Who Fills out A “Lesbian” Questionnaire?

Abstract

Most research on lesbians has used self‐report questionnaires, and assumed that respondents who complete a “lesbian” questionnaire self‐identify as lesbians and engage in sexual relationships with women. The present study examined the degree to which 2,393 women who answered a “Lesbian Wellness Survey” are distributed on five aspects of lesbian sexuality and the coming‐out process. The five aspects were: (a) Sexual Orientation (numerical rating of sexual identity from exclusively lesbian/gay to exclusively heterosexual); (b) Years Out (length of time of self‐identity as lesbian/gay/bisexual); (c) Outness/Disclosure (amount of disclosure of sexual orientation to others); (d) Sexual Experience (proportion of sexual relationships with women); and (e) Lesbian Activities (extent of participation in lesbian community events). Mild but significant correlations were found among these dimensions, indicating that being lesbian is not a homogeneous experience. Closer examination by the demographic characteristics of race/ethnicity and age revealed a diversity of experience. African American, Native American, and Latina respondents had moderate correlations among these aspects of lesbian experience, whereas White and Asian American respondents evidenced only mild or nonsignificant correlations. The results indicate that researchers who are studying one aspect of the lesbian experience (e.g., outness to others) need to ensure that they are not assuming such behavior based on other dimensions (such as frequent participation in lesbian community activities or years of being out), especially among White and Asian American lesbians.

Asexual and Non-Asexual Respondents from a U.S. Population-Based Study of Sexual Minorities

“…Just as research with LGB samples has found only weak associations between the dimensions of sexual identity, sexual behavior, and sexual relationships (cf. Geary et al, 2018;Laumann et al, 1994;Morris & Rothblum, 1999), our findings demonstrate that asexual identity is not synonymous with lack of sexual attraction, sexual behavior, or an intimate relationship. Compared with non-asexual individuals, asexuals were less likely to report having had sex in the 5 years prior to the survey.…”

“…This is a limitation because people who reported no sexual attraction or behavior may very well use heterosexual, LGB, or other identity terms. This is because there is no perfect overlap among sexual identity, sexual behavior, and sexual attraction (Geary et al, 2018;Laumann, Gagnon, Michael, & Michaels, 1994;Morris & Rothblum, 1999).…”

Ethnic/racial differences in the coming-out process of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: A comparison of sexual identity development over time.

“…However, other findings indic a t e d n o s i g n i f i c a n t e t h n i c / r a c i a l differences in attitudes toward homosexuality (Dube ´& Savin-Williams, 1999) or in fear of disclosing to others (Morris & Rothblum, 1999). In addition, although Black LGB individuals may disclose their sexual identity to fewer numbers of individuals (see above), they may be more likely than their White peers to disclose to someone at an earlier rather than a later age (Morris & Rothblum, 1999;Savin-Williams, 1998).…”

Evaluation of a Culturally Inclusive Model of Sexual Minority Identity Formation

“…However, there exists only partial support for this position in the available research. In studies of women (Morris & Rothblum, 1999) and male youths (Dubé & Savin-Williams, 1999), no racial/ethnic differences in sexual orientation (defined as erotic attractions for or fantasies about the same or other sex) or in sex of sexual partners were found. Yet, studies of sexual identity continually support significant racial/ethnic differences (e.g., Parks et al, 2004 …”