A Boy’s Own Story -Book Review

Running dubiousness Book Review Thomas Meyer SOCWK 330 Book Review Brief analysis A Boys Own Story is the written report of the rootages, Edmund White, own self discover of his homosexuality in the 1940s and 1950s in America. A Boys Own Story is the firstly autobiographies in a three al-Quran series spanning the authors late childhood through with(predicate)out his adulthood. Edmund experiences a brief sexual family relationship with Kevin, a slightly younger conversance. Kevin and Edmunds intimacy is presented as indwelling and untroubled, untouched by the internalized homophobia that entrust later plague young Edmunds life. I was aware of the treacherous air vents above us, conducting the sounds we were making upstairs. maybe dad was listening. Or maybe, just like Kevin, he was unaware of anything notwithstanding the pleasure spurting up out of his body and into mine. (White, 1982, pg. 17) Edmunds laminitis does not serve as a good role model. Edmunds aim was an adu lterer, who later abandons Edmunds mother for another woman. Edmunds get abandons his responsibilities leaving the family without his financial support. Edmund acts on his desires and has sex with Mr. Beattie, an matureer school instructor of Edmund.After society pushes the ideals of homophobia on Edmund he decides to turn in Mr. Beattie, thus crook his back on someone who has shown him affection just like his let did to him and his family. A Boys Own Story ends with Edmund still ineffective to achieve a positive gay identity. His struggle to come to foothold with his homosexuality is not over. Characters Behavior Edmunds developing from adolescence evolved his understanding and acceptance of his homosexuality. He starts his first noted homosexual experiences with a younger male whose family was living with them.He does not seem fighted with the guilt and internalized & externalized homophobia that last mentioned plagues him. Book Review I suffered now. I felt isolated to the get of craziness, but with a faint recourse to melodrama, to a potential hearing and attendant end to loneliness, for if I imagined complete despair I fancy it as an emptying of the theater, a beliefing that the stalls and boxes would never be peopled again (White, 1982, pg. 136) Edmund desire to fit into his perceived norms of societies forges into him a conflict of character.He begins to seek out others for sex and affection. He hides his desires from everyone that knows him including a good friend of his because he fears rejection. In the end of the book Edmund is questioning the morality and prepare of religion and society on the issue of homosexuality. Theoretical Analysis one and only(a) of the best known and accepted theories of homosexual identity development is by Cass. Cass developed a six stage identity development model. Edmund progresses through the stages in this first volume of his autobiography to the third stage.At the end of the book Edmund seems to be st ill struggling with his homosexuality but has come to the actualisation that he is not the only one that has homosexual tendencies. (Cass, 1984) A psychoanalytic view of Edmunds homosexuality would focus on his relationship with his gravel and mother. This approach may question if Edmund suffered from gender identity issues. Edmund calls himself a fagot and girly. Edmund compares himself to his sister who he sees as the athlete in the family that wins his receives approval. Furthermore, Edmund states that when he was younger he had romantic feelings and desires for his father.Edmund tries to gain the affection of his father and later approval of his father. In conjunction to having an emotionally distant father he also had a mother who seemed more interested in being a socialite over being a mother. These issues can be looked at using classical Freudian techniques. Book Review I personally do not like the Freudian psychoanalytical scene because I feel the theories are not prop erly tested. I am also interested to see how Edmunds childhood being brocaded in an affluent family may have had an impact on how he developed as an individual. I will need time and come along study to get a better gripe of this issue.It was suggested in a Sociology class that there is a socioeconomic factor difference amongst the new rich and old money when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. According to the prof new rich like Edmunds family where less tolerate because they do not feel as secure in their economic post and feel a need to seek approval from society whereas old money may just see homosexuality as a form of eccentricness and they do not need the approval of society. I am still seeking a theory to support her statement. Summary Edmund allegory is an interesting look into his mind. The book has the flow of a common sentiment processes.The story changes focus and direction at times to explore the story deeper. It is difficult not to be drawn into the story as I am sure was the intent of the author. I am interested in how Edmund further developed his personal identity and came to terms with his homosexuality. I will be continuing to read the next book of the series as I am sure it will be just as fascinating. I have grown in my understanding of the psychosis of guilt and homophobia. I feel a bit more at ease with myself and feel for others who have suffered from societys concept of normal behavior. In many a(prenominal) ways I saw myself in Edmunds story.Book Review propagation Cass, V. (1984, May). Homosexual Identity Formation Testing a Theoretical Model. The ledger of Sex Research, 20, 143-167. Elizur, Y. , & Ziv, M. (2001, Summer). Family Support and Acceptance, risible potent Identity Formation, and Psychological adaption A Path Model. Family Process, 40, 125-144. Linda, G. , & Kimmel, D. (1993). Psychological Perspectives on Lesbian and Gay Male Experiences.. New York, NY Columbia University Press. Troiden, R. (1979). Becoming Ho mosexual A Model of Gay Identity. Psychiatry, 42, 362-373. White, E. (1982). A boys own story. New York Penguin Books.