Women's Sexual Identity Patterns: Differences Among Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Unlabeled Women

@article{Brooks2009WomensSI,
  title={Women's Sexual Identity Patterns: Differences Among Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Unlabeled Women},
  author={Kelly D. Brooks and Kathryn Quina},
  journal={Journal of Homosexuality},
  year={2009},
  volume={56},
  pages={1030 - 1045}
}
To better understand women with same-sex attractions who do not identify as lesbian or bisexual (i.e., unlabeled women), we examined differences and similarities among self-designated lesbian, bisexual, and unlabeled women. Two hundred eight non-heterosexual women ranging in age from 18 to 69 years (85% identified as White) completed an online survey examining indicators of sexual orientation and beliefs and self-perceptions associated with sexual identity. Compared to lesbians, unlabeled women… 
View on Taylor & Francis
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
24 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
1
Background Citations
8
Results Citations
1

24 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

Beyond Labels: Sexual Fluidity and Sexual Identity Development in Sexual Minority Young Adults
Women’s sexuality as a developmental process has been described as fluid and contextual; is the same true for men’s sexuality? This research investigated sexual identity development and change in…
Women’s rationales and perspectives on “mostly” as a nonexclusive sexual identity label.
The sexuality labels of “mostly straight” and “mostly gay” are used by men to understand their non-exclusive sexualities, yet the value of these labels in understanding women’s sexuality has not been…
Individual Sexual Stories
In this chapter, I explore my participants’ individual sexual narratives, focusing on accounts of becoming sexual, lesbian identity and sexual roles. These accounts differed depending on whether they…
Sexual fluidity in young adult women and men: associations with sexual orientation and sexual identity development
This research investigated sexual fluidity in attractions and sexual identity and associations with sexual orientation dimensions and sexual identity development in 199 (124 female, 75 male) US…
Smoking characteristics among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults.
Heterogeneity in Gender/Sex Sexualities: An Exploration of Gendered Physical and Psychological Traits in Attractions to Women and Men
TLDR
Assessment of how sexually diverse individuals described their attractions to feminine, masculine, and gender-nonspecific features of women and men highlighted the importance of considering attractions based on gender, rather than sex alone.
Longitudinal Associations among Discordant Sexual Orientation Dimensions and Hazardous Drinking in a Cohort of Sexual Minority Women
TLDR
Findings support that discordance between sexual orientation dimensions may contribute to hazardous drinking among SMW and provide evidence that cognitive-behavioral consistency is important for individuals expressing diverse and fluid sexual identities, attraction, and behavior.
The impact of sexual orientation on sexuality and sexual practices in North American medical students.
TLDR
In this survey of highly educated young professionals, numerous similarities and some important differences in sexuality and sexual function were noted based on sexual orientation, but it is unclear whether the dissimilarities represent differing relative prevalence of sexual problems or discrepancies in patterns of sex behavior and interpretation of the survey questions.
Experiences of Young Bisexual Women in Lesbian/Bisexual Groups on MySpace
This exploratory study examined Topic threads in Lesbian/Bisexual Groups on MySpace to examine how young biwomen self-identify in online exchanges with other bisexuals and lesbians, as well as what…
Sexual Orientation Self-Concept Ambiguity: Scale Adaptation and Validation
TLDR
Reliability of the 10-item scale score, measurement invariance based on respondents’ sexual identity status and age group, and correlations with preexisting surveys that purport to measure similar constructs and theoretical correlates are examined.
...
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 34 REFERENCES
The Politics of Sexual Identity: Sexual Attraction and Behavior among Lesbian and Bisexual Women*
In the lesbian community, one which based upon a shared sexual minority identity, recent attempts to add the category "bisexual" to the prevailing dichotomous conceptualization of sexuality have led…
Sexual identity development among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: Consistency and change over time
A longitudinal report of 156 lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths examined changes in sexual identity over time. Fifty‐seven percent of the youths consistently self‐identified as gay/lesbian, 18%…
Two Many and Not Enough
Abstract Developing sexual identity is a challenge for individuals who do not fit neatly into monosexual categories. This paper explores the use and meanings of bisexual identity among 917…
Gendered (s)explorations among same-sex attracted young people in Australia.
TLDR
It is concluded that more research is needed into the impact of gender on the development of young people's experiences of homosexuality, particularly the manner in which invisibility and lack of social acceptance of a full spectrum of sexual diversity may disadvantage young women's emotional health and well-being.
The Bisexual Experience
Abstract This study examined how bisexually-identified individuals experience cultural attitudes toward bisexuality, how they establish a sense of community for themselves, and how their experience…
Bisexuality: A Contemporary Paradox for Women
The cultural construction of ‘lesbian’ and ‘heterosexual’ women in late-nineteenth-century European cultures created both the possibility of conceiving the “bisexual” woman and the belief that…
Explaining Diversityin the Development of Same‐Sex Sexuality Among Young Women
This article summarizes findings from two ongoing studies charting the development of 167 adolescent and young adult sexual-minority women. Resultsdocument considerable variation in the quality,…
Sexual Orientation and Sex in Women's Lives: Conceptual and Methodological Issues
Use of such categorical terms as heterosexual, bisexual, and lesbian is widespread, yet research indicates that sexuality is a multidimensional phenomenon. Sexual behavior, identity, and desire are…
A New Paradigm for Understanding Women's Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
Major scientific findings about women’s sexuality and sexual orientation are reviewed. Sexual orientation is unrelated to mental health. There is no inherent association between gender conformity and…
A New View of Lesbian Subtypes: Stable Versus Fluid Identity Trajectories over an 8-Year Period
Research has increasingly documented that the distinction between lesbian and bisexual women is one of degree rather than kind, and some researchers have therefore argued for an end to sexual…
...
...