may be. For the second part of my research, I plan to interview my twin brother and ask him various questions, as well as basing experiences from my own life.  With this, I hope to be able to bring out some answers on anything that I cannot find conclusive evidence for within the first part of the research, as well as bring in a primary research perspective on the topic. The second part will be like an autobiography on my brother and I, discussing how although we are identical twins, we have very different ideas. Betty Yorburg describes how “one brother can grow up to be a priest, and the other a murderer.” (Yorburg, 1974)  This is explaining how genetics make a little difference, as compared to experiences that are learned through growing up influence decision making, but does that mean that genetics don’t play any part in sexual roles?

My results hope to be that there is a better understanding within the topic of finding sexual identity. I hope to be able to clear up any assumptions on being homosexual, as well as being heterosexual. In the end, I hope to be able to explain how we find our sexual identities, and explain how even identical twins, who share DNA, can be very different…but even though the differences may be very apparent, in the end; they are as close as they were before they were born.

Twin and sibling study of overt male homosexuality

Franz J. Kallmann

Am J Hum Genet. 1952 June; 4(2): 136–146.

PMCID: PMC1716443

Yorburg, Betty. (1974). Sexual identity; sex roles and social change.

Canada: 1974.

Methods:

I will be conducting my research in two forms. The first form of my research will be researching scientific journals to help back up my hypothesis that sexual identity is not due to genetics. The second form of my methods is interviewing my brother, as well as other homosexual and heterosexual people so that the research isn’t fully controlled by the responses by solely my brother and I.

Discussion:

My research is something different to the subject of human sexuality, as well as sociology and psychology.  Very few studies have been done on identical twins where the sexualities are different. Also, my research is different because it is explaining primary research on a topic where primary research is very vague.

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Outline

I.  INTRODUCTION - Use some of the proposal and introduce my topic.

II. Methods - I will discuss my methods of research, and why it is different from other research.

 III. BODY - How do we develop sexual identities?
	    A. Is it genetic? Is it Learned?
                 - Introduce ideas
                 1. Research on sexuality in humans.
	             a. Research on sexuality in males.
	             b. Research on sexuality in females.
	         2. Heterosexuality/Homosexuality
                     a. Research on Heterosexuality
                     b. Research on Homosexuality
                 3. Give a brief conclusion on ideas presented
	    B. Identical Twins
	         1. Early years...
                     a. Assuming sexuality
                        i. discuss how sexual roles are assumed to be heterosexual
                        ii. Homosexuality isn't normal?! (discussion on "social norms")

                 2. Discuss primary research between brother and I, as well as other participants.
                 3. Lead in ideas to next topic. (give a hook)

            C. The Discovery
                 1. Discuss how sexual identity was discovered
                 2. Discuss how people treated my brother and I differently
                     a. Treatment of me being heterosexual
                     b. Treatment of my brother being homosexual
                        i. Treatment of the gay community as a whole. (primary research)

               III. Discussion
                   a. Show other research that may contradict my ideas
                   b. explain why I am either right, wrong, or unclear.
                   c. describe why this research was important.
 IV. CONCLUSION
	    A. Analytical summary
                 1. The Search for Sexual Identity
                 2. The Discovery of our Sexual Identity
                 3. The Lasting impacts our the discovery
            B. Thesis reworded
            C. Concluding statement
               a. Wrap up ideas, and give a strong ending.

 V. Sources Page
      - Provide all sources used.