Untitled

Abstract

There is indirect evidence that heightened exposure to early androgen may increase the probability that a girl will develop a homosexual orientation in adulthood. One such putative marker of early androgen exposure is the ratio of the length of the index finger (2D) to the ring finger (4D), which is smaller in male humans than in females, and is smaller in lesbians than in heterosexual women. Yet there is also evidence that women may have different sexual orientations at different times in their lives, which suggests that other influences on female sexual orientation, presumably social, are at work as well. We surveyed individuals from a gay pride street fair and found that lesbians who identified themselves as "butch" had a significantly smaller 2D:4D than did those who identified themselves as "femme." We conclude that increased early androgen exposure plays a role in only some cases of female homosexuality, and that the sexual orientation of "femme" lesbians is unlikely to have been influenced by early androgens.

Comparison of Partner Choice between Lesbians and Heterosexual Women

“…Heterosexual men and women show differences in the 2D:4D proportion, being that men are disproportionate in this measure, compared to women (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011). Homosexual women, compared to heterosexual women, present greater disproportionality, resembling men in this aspect (Hall & Love, 2003).…”

“…According to this hypothesis a higher/lesser exposure or sensitivity to prenatal androgens (for example, the greater/smaller amount of receptors for these hormones) may be one of the variables that contribute to homosexuality (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011;Rice, Friberg, & Gavrilets, 2012). The exposure of the female fetus to high doses of testosterone, or their great sensitivity regarding this hormone, would influence a differential development of physical traits, especially in regions of the brain (like the suprachiasmatic nucleus, larger in homosexual men, when compared to heterosexual ones), that can also be brought back to differences in sexual behavior (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011;Rice, Friberg, & Gavrilets, 2012).…”

“…The exposure of the female fetus to high doses of testosterone, or their great sensitivity regarding this hormone, would influence a differential development of physical traits, especially in regions of the brain (like the suprachiasmatic nucleus, larger in homosexual men, when compared to heterosexual ones), that can also be brought back to differences in sexual behavior (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011;Rice, Friberg, & Gavrilets, 2012). This influence possibly occurs after the forming of the sexual organs and therefor does not affect the fetus' development (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011). These differences end up being irreversible (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011).…”

“…This influence possibly occurs after the forming of the sexual organs and therefor does not affect the fetus' development (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011). These differences end up being irreversible (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011). The discrepancies in concentrations of testosterone in the uterus cannot be detected in the adult, that's why we infer their prenatal influence through measurable signs in adulthood, like the difference of the proportion of the annular and index fingers (2D:4D proportion), since the growth of these bones seem to suffer influence of prenatal steroid hormones (Balthazart, 2012;Brown et al, 2002;Kangassalo et al, 2011).…”

Relação entre a Renda Mensal e o Desejo de Ter Filhos Procurados no Parceiro Afetivo por Homens e Mulheres Homossexuais e Heterossexuais

“…Apesar do caso de mães lésbicas ser discutido na literatura (Falk, 1989;Pies, 1989;Flaks, Fisher, Marterpasqua, & Joseph, 1995), a relação entre a maternidade destas mulheres e suas preferências por parceiras com alto status socioeconômico necessita de mais estudos, visto que não se sabe conclusivamente se há um padrão comportamental global distintivo destas mulheres acerca do comportamento de escolha da parceira (Henriques, Leão, & Tsutsumi, 2013), assim como sobre as influências biológicas e culturais em suas escolhas. Entretanto, está sendo bem explorada a hipótese da influência da exposição precoce ou maior a andrógenos do bebê durante o período uterino (Brown, Finn, Cooke, & Breedlove, 2002).…”