scholarly journals Conceptualization and measurement of homosexuality in sex surveys: a critical review

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1365-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Michaels ◽  
Brigitte Lhomond
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Research Traditions ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Attraction Behavior ◽  
Interviewing Technique

This article reviews major national population sex surveys that have asked questions about homosexuality focusing on conceptual and methodological issues, including the definitions of sex, the measured aspects of homosexuality, sampling and interviewing technique, and questionnaire design. Reported rates of major measures of same-sex attraction, behavior, partners, and sexual identity from surveys are also presented and compared. The study of homosexuality in surveys has been shaped by the research traditions and questions ranging from sexology to the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. Sexual behavior has been a central topic at least since Kinsey. Issues of sexual attraction and/or orientation and sexual identity have emerged more recently. Differences in the treatment of men and women in the design and analysis of surveys as well as in the reported rates in different surveys, in different countries and time periods are also presented and discussed. We point out the importance of the consideration of both methodological and social change issues in assessing such differences.

scholarly journals Intersections between Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Behavior among a Nationally Representative Sample of American Men and Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 859-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Mishel
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Bisexual Identity

Abstract Social scientists struggle on how to best operationalize and measure sexual orientation. Depending on the survey, researchers can use self-reports of lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) identity, same-sex partner cohabitation, same-sex sexual attraction, or same-sex sexual behavior. All measures come with their own limitations. To illuminate differences in these measures, this study examines the intersections between self-reported sexual identity, attraction, and behavior among a nationally representative sample of US men and women aged 15–45. I explore how and when the three measures align, examine the determinants of self-identifying as gay or bisexual based on sexual behavior and attraction, and assess gender differences in the patterns. I find that about 20% of women and 10% of men aged 15–45 would comprise the LGB community if it were defined to include those who report at least one of the following: gay or bisexual identity, any same-sex attraction, or same-sex sex in the last year. This is much higher than the 6.4% of women and 3.6% of men aged 15–45 who self-identify as LGB. I conclude with recommendations that can aid in measurement of the LGB population, and discuss implications for using certain measures over others when conducting research on the LGB community.

scholarly journals Intersections between Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Behavior among a Nationally Representative Sample of American Men and Women

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Mishel
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Bisexual Identity

Social scientists struggle in how to best operationalize and measure sexual orientation. Depending on the survey, researchers can use self-reports of lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) identity, same-sex partner cohabitation, same-sex sexual attraction, or same-sex sexual behavior. All measures come with their own limitations. To illuminate differences in these measures, this study examines the intersections between self-reported sexual identity, attraction, and behavior among a nationally representative sample of U.S. men and women aged 15-45. I explore how and when the three measures align, examine the determinants of self-identifying as gay or bisexual based on sexual behavior and attraction, and assess gender differences in the patterns. I find that about 20% of women and 10% of men aged 15-45 would comprise the LGB community if it were defined to include those who report at least one of the following: gay or bisexual identity, any same-sex attraction, or same-sex sex in the last year. This is much higher than the 6.4% of women and 3.6% of men aged 15-45 who self-identify as LGB. I conclude with recommendations that can aid in measurement of the LGB population, and discuss implications for using certain measures over others when conducting research on the LGB community.

Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships

Sexual Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Richters ◽  
Dennis Altman ◽  
Paul B. Badcock ◽  
Anthony M. A. Smith ◽  
Richard O. de Visser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Female Sexuality ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Participation Rate ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sex Attraction

Background Behavioural and other aspects of sexuality are not always consistent. This study describes the prevalence and overlap of same-sex and other-sex attraction and experience and of different sexual identities in Australia. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20 094 men and women aged 16–69 years recruited by landline and mobile phone random-digit dialling with a response rate (participation rate among eligible people) of 66.2%. Respondents were asked about their sexual identity (‘Do you think of yourself as’ heterosexual/straight, homosexual/gay, bisexual, etc.) and the sex of people with whom they had ever had sexual contact and to whom they had felt sexually attracted. Results: Men and women had different patterns of sexual identity. Although the majority of people identified as heterosexual (97% men, 96% women), women were more likely than men to identify as bisexual. Women were less likely than men to report exclusively other-sex or same-sex attraction and experience; 9% of men and 19% of women had some history of same-sex attraction and/or experience. Sexual attraction and experience did not necessarily correspond. Homosexual/gay identity was more common among men with tertiary education and living in cities and less common among men with blue-collar jobs. Many gay men (53%) and lesbians (76%) had some experience with an other-sex partner. More women identified as lesbian or bisexual than in 2001–02. Similarly, more women reported same-sex experience and same-sex attraction. Conclusion: In Australia, men are more likely than women to report exclusive same-sex attraction and experience, although women are more likely than men to report any non-heterosexual identity, experience and attraction. Whether this is a feature of the plasticity of female sexuality or due to lesser stigma than for men is unknown.

scholarly journals BDSM as sexual orientation: A comparison to lesbian, gay, and bisexual sexuality

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tess Gemberling ◽  
Robert Cramer ◽  
Rowland Miller
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Power Dynamic ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Sex Positive

One less common and more stigmatized form of sexuality is BDSM, which is an umbrella term for consensual practices that involve, but are not limited to, bondage and discipline (B&D), dominance and submission (D&s), and sadomasochism (S&M). Focusing on one of many different conceptualizations, BDSM is comprised of a power dynamic between partners enacted through various activities (for an inclusive list, see Sandnabba et al., 1999; Weinberg et al., 1984). However, beyond being recently accepted as nonpathological, research has yet to reach consensus on BDSM’s nature and development. Specifically, although theories describing its origin abound, it remains unclear whether BDSM is best conceptualized as a sexual behavior, sexual attraction, sexual identity, and/or sexual orientation for those who practice for sexual purposes. Accordingly, the present paper outlines a common framework of sexuality while presenting an alternative yet complementary theory: Consistent with a sex-positive framework, BDSM may be best conceptualized as another form of sexual orientation for a percentage of practitioners.

Precarious Sexuality: How Men and Women Are Differentially Categorized for Similar Sexual Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trenton D. Mize ◽  
Bianca Manago
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Sexual History ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Sexual Encounter ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Heterosexual Woman ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Survey Experiments

Are men and women categorized differently for similar sexual behavior? Building on theories of gender, sexuality, and status, we introduce the concept of precarious sexuality to suggest that men’s—but not women’s—heterosexuality is an especially privileged identity that is easily lost. We test our hypotheses in a series of survey experiments describing a person who has a sexual experience conflicting with their sexual history. We find that a single same-sex sexual encounter leads an observer to question a heterosexual man’s sexual orientation to a greater extent than that of a heterosexual woman in a similar situation. We also find that a different-sex sexual encounter is more likely to change others’ perceptions of a lesbian woman’s sexual orientation—compared to perceptions of a gay man’s sexual orientation. In two conceptual replications, we vary the level of intimacy of the sexual encounter and find consistent evidence for our idea of precarious sexuality for heterosexual men. We close with a general discussion of how status beliefs influence categorization processes and with suggestions for extending our theoretical propositions to other categories beyond those of sexual orientation.

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