Most homosexuals adjust well to their sexual orientation, although they must overcome widespread societal disapproval and prejudice. That adjustment may take a long time and may be associated with substantial psychologic stress. Many homosexual men and women experience bigotry in social situations and in the workplace, adding to their stress. For some heterosexuals and homosexuals, frequent sexual activity with different partners is a common practice throughout life. Such activity may indicate a low capacity for close emotional bonding.
Gender role is the objective, public presentation in our culture as masculine or feminine.
Boys come to know they're boys, and girls come to know they're girls. Even though a child may prefer activities sometimes considered to be more appropriate for the other sex, children with normal gender identity still see themselves as being a member of their own biologic sex. This means that a young girl who likes to play baseball and wrestle doesn't have a gender identity problem if she sees herself as, and is content with being, female. Similarly, a boy who plays with dolls and prefers cooking to sports doesn't have a gender identity problem unless he doesn't identify himself as male or isn't comfortable with being biologically male. Although a child reared as a member of the opposite sex may be confused about gender, such confusion often clears up later in childhood.