Growing numbers of women — particularly those in their late teens and 20s — say they've had lesbian sex.
This is the surprise finding of the largest and most detailed government study of American sexual practices.
The survey of 12,500 women, ages 15 to 44, found that 11.5 percent reported having at least one sexual experience with another women in their lifetimes.
For women in their late teens and 20s, the figure rose to 14 percent.
This compares with 4.1 of women aged 18 to 59 who said they'd had lesbian sex in a survey conducted in 1992.
"The biggest surprise to me was the answers to questions about female-female sex," said lead author William Mosher, 54, "The previous surveys had not shown as much."
The study, conducted in 2002 by the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md., also found that slightly more than half of American teens aged 15 to 19 have engaged in oral sex.
The figure increases to about 70 percent of 18- and 19-year-olds.
The 56-page survey didn't give reasons for the rise in lesbian sex.
Mosher, a demographer at the center, said some women may think sex with other females is safer in the age of AIDS.
But some experts who study sexuality say it's likely that many college students simply see experimentation as a rite of passage.
"It's very safe in the academic community; no one thinks anything of it," said Elayne Rapping, a professor of American studies at the University of Buffalo.
"But to some extent there's more talk than action," she added, noting that bisexuality has become a "badge of courage" for some college women.
The oral sex data revealed similar levels for both girls and boys.
Those who work with young people said this offers one more sign that young women are more sexually confident than they used to be.
"This is a point of major social transition," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington-based reproductive health organization.
"The data are now coming out and roiling the idea that boys are the hunters and young girls are the prey. It absolutely defies the stereotype."
The data also underscored the fact that, unlike their parents' generation, many young people — particularly those from middle- and upper-income white families — simply do not consider oral sex a big deal.
"At 50 percent, we're talking about a major social norm. It's part of kids' lives," said Claire Brindis, professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Francisco.
The survey also found that 90 percent of men between 18 and 44 said they were heterosexual, while 2.3 percent said they were homosexual.
In addition, 1.8 percent said they were bisexual and 3.9 percent answered they were "something else." With Post Wire Services
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
godeatgod wrote:
I don't understand how guys can be turned on by watching two girls going at it with each other.
Don't feel bad, most gay guys don't get that.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Users browsing this forum: 10Club Management and 6 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
