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Short Wave

The Order Your Siblings Were Born In May Play A Role In Identity And Sexuality

Apr 10, 2024
Celebrate National Siblings Day with a deep dive into how the number of older brothers might shape a person’s sexuality. Discover the fraternal birth order effect that suggests having more older brothers increases the likelihood of being gay. Explore the maternal immune hypothesis and its intriguing connection to this phenomenon. The discussion also highlights the dark history of scientific research on queer identity and challenges us to reevaluate our understanding of sexuality and identity. Personal stories add depth to this complex topic!
12:25

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The fraternal birth order effect indicates a higher likelihood of male same-sex attraction with more older brothers.
  • Women in same-sex marriages also show the pattern of having more older brothers, challenging previous male-focused hypotheses.

Deep dives

The Fraternal Birth Order Effect in Sexuality Research

Studies have shown a consistent increase in the probability of male same-sex attraction for individuals with more older brothers. This fraternal birth order effect, documented all over the world, indicates that men with same-sex attraction tend to have a higher number of older brothers. The maternal immune hypothesis proposes that antibodies produced by mothers in response to male-specific proteins may influence the development of subsequent male fetuses, potentially explaining this phenomenon.

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