Lesbian sexual orientation

Evolutionary psychology on lesbian sexual orientation:

Although there have been several theories that have attempted to explain Male homosexual orientation, practically no efforts have been made to explain the puzzle of primary or exclusive besbian orientation, which occurs in 1 to 2 percent of women. As many theorists, such as Mike Bailey, Frank Muscarella, and James Dabbs, have pointed out, homosexuality is not a singular phenomenon. Lesbianism and male homosexuality, for example, appear to be quite different: Male homosexual orientation tends to appear early in development, whereas female sexuality appears to be far more flexible over the lifespan. Future theories might also attend to the large individual differences within those currently classified as “lesbian” and “gay”. For example, mate preferences vary across lesbians who describe themselves as “butch” as opposed to “femme”. Butch lesbians tend to be more masculine, dominant, and assertive, whereas femee lesians tend to be more sensitive, cheerful, and feminine. The differences are more than merely psychological; butch lesbians, compared to their femme peers, have higher levels of circulating Testosterone, more masculine Waist-to-hip ratios more permissive attitudes toward casual sex, and less desire to have children. Femme lesbians place greater importance than butch lesbians on financial resources in a potential romantic partner and experience sexual jealousy over rivals who are more physically attractive. Butch lesbians place less value on financial resources when seeking partners but experience greater jealousy over rival competitors who are more financially successful. The psychological, morphological, and hormonal correlates imply that “butch” and “femme” are not merely arbitrary labels but rather reflect genuine individual differences.

Despite the recent theoretical and empirical attention to understanding and explaining homosexual orientation and same-sex sexual ehavior, their origins remain scientific mysteries. Progress might accelerate with the realization of the possibility that there may be no sigle theory that can fully explain both gay males and besbians, much less one that can explain the profound individual differences among those with a same-sex sexual orientation. —p134, Evolutionary psychology