A new study shows women are three times more likely to be bi than men and will explore their sexuality if the opportunity arises
We’re in the middle of an interesting sexual revolution. People in the public eye are revealing themselves to be sexually and gender fluid and throwing traditional labels away. Last week, we learned that half of young people in the UK don’t identify as straight, instead seeing themselves as somewhere "on the spectrum". And now a new study adds more context to this changing landscape.
New research shows that women are three times more likely to be bisexual than men because they have a more fluid approach to relationships and sexuality. While many men claim to be “100 per cent” homosexual or heterosexual, women are much more open-minded and base their relationship choices on the personality of a person rather than gender. This essentially means women will more likely explore same-sex relationships if the opportunity arises.
US scientists tracked 5,018 women and 4,191 men as they progressed from adolescence to young adulthood, following their attitudes towards sexuality. Lead researcher Dr Elizabeth McClintock from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, said:
"Women with some degree of attraction to both males and females might be drawn into heterosexuality if they have favourable options in the heterosexual partner market. Women who are initially successful in partnering with men, as is more traditionally expected, may never explore their attraction to other women. However, women with the same sexual attractions, but less favourable heterosexual options might have greater opportunity to experiment with same-sex partners. Women who act on same-sex attraction are more likely to incorporate same-sex sexuality into their sexual identities."
"Men are less often attracted to both sexes," Dr McClintock added. "Men’s sexuality is, in this sense, less flexible. If a man is only attracted to one sex, romantic opportunity would little alter his sexual identity."
When you think of the A-listers who have recently come out as “gender fluid” or bisexual – they’re nearly all women. Lily-Rose Depp, Miley Cyrus, Kristen Stewart and Cara Delevingne. The research that showed half of young people don't identify as straight wasn't sorted by gender, so this new study could give those numbers an interesting context. It looks like it's women are leading this sexual revolution.
