Cross-cultural approaches to transsexualism. A comparison between Sweden and Australia

Several hypotheses with regard to the influence of societal factors including the rigidity of the society with regard to sex roles, sexual equality and homosexual behaviour were tested comparing prevalence, incidence and sex ratio of transsexualism between Sweden and Australia, two societies which differ with respect to these factors while otherwise remaining comparable as Western democratic societies of about the same size and level of technological development. Significant differences were found between the two countries in both frequency and sex ratio of transsexualism. These findings are discussed and it is concluded that societal influences seem to have an influence on the number of transsexuals presenting as patients. Further research is needed to assess whether these factors also influence aetiology and development of transsexualism.