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Study: 3 out of 4 women identify as lesbian or bisexual

By Chloe Adams Hours

A controversial study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology challenges traditional views on female sexual orientation, suggesting that a significant majority of women may not be exclusively heterosexual. This research indicates a prevalent attraction towards other women, prompting a re-evaluation of how female sexuality is understood and labeled.

Rethinking Female Sexual Orientation

A controversial study suggests that most women may be lesbian or bisexual, rarely purely heterosexual, fundamentally questioning the traditional alignment of gender with heterosexuality. Conducted by the University of Essex, this research has generated significant global discussion by indicating that self-identified sexual orientation may not always align with physiological arousal. According to the study’s lead author, “Despite most women identifying as heterosexual, our research clearly shows that when it comes to sexual arousal, they are lying. They are lesbians or bisexuals, but almost never heterosexual.

Unpacking the Essex Study’s Findings

The research was spearheaded by Dr. Gerulf Rieger from the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex. It involved a sample of 345 women, initially aiming to explore the relationship between non-sexual and sexual masculine behaviors in lesbian women.
The study revealed that while some lesbian women displayed more masculine traits in their sexual arousal and others in non-sexual characteristics, there was largely no direct connection between the two. This suggests that the non-sexual traits of lesbian women and their sexual arousal patterns are influenced by distinct, independent factors. Dr. Rieger elaborated that “some women may dress in a masculine way but do not necessarily display masculine sexual behaviors,” implying that public presentation does not always reflect private sexual preferences.

Bisexuality as the Dominant Pattern

To assess sexual attraction, participants in the study were shown videos of naked men and women. Researchers monitored various physiological indicators of sexual arousal, including pupil dilation and genital excitement.
The results indicated a strong pattern of bisexuality among the participants:

  • 82% of participants exhibited arousal to both sexes, suggesting a widespread bisexual response.
  • Among women who identified as heterosexual, 74% still showed arousal to both sexes.
  • Conversely, most women who identified as lesbian were primarily aroused only by videos featuring women.

Supporting Research and Broader Implications

These findings are echoed by other studies that suggest a broader scope of female sexual attraction.

Further Research with Similar Outcomes

  • A 2011 investigation by Boise State University reported that 60% of women who identified as heterosexual felt attracted to other women.
  • Another study from the University of Montreal in 2014 observed that despite many women identifying as heterosexual, they experienced same-sex attraction, with 36.9% of a sample of 718 self-identified heterosexual women having fantasized about sexual encounters with other women.

Expanding the Scope of Female Arousal

Perhaps one of the most intriguing contributions to this field is Meredith Chivers’ research. Utilizing vaginal photoplethysmographs, a device that measures blood flow in the vagina, Chivers’ study concluded that women’s arousal patterns can be surprisingly generalized. Her findings suggested that women could be aroused not only by videos of humans engaging in sexual acts but also by depictions of animals, such as chimpanzees, in similar situations. This indicates a potentially broader, non-specific physiological arousal response in women, challenging assumptions about the specificity of sexual stimuli.