Characteristics of Activities That Affect the Development of Women’s Same-Sex Relationships

Abstract

The author utilized semistructured interviews with 56 women to explore how a wide range of activities affected the development of the participants’ same-sex attractions and relationships. The researcher was able to identify and describe some aspects of the process by which eight characteristics of activities that are more or less present in various social contexts have the potential to impact whether these contexts are more or less conducive or hindering to the development of women’s same-sex attractions and relationships. Activities were more apt to nurture the development of the participants’ same-sex attractions and relationships when the activity (a) included lesbians, (b) was composed primarily of women, (c) affirmed women, (d) facilitated bonding, (e) featured a climate of acceptance of lesbians/gays/bisexuals, (f) did not feature a climate that emphasized heteronormativity, (g) was perceived as gender neutral, and (h) generated or drew participants who were similar to each other.

KEYWORDS:

• interpersonal attraction
• sexual attraction
• same-sex attraction
• couple formation
• romantic relationships
• same-sex relationships
• sexual minorities
• lesbians
• bisexual women

The author would like to thank Springfield College for Faculty Research Grants (for transcription), and the following people for consultation during the process of conducting this research and/or writing this article: Jay Coakley, Coralynn V. Davis, Linda C. Davis-Delano, Shari L. Dworkin, Ann Gillard, Bobbie Harro, and Elizabeth M. Morgan.