Gendered (s)explorations among same-sex attracted young people in Australia

This paper seeks to import a more complex understanding of gendered subject ivity into discussions of young people and homosexuality, and is based on a n Australian national survey (n=749) of same-sex attracted youth (SSAY) age d between 14 and 21. Results revealed significant gender differences with r egard to patterns of sexual attraction, behaviour and identity labels among participants. For the young men in the study there was more congruence bet ween feelings of gender a-typicality, same-sex attractions and same-sex beh aviours. Overall, young women displayed more fluidity with regard to their sexual feelings, behaviours and identities. Young women were more likely to be engaged in private explorations of lesbianism, concurrent with particip ation in heterosexual sex and relationships. Young women were also grapplin g with more limited and emotionally risky opportunities for sex with other girls who were already known to them as friends. The invisibility of lesbia nism as an identity or practice led to confusion about what feelings meant for the future in the arena of lived experience. The paper concludes that m ore research is needed into the impact of gender on the development of youn g people's experiences of homosexuality, particularly the manner in which i nvisibility and lack of social acceptance of a full spectrum of sexual dive rsity may disadvantage young women's emotional health and well-being. (C) 2 001 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.