Late blooming lesBians? Reality or a myth?

By maxime68 on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 21:52

The first time I came across the 'concept' of "late blooming lesBians" was via a movie called Late Bloomers (from 1996). Kind of a sweet movie, despite the many clichés used.

I never would have thought that late blooming lesBians where that interesting to science that even studies have been published about them. At least that’s what several newspaper articles want to make us believe, though when trying to find more about this study you quickly realize that most articles are more or less biblical quotes of the Telegraph article “Late-blooming lesbians: women can switch sexualities as they mature”.

Let’s not be nit-picky and generously overlook the phrasing “women can switch”, which implies something different than the article and the study seem to be about. I would have loved to give you more details about this important research, but apparently it is only available as part of a book already published in February 2008 (Lisa M. Diamond – Sexual Fluidity).

Responsible for this study was a Christan Moran, researcher at Southern Connecticut State University, who interviewed the  “more than 200 married lesbians”.

I could go on and on about what I think of the validity of this study, and about that this looks pretty much like a story to fill the beginning summer-holes with, and about what I think of those who picked up the story without any questioning or own thoughts.

As some examples of proof the Telegraph article lists Virginia Woolf and Portia de Rossi; I don’t know enough of Portia de Rossi’s biography, though in my opinion an actress trying to make it in US’ testosterone driven and very heterosexual movie business doesn’t make for a trophy example. And Virginia Woolf, what to say, that was a long, long, long time ago and the study was about a “current” finding.

Before you get all worked up about me ignoring the fact that late blooming lesBians exist – I don’t, I know they exist. I only question the study and its analysis, like that a woman has been happily married and then realizes out of the blue that she is actually interested in women. Women, not one woman. Which contradicts the other argument that the women they interviewed were afraid of the responses of their environment had they come out earlier, which I would call being closeted.

What I agree with is the title of the book this study seems to belong to, I do believe in fluidity of things. Additionaly I don’t find it significant at all that several women redefined themselves from bisexual to lesbian or vice versa, that’s got less to do with definition of sexuality and more with acceptance by society. Admit it, weren’t you among those too who wondered if it had suddenly become popular for actresses and singers to come out as bisexual?