Masculinity, Femininity and the Development of Sexual Orientation in Women

Abstract

In an analysis that focuses exclusively on women, the authors argue that gender nonconformity is not the key to understanding women's sexual orientation. Instead, they assert, the associations among masculinity, femininity and women's sexual orientation are diverse and vary across time and place. To develop this perspective, this paper reviews research on biological processes, childhood gender nonconformity, and adult masculinity and femininity. It also draws on historical and cross-cultural accounts and considers the important but neglected role that financial self-sufficiency plays in the lives of women. The authors urge the adoption of a new paradigm recognizing that the development of women's sexual orientation can follow diverse developmental pathways shaped by multiple biological, social and cultural influences.

Key Words:

• Childhood gender nonconformity
• exotic becomes erotic
• femininity
• gender atypicality
• homosexuality
• lesbian
• masculinity
• neurohormonal hypothesis
• sexual orientation
• tomboys
• women