The author posits that the personality styles of “femininity” and “masculinity” are the direct and indirect outcomes of trauma and reflect a state of dissociation. Throughout the chapter, the author makes a case that childhood trauma may be a contributing factor to the formation of gendered personality styles, especially pathological ones. The literature on gender is reviewed and it is shown that this literature omits the possible effects of trauma and dissociation on the development of gendered personality styles. The author argues that the stereotypical roles of “femininity” and “masculinity” are posttraumatic styles and become the accepted modes of interaction. Social forces, such as sex-typed child rearing practices, and biological predispositions interact with trauma to produce these posttraumatic styles for males and females. Females with a history of trauma are described as compliant, childlike, passive, and sweet, while males with a history of trauma are described as stereotypically “masculine.” Aggressive and violent behavior reproduces feelings of trauma, which in turn reproduce the gendered personality styles. The author is careful to point out that the presence of a gendered personality style does not necessarily indicate a history of trauma in any given individual. Furthermore, therapeutic interventions that increase psychological health may help these gendered personality styles become better integrated. References