In popular accounts of the history of sexual research, we tend to hear a lot about figures like Sigmund Freud, Alfred Kinsey, and William Masters. While their work was obviously incredibly influential, many other people who made significant contributions to the field are often left out of history. A key but under-recognized pioneer is American research psychologist Dr. Evelyn Hooker. Her ground-breaking work challenged the pathology of homosexuality and instigated a monumental shift in social understanding of sexual minorities.
In this post, we will explore the key contributions and legacy of Dr. Hooker. To learn more about other “hidden figures” in the history of sex, check out previous posts in the Sexology Changemakers Series on Shere Hite, Virginia Johnson, June Dobbs Butts, and Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Early Life:
Evelyn Hooker, originally known as Evelyn Gentry, was born in North Platte, Nebraska in 1907. She studied psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder on a scholarship for her undergraduate degree, later earning her Ph.D. in psychology at Johns Hopkins University and will then teach at UCLA. As a student and professional, Hooker was constantly confronted with gender discrimination and sexism, which fostered a deep understanding and compassion for the challenges of social stigma.
Turning point:
While Hooker was working at UCLA in the 1940s, she befriended a gay former student, Sammy From, whose influence ultimately changed the course of her career and the field of psychology more broadly. Sammy introduced her to the queer underground scene in Los Angeles, where she met many gay men who seemed quite adjusted. At that time, homosexuality was officially categorized as a mental disorder in psychiatry. However, as he met members of the community, they seemed to be just as happy and healthy as everyone else and did not seem to be suffering from any kind of mental health problem. Hooker soon applied for and was awarded a research grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) to formally investigate her observations.
Research:
This work turned into a landmark study entitled “The adaptation of the openly gay male”, published on Journal of Projective Techniques in 1957. This was the first study to collect data on a group of gay men who did not come from exclusively clinical or institutional settings such as mental hospitals or prisons. Her study found no significant differences in the psychological well-being of heterosexual versus homosexual men. This critical piece of evidence was instrumental in the American Psychiatric Association’s decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder in the DSM in 1974.
Legacy:
Upon its release, her work became quite controversial, but she endured. Hooker later went on to chair the NIMH Task Force on Homosexuality, which produced what became known as the “Hooker Report” in 1969, advocating the decriminalization of homosexuality.
Evelyn Hooker’s legacy is not just one of scientific success, but of profound human impact. Her ethnographic approach was able to humanize and de-stigmatize LGBTQ+ people, while her scientific rigor gave her advocacy the credibility it needed to be effective. As we delve into the complex psychological aspects of sexuality, Dr. Evelyn Hooker inspires us to pursue knowledge with empathy and use our knowledge to foster an inclusive and compassionate society.
Bibliographical references:
- Andrew M.Boxer, PhD & Joseph M.Carrier, PhD (1998) Evelyn Hooker, Journal of Homosexuality, 36:1, 1-17, DOI:10.1300/J082v36n01_01
- Department of Health, Education and Welfare, “Final Report of the Task Force on Homosexuality, 10 October 1969 (RG 4/2, Records of the Office of the Executive Vice-President, William James McKeefery)” VT Special Collections and University Archives Online, https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/VTLGBTQ/RG_04_02_McKeeferyWilliam_Records_B19_F766_1969_1010.
- Drescher J. Outside the DSM: Depathologizing Homosexuality. Behav Sci (Basel). 2015 Dec 4;5(4):565-75. DOI: 10.3390/bs5040565.
- Hooker, E. (1957). The adaptation of the openly gay male. Journal of Projective Techniques, 2118-31. , DOI: 10.1080/08853126.1957.10380742.
Image credit: Collage made with Canva,
Images are sourced from Los Angeles Conservatory, American Psychological Association, and the movie “Changing Our Minds: The Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker.”
