Gay Men | Lesbian Women |
| | | | |||
As men conditioned to be | As women conditioned to be |
more emphasis on sex | men (& physiology helps) | |||
| | | | |||
Adolescent boys almost | Masturbation less common among | |||
universally masturbate | adolescent girls | |||
| | | | |||
Boys more likely to have | Girls less likely to have | |||
same-sex experiments | same-sex experiments | |||
| | | | |||
Male homosexuality more | Female homosexuality less | |||
visibile; boys more aware | visible; girls less aware | |||
of it and more likely to | of it and less likely to | |||
talk about it | talk about it | |||
| | | | |||
More aware of personal | Less aware of personal | |||
sexuality and less likely | sexuality and more likely | |||
to believe what told | to believe what told | |||
| | | | |||
Behaviours more likely to | Behaviours less likely to | |||
follow feelings | follow feelings | |||
| | | | |||
Earlier same-sex sexual | Later same-sex sexual | |||
experiences | experiences | |||
| | | | |||
First sexual experience | First sexual experience | |||
likely to be homosexual | likely to be heterosexual | |||
| | | | |||
Less likely to experience | More likely to experience | |||
sexual abuse in family - | sexual abuse in family - |
| | | | |||
Come out as homosexual | Come out as homosexual | |||
earlier and more likely | later and more likely | |||
to be out, more support | to be closetted, less support | |||
available, more likely to | available, less likely to | |||
use agencies | use agencies | |||
| | | | |||
Stronger identity, less | Weaker identity, more |
consider or try changing | consider and try changing | |||
| | | | |||
Parents more likely to | Parents less likely to | |||
believe, therefore less | believe, therefore more | |||
pressure to change | pressure to change | |||
| | | | |||
Better education, jobs and | Worse education, jobs and | |||
money, therefore more | money, therefore more | |||
independent from family, | dependent on family, | |||
especially housing | especially housing | |||
| | | |
| | | | |||
Less likely to get married | More likely to get married | |||
| | | | |||
Young Gay men find out | Young Lesbian Women find out | |||
about Homosexuality | about Homosexuality | |||
through sexual contacts | through the media (hence | |||
with older Gay men (hence | more isolated/invisible) | |||
emphasis on sex/risk of HIV | | | |||
| | | | |||
Less isolated and more | More isolated and less | |||
likely to find partners; | likely to find partners; | |||
| | | | |||
More out than lesbians | More closetted than gays | |||
| | | | |||
More positive role models | Few positive role models | |||
| | | | |||
Easier to contact for | Difficult to contact for | |||
research purposes | research purposes | |||
| | | | |||
More research therefore | Less research therere | |||
more aware of needs | less aware of needs | |||
| | | | |||
Appears to be more gay | Appears to be fewer lesbians | |||
men than lesbians | than gay men |