posted June 23, 2003 07:16 PM         

Study: Females get aroused by both sexes
Thu Jun 19, 8:35 PM ET Add Community - Planet Out to My Yahoo!

Randy Dotinga, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network

SUMMARY: A new study confirms what researchers have suspected for some time -- women may prefer to date one gender or the other, but they get sexually aroused by both.

It's no surprise that lesbians like to watch lesbian pornography. But the big news in a new study is that they also get turned on by watching heterosexuals and gay men have sex.

And straight women? They like it all, too.

The findings confirm what researchers have suspected for some time -- women may prefer to date one gender or the other, but they get sexually aroused by both.

Men, on the other hand, aren't nearly as flexible. Straight men like to watch women have sex, and gay men like to watch men. Case closed.

"This may well be relevant to the flexibility of female sexuality. I wouldn't be surprised if this is one reason why women transition more between sexual identities than men," said study co-author Michael Bailey, chairman of the psychology department at Northwestern University and author of "The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism."

In his study, completed over several years, Bailey and colleagues recruited 69 men and 52 women, both heterosexual and homosexual, to watch two-minute snippets of X-rated movies in a laboratory.

The men hooked themselves up to a rubber-band-like device that detected erections by measuring the thickness of the penis. The women used a small device that shines a light into the vagina and detects reflected light. According to Bailey, the vagina becomes darker during arousal.

The videos featured various types of sex (vaginal, oral and anal) and various types of partners (male-male, female-female, male-female).

The researchers will report their findings in an upcoming edition of the journal Psychological Science. They released an early report this month.

Heterosexual men were most stimulated by watching lesbian sex, followed by heterosexual sex. The gay men responded most to male erotica.

But the women -- straight or lesbian -- tended to enjoy watching all the types of partners have sex. Only 63 percent responded most to sex involving their preferred gender, a much lower number than among the men.

The study findings confirm the experiences of many women who find themselves suddenly developing a new sexual orientation, said Lisa Diamond, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Utah.

"With women, the experience of sexual attraction doesn't revolve around the gender of the partner as it does around other things," she explained. "Women say, 'I didn't think I was attracted to women , and then all of a sudden, boom!' This fluidity does not appear to be as common among men."

The next step, Bailey said, is to study sexual arousal among bisexuals. Initial research suggests that bisexual men share something in common with straight and gay men -- they're significantly aroused by one gender more than the other.

posted June 23, 2003 07:29 PM         

Then there's those who like it all....gay, straight, girl on guy, guy on guy, girl-girl-guy, guy-guy-girl...girl on horse, guy on cream pie...whatever!

Taste is a very personal thing, afterall.

posted June 24, 2003 02:28 AM         

Thanks Lost Leo for the food for thought!

posted June 24, 2003 01:14 PM         

So I suppose that's why it's not repulsive to see two woman.....uh, together and stuff.

But, two sexy men, in the same scenario- BLECH! Why? I dunno. It's seems more against the grain of nature somehow.

posted June 24, 2003 01:53 PM         

There are few things in the world of sexuality that I find repugnant...so long as animals and children aren't involved,then it's pretty much to each his (or her) own. After all, it's just naked bodies finding pleasure...who cares who has what parts?

posted June 24, 2003 03:03 PM         

Thanks for posting this, LL!

posted June 24, 2003 04:58 PM         

Lioneye has a very good point.
Twisted male bonding = outdegrading each other.
The things I saw living in a Fraternity house with 40 dudes... Exactly how you said it Lioneye, "make him your b*tch"

My Aries bestfriend (of course Aries) had an uncontrollable urge to dry-hump dudes when they were vulnerable, like when their legs were up on the couch... He'd just lift the legs, pin them to their chest, and have his way with them... a short humping burst!?! TOTALLY embarassing the humpee in front of all brothers or women in the room!

For some reason I never fell victim... I was quick & always on point, but his humping sprees would cause revenge attacks on him, then it just exploded throughout the house...

posted June 24, 2003 05:04 PM         

Good ol' male bonding. Gotta love it!

posted June 24, 2003 09:30 PM         

I put the whole ass-slapping thing out there to see what would happen...these subjects always polarize people. I hate to see things get too one-sided.

Yes, ass-slapping is not as in vogue as it once was, but it did/does exist. If men can amuse themselves by thinking that women are acting in some kind of homo-erotic way by complimenting each other, or bonding, etc....than certainly their ass-touching is open to the same kind of interpretation!

I've always said that if you really listen to people, they will divulge everything about themselves. You just have to listen. Some of the things we joke about, in reference to ourselves, are things that are true about our natures. One of my bosses loves it when I tease him about being submissive. I say, "You know what James, you would look lovely in a studded leather collar, on your knees..." and he runs with it! He adores the fantasy. It's a part of his psyche.

Another man I know jokes that he'd love to dress like Britney Spears for company parties. He's straight...but, based on some conversations, I believe there's a bit of a cross-dresser inside him.

Ergo...I think 'the humper' has some homosexual issues of his own to deal with. Some of the most macho guys, ya never know. Rolling Stone did a big article a few years ago about the Army being a haven for a lot of gay men who have issues with themselves, they feel that by joining the army they can purge their natures. The article detailed violence that often erupted towards these men from straight soldiers who 'found them out.'

But hey, most of this stuff is just my opinion...I'm just an armchair psychologist!

And truly, I don't really care who's having sex with whom...it's too much ado about nothing. Like I said, it's just (mostly) naked bodies finding some pleasure with each other.

To everything there is a season...

posted June 24, 2003 09:50 PM         

(I won't tell if you won't tell!!)

posted June 25, 2003 01:49 AM         

And rugby can get pretty carnal in its carnage.

What's a little homo-eroticism between friends, right?

More fuel for the fire...

posted June 25, 2003 09:43 AM         

Nope. Don't like hugs... my Virgo and Pisces g/f's love them! They laugh as I get all stiff and tense when they do it.

Small children? I love to hug them. I'm not a very lovey dovey type of person; so I think that's the easiest way for me to show them the more tender side. I'm the type that nit picks on kids and becomes buds with them.

Adults? No physical contact. I'll bail your butt out of jail, loan you cash or even help you get back at someone but NO HUGS!!

Hot guys... guy would have to be a little more if you know what I mean

Like I said, if I'm attracted sexually than if I make physical contact with them... it's on! The gem well.... I just couldn't resist and didn't even try to. (a reason I didn't make any comments on military)

As I've said before... at least 75% of my friends are guys and we don't touch. (another reason for no military comments)

posted June 25, 2003 11:54 AM         

I don't think it has anything to do with the nature of a straight man, but everything to do with how CONDITIONED the man has been made in society.

All society does is condition and condition and condition, that in the end, no one knows who they truly are or how they truly feel.

There is no right or wrong way to love, unless it's being debased in its darkest form. But the thing is, we won't know whats dark, until we find the truth as to why we keep looking for real love anyway.

You say all these things but they're irrelevant to the truth! I think it's a lot closer to why everyone needs love in the first place.

That's it, I'll shut up now! But I tell ya'!

It's all about the conditioning baby!

It's all about the conditioning baby!

posted June 25, 2003 02:36 PM         

All my friends hug, BUT me. I honestly feel no need to hug a woman that's "my friend." I really don't like to be touched, especially by some chick who wants me and thinks getting a hug means something... sh*t p*sses me off

So I don't do it, and rarely offer up a hug to anyone, only present love interests and I'll let past loves hug me still, that's ok with me I guess.

It's like what 1Scorp said, if I'm touching you than's there a reason, and the reason is probably that I want to tear your clothes off and have a romp round the haybail...

As for conditioning, Starlover I totally agree...

I've been noticing amongst my life that how I deep-down TRULY view life and its social, political, sexual, religious issues are farther from the mainstream than ever... especially when I allow myself to TRULY open up... But I automatically become WAY TO f***n abstract, almost psychotically open-minded, for people and they freak out like I'm weird & wrong...

(Like they're scared I'm bursting their bubble or bring the world down round them)

posted June 25, 2003 03:10 PM         

A romp in the haybail?! Only thought us country people did that sort of thing

Not as hillbilly as it sounds... I mean, city dudes like it too..

By the way... just because you're from the south or especially KY ... We're not all hillbillies and yes, I try to wear my shoes every time I go out!