I AGREE with Hamdan Ibrahim of Kuala Lumpur (”Look hard at the root causes in tomboy issue” — NST, Oct 28) that “the authorities should look into the root causes of these social ills rather than the symptoms” when dealing with the tomboy phenomenon.

Aside from the religious angle, we can also view this issue from the “nature versus nurture” angle.

If a person’s sexual and social preferences have been nurtured by environmental considerations — in other words, learned from external influences — then a system of rewards and pu-nishments and counselling can perhaps influence the individual to reconsider his or her wayward ways and return to what is considered by society to be acceptable behaviour patterns.

However, if a person’s sexual or social preferences are, as it were, inborn and an integral part of his/her nature (scientifically speaking, in his/her genes), can such a system of rewards and punishment induce the required changes in behaviour patterns that conventional society upholds?

Or would it result in the individual being so negatively affected that he/she retreats deeper into himself/herself and begin to harbour resentment and suspicion of conventional society in general?

We need a more humane approach when dealing with such personalities. Compassion may serve to dispel suspicion and resentment and help these people to contribute positively to society at large.

TAM YONG YUEE, Muar

Source: NST – October 29, 2008