Which way have you flexed?
A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found that female sexuality is more fluid than previously thought. Dr. Lisa Diamond of the University of Utah conducted a seven year study of 89 woman to observe their sexual development and preferences. At the onset of the study, the women were between the ages of 16 and 23 and identified as lesbian or bi-sexual. Although several researchers in the past have asked adult lesbians to explain their sexual development, Diamond observed the development itself rather than basing the study on recollections. "Reconstructing your memory is a biased process," she said, "and there was no information to tell us just how that process unfolds over time."
Observing the process rather than the end result, Diamond recognized the large role that social context and specific relationships play in female sexuality. She also noted that female sexual development appears to be a great deal more fluid than that of male sexuality. However, she said that fluctuations reflect
the uneven dynamics of female development and should not be confused with deliberately ‘changing’ one’s sexual orientation. "Fluidity and change does not mean that [a woman] is choosing her sexuality," Diamond said, adding that many women feel no control over their attractions and attachments.
Too many people "conflate change with choice," Diamond said, "and that absolutely does not fit the data that I've collected." (more...)
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