SOME EFFECTS OF SEX-ROLE STEREOTYPING ON GAY MEN AND LESBIAN WOMEN

Gay Men

Lesbian Women

        _____________________________

	|			|
As men conditioned to be		As women conditioned to be

sexual (& physiology helps)        sexual only in relation to

more emphasis on sex		men (& physiology helps)
	|			|
Adolescent boys almost		Masturbation less common among
universally masturbate		adolescent girls
	|			|
Boys more likely to have		Girls less likely to have
same-sex experiments		same-sex experiments
	|			|
Male homosexuality more		Female homosexuality less
visibile; boys more aware		visible; girls less aware
of it and more likely to		of it and less likely to
talk about it			talk about it
	|			|
More aware of personal		Less aware of personal
sexuality and less likely		sexuality and more likely
to believe what told		to believe what told
	|			|
Behaviours more likely to		Behaviours less likely to
follow feelings		follow feelings
	|			|
Earlier same-sex sexual		Later same-sex sexual
experiences		experiences
	|			|
First sexual experience		First sexual experience
likely to be homosexual		likely to be heterosexual
	|			|
Less likely to experience		More likely to experience
sexual abuse in family -		sexual abuse in family -

less confusion over sexuality        more confusion over sexuality

	|			|
Come out as homosexual		Come out as homosexual
earlier and more likely		later and more likely
to be out, more support		to be closetted, less support
available, more likely to		available, less likely to
use agencies			use agencies
	|			|
Stronger identity, less		Weaker identity, more

likely to be confused or to        likely to be confused and to

consider or try changing		consider and try changing
	|			|
Parents more likely to		Parents less likely to
believe, therefore less		believe, therefore more
pressure to change		pressure to change
	|			|
Better education, jobs and		Worse education, jobs and
money, therefore more		money, therefore more
independent from family,		dependent on family,
especially housing		especially housing
	|			|

Less likely to have children        More likely to have children

	|			|
Less likely to get married		More likely to get married
	|			|
Young Gay men find out		Young Lesbian Women find out
about Homosexuality		about Homosexuality
through sexual contacts		through the media (hence
with older Gay men (hence		more isolated/invisible)
emphasis on sex/risk of HIV		|
	|			|
Less isolated and more		More isolated and less
likely to find partners;		likely to find partners;
	|			|
More out than lesbians		More closetted than gays
	|			|
More positive role models		Few positive role models
	|			|
Easier to contact for		Difficult to contact for
research purposes		research purposes
	|			|
More research therefore		Less research therere
more aware of needs		less aware of needs
	|			|
Appears to be more gay		Appears to be fewer lesbians
men than lesbians		than gay men

© Lesbian Information Service 1994

References

SEXUAL ORIENTATION SURVEY OF STUDENTS ON THE SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, MICHAEL G. SHIVELY, JOHN P. DE CECCO, JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY, VOL 4(1) FALL 1978, P29-39.

SEXUAL ASPIRATIONS AND SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AMONG HOMOSEXUALLY BEHAVING MALES AND FEMALES: THE IMPACT OF THE GAY COMMUNITY, KENNETH L. NYBERG, JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY, VOL 2(12), FALL 1976, P29-38.

HOMOSEXUALITY AND LESBIANISM, D.J. WEST, BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, VOL 143, 1983, P221-226.

MALE AND FEMALE HOMOSEXUALITY: A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION, MARCEL T. SAGHIR, ELI ROBINS, WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 1973. REVIEW IN JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY VOL 1(1) 1974, P131-134.

SOMETHING TO TELL YOU...THE EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS OF YOUNG LESBIANS AND GAY MEN IN LONDON, LORRAINE TRENCHARD, HUGH WARREN, LONDON GAY TEENAGE GROUP, 1984.

HOMOSEXUALITIES, A STUDY OF DIVERSITY AMONG MEN & WOMEN, ALAN P. BELL, MARTIN S. WEINBERG, MITCHELL BEAZLEY, 1978.

THE GAY REPORT, LESBIANS AND GAY MEN SPEAK OUT ABOUT SEXUAL EXPERIENCES AND LIFESTYLES, KARLA JAY, ALLEN YOUNG, SUMMIT BOOKS, 1977.

CAMDEN RESEARCH PROJECT, 1991.