Maternal reports of pregnancy, genital, and related fantasies in preschool and kindergarten children.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that there is no difference in the proportion of young boys with pregnancy fantasies versus young girls with penis fantasies and to explore the prevalence of pregnancy, genital, and related fantasies in 2-through 6-year-old children.

METHOD: The parents of 171 preschool and kindergarten children attending two private schools in New York City received questionnaires regarding the above fantasies. They were completed by the mothers of 31 girls and 34 boys (overall response rate of 38%).

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of girls reported to have penis/gender fantasies and the proportion of boys reported to have pregnancy fantasies. Reports of at least one fantasy were more common for girls (p < .006), as were reports of breast-feeding, other nurturing, and other reproductive fantasies (p < .03) and reports of wanting to urinate like a boy (p < .05). Reports of an "interest" in vaginas and breasts, as opposed to a fantasy about having them, were more common in boys (p < .03).

CONCLUSION

These data support the "overinclusive phase" of Fast's differentiation model of gender identity. Developmentally appropriate androgynous fantasies must be distinguished from gender identity disorder, a psychiatric condition that can emerge in the same age group.