Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture Volume (5), Issue (1)

Review Article Homosexuality among Females: Evolution to Revolution Monika Thakur1, Keerthi Mohanan2 1Consultant Editor,CBS Medical Publisher, New Delhi, 2Tutor, College of Nursing, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India Abstract Females were not given the liberty to express their sexuality in historically male dominated world until education was accessible to them and women were educated to socialize their thinking. Homosexuality refers to same sex attraction. Although much was written about male homosexuality, female homosexuality is less studied and still reasons for female homosexuality are not that evident. A huge gap could be identified between early recognition of symptoms of homosexuality to self-acceptance and disclosure to other's about own -sexual-orientation. Although family is usually the first place for disclosure of own sexual orientation, fear sustains regarding acceptance. Homosexual women face multiple problems in all walks of life and may be abused or denied basic rights for a dignified living. An empathetic and non-judgemental attitude from the clinicians might help in easily approaching the mental and physical health issues faced by female homosexuals.

Keywords: Homosexuality, Females, Lesbianism Date Received : 21st March 2019 Date Accepted: 21st June 2019 Correspondence should be addressed to : Monika Thakur Consultant Editor,CBS Medical Publisher, New Delhi, India Email- [email protected]

Introduction based on those attractions, related Homosexuality is characterized by behaviours and membership to having sexual contact with same other females (APA, 2008) This sex, either as a genital act or article tries to give an overview maintaining a long-term sexual regarding the origin of homosexuality /erotic status. A homosexual among females. Viewpoint of person dwells bonding of love for various historians regarding an individual having similar female homosexuality otherwise physical structure and sexual called lesbianism is described in a orientation and chooses them for chronological approach. Current being a sexual partner (Gooren, legal status around the globe and 2011). Homosexuality in females hurdles faced by the are indicate to a sense of identity also described.

Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture 73 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture Origin of the term Women homosexual did not have The derivation of the word '' freedom at par with male lies with name of the Greek island of counterpart to openly pursue their Lesbos, right from the 6th-century relationship although it was considered to be harmless if not associated with the name of BC poet asked for acceptance as homosexual Sappho, who herself was a lady. In relationship. Things started early 19th century the word lesbian changing by world-war II as was regarded as related to Lesbos government actively supported (Oxford referencen.d). The remnants homosexual women to expand their of her writings in poetry suggests social circle by reaching out to her female influenced ideas women having similar ideas by regarding everyday life of females, means of education and better their bonding, relationship and the earning opportunities which gave customs females followed during them economic freedom (Timeline of that era. Her words further LGBT, 2019). highlighted elegance of feminine beauty and declaration of her love Very less literature focused on towards females (Weick 2010). female homosexuality comparative to male homosexual behaviour as it Development of the term 'lesbian' w was not considered as a significant 1 8 7 0 - L e s b i a n i s m problem by heath care personnel, documented to be sexually even its existence was not admitted s t i m u l a t i n g c o r r e l a t i o n to exit. However, few researchers between females. like Richard von, Krafft Ebing, w1890- A medical dictionary used German sexologist, and Britain's lesbianism as a descriptive term Havelock Ellis had listed earliest for addressing love towards and more adoring sequence of same sex among females. female same-sex attraction, w20th century–Term lesbian, approaching it as a form of insanity i n v e r t a n d h o m o s e x u a l (Ellis' categorization of ‘lesbianism’ frequently used as per the is currently disapproved as being a earlier concept given by Sappho medical disorder. However, Ellis in her poetry. conceded that there were ‘true w inverts’ who would spend their lives 1925- Medical literature pursuing erotic relationships with became friendly with use of women. Inverts were regarded as term lesbian and became a third sex or the opposite gender role pronoun for female homo sexual follower. Women in Victorian time act (Marcus,2016; Zimmerman, were forbidden or were prohibited to 2000). initiate sexual events rather had an

th image of feminist to be followed and In the early 19 century sexologists the so called inverts were opposing described lesbian women as those this concept and were thought of not sticking on to female personality having masculine features for and gender roles and even showing sexual interest in misinterpreted as insane individuals. women(Hull, 1983). 74 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture Kraft-Ebing and Ellis were pioneer categorized it in four stages: (a) sexologist in shedding light on the sensitization-initial same sex female homosexuality and creating attraction and first self-questioning awareness among masses. They regarding heterosexual relationship claimed that homosexuality was a (b) identity confusion-internal congenital anomaly and it should conflict duration during mid- not be considered as criminal adolescent time and initiation of offence. Lack of societal acceptance same-sex sexual activity(c) identity of homosexuals prevented lesbians assumption-young adults start from describing their emotions identifying them as LGB and openly and lead them to form closed shares the new self-identity with subculture group which gave them near ones people and seeks the acceptance of being different community among other LGBs (d) and form their own social circles in commitment- indulging in same- Paris and Berlin (Aldrich,2006). sex romantic relationship and revelation to a society consisting of Models of Homosexuality in heterosexual people (Floyd & Stein, Females 2002). Take home message Although the scientific basis suggested by these research models for the exact reason behind one's was that healthy and stable sexual sexual orientation to be felt as identity development forces heterosexual, homosexual or imbibition of sexual identity in bisexual still is a evolving individual's life(Aldrich, 2006). controversy but still some possible biological, psychological or social Sexuality and Lesbian identity effects of parent's sexual orientation Culture followed in western involvement has been seen. c o u n t r i e s t a g L e s b i a n s a s Psychological and physical characteristics that describes their environment experienced by individual sexuality in combination children brought up by homosexual to resemblance to a group that parent's shows greater inclination shares common traits(Rust, 1992). towards choosing homosexuality in History reflects that women in many own future (APA, 2008).The girls culture and society have had sexual exposed earlier to androgen are relationship with other women, but predisposed to show homosexuality they were never acclaimed to be in a or being lesbian (Gooren, 2006). relationship with whom they have sexual relationship. Lesbian Numerous researchers have identity was side-lined from society proposed and worked on various by giving a subcultural identity and m o d e l s o f s e x u a l i d e n t i t y was reduced to a bare political development for more than three minority in western culture decades. Cass (1979) developed a (Aldrich, 2006). model, on a six-stage linear psychological path of sexual Whether sexual activity need to be identity development. Troiden there to define a relationship (1989) evolved Cass's model and between two females as lesbianism, 75 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar still remains a debated issue. Legal status across the globe According to feminist writer Naomi As per the Gallops survey the McCormick, men community gives proportion of LGBT Americans has the judgement pertaining to reached 4.5% of the US population women's sexuality, who primarily (over 11 milllion) by the year 2017 points lesbian sexual orientation as (Moore, 2013).“The International sexual closeness with other women. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and However same criterion is not Intersex Association (IGLA) reported necessary for declaration of in March 2019, that 70 States still heterosexual behaviour of women. continue to criminalise same-sex McCormick emphasized that rather consensual activity. Regardless of than genital contact, emotional, the gender in 44 of these States psychological and ideological individual is pronounced a criminal connections between women are in such issues. The criminalization more crucial (McCormick et al, of homosexual behaviour in 2017 by 1994). legal system in India was a major setback to rights of LGBT A study conducted in 2011, on community (ILGA, 2016). Advances ascertaining the difference related to change legal aspect have to lesbians for health related matter occurred in last two years in states suggested segregating lesbians like: India, Trinidad and Tobago, using the following criteria- and Angola. Majority of the identity, sexual behaviour or both. countries against homosexuality Sexual desire or attraction would lies in Africa, Middle East and other not qualify as a criterion for sexual parts of south Asia. Homosexuality identity as it rarely accounted in could result in death sentence also measurable health or psychosocial in eight countries across the globe issues (Brogan, 2001). (Carrol, 2016).

Shifting of concept from The evolving debate on homosexual punishable offence to a normal behaviour and identity over year's variant further weekend the previous belief In Indian scenario, a 14th century of every culture that heterosexuality text mentions about a child born to is the most usual pattern of sexual l e s b i a n c o u p l e b r e a k s t h e identity individual follows. When a mysterious silence about female female is attracted toward another sexuality. With the release of a film woman it leads to negative titled 'Fire' in 1996 the matter of speculation about life goals. Those lesbian relationship came into light who undergo this, they use to adopt to be discussed among public, the identity breaking the stereotype prompting some theatres in India to of what society considering normal be attacked by extremists. Indian (Schlager,1998). This identity is social activist continually rejected different from gay men, hetero the usage of word lesbian as being sexual women and bisexual women, influenced by power or politics, and which sometimes cause conflict in rarest cases the discussion among them (Oxford referencen.d). 76 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture centred on male homosexuality or physical abuse, desire to become only. Women right groups in India parent and deciding for insurance continue to debate the legitimacy of and end of life plans in advance including lesbian issues in their (Rullo, 2017). Most important issue platforms and issues focusing on faced is hidden sexual orientation female homosexuality are considered from society and even from near one to be sensitive and are usually less (Martos etal, 2017). Nearly half of talked about (Vanita, 2007). the participants preferred family as first person to disclose rather than As per World Values Survey, a anyone they met in their life as global survey that represents family support was priority and real around 100 countries people's view, intention was not to keep family in from 1990- 2014 the part of Indian ignorance of self-homosexuality respondents who viewed homo followed by friend from homosexual sexuality as unjustifiable fell from community and lastly heterosexual 89% to 24% giving a new vision to friends (Julian, 2016). Delay in homosexual relations due to legal admitting sexual orientation by changes that occurred in India lesbian females to parent has been (Rukhmani, n.d). found to be associated with significantly elevated levels of past In 2018 September Hon'ble month illicit drug use, degrading Supreme Court of India in its poor self-reported health status and historical judgment legalized a low mood for more than two week homosexuality, partially strikes showing signs of clinical down Section 377. The section depression during past month holds that whoever, voluntarily, has (Rothman etal, 2012). Lesbian carnal intercourse against the order women are endangered to face of nature with any man, woman or more child sexual abuse and the animal, commits an unnatural severity is high resulting in requiring offence. counselling or approaching a psychiatric for mental health issues The bench said that the LGBTQ and substance abuse than (lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual women (Wilsnack, and ) community faced 2012; Hughes etal, 2001). discrimination and social stigma because of the criminality attached Discrimination based on sexual to the consensual same-sex identity of lesbian at workplace relationship (Rajagopal, 2018). include remarks jokes, ridicule and remarks when done by more than Current stand about lesbianism one co-worker, surprisingly when Issues constantly being faced by abused by single co-worker threats these women include coming out as of physical and verbal abuse both in a lesbian, experiencing rejection person and by telephonically are from family or facing harassment at prominent (Barretet et al, 2011; work place, being a victim of sexual Caylor, 2018). Workplace presence

77 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture of senior lesbian official make them a major role in bringing the idea of to accept their sexuality openly and homosexuality in public by makes a crucial difference in challenging the section 377 in Delhi accepting their feelings. Employee high court with strong support from following homosexuality are also other similar self-help groups in termed as Social deviant workers 2001(Tandon n.d). who faces double glazed glass ceiling that is being subjected to Conclusion intense scrutiny and they must Acceptance towards homosexual excel to be deemed competent at par relationship over the period of time with fellow workers (Bowring & stretching from origin to current Brewis 2009; Miller et al 2003). time is minimal, still there is a long Many a times over friendliness with way to gain equal rights. Although female co-workers is misinterpreted legal acceptance is increasing and as sexual interest, to avoid this better laws would help this group to they use camouflaging behaviour prosper and live with all rights at like self-monitoring speech and par with other citizens, more and observable behaviour related to more social awareness activities are one's sexual orientation, or to be conducted and economic preferring to keep mute in common opportunities to be made available office conversation or sharing little from government to hasten the information about their personal life process. with colleagues at workplace (Bowleg et al, 2008; Griffith & Hebl, References 2002). Aldrich, R. (Ed.). (2006). Gay life and culture:A world history. Universe Pub. Self-help groups like The Naz Foundation, Nazariya, Humsafar American Psychological Association. Trust, Sangini, Humrahi, Sappho (2008). Answers to your questions: For a for equality in eastern India, CREA better understanding of sexual and many more across India, are orientation and homo sexuality (PDF file). primarily involved in social equality Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from and providing counselling sessions www.apa.org/ topics/ sorientation.pdf. and support group addressing [Last accessed on 17-05-2019 ] issues and concerns of Lesbian Bisexual women and Trans people Barrett, N., Lewis, J., & Dwyer, A. E. (2011). Effects of disclosure of sexual assigned female at birth. These identity at work for gay, lesbian, groups organises a lot of events like bisexual, transgender and intersex film screenings, book launches, (GLBTI) employees in Queensland. In workshops and talks providing a Proceedings of the 25th Annual platform to meet like-minded Australian and New Zealand Academy of people, open about issues related to Management Conference. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management gender and sexuality and expand (ANZAM). one's horizon(LGBT support n.d). Delhi based Naz foundation played Bowleg, L., Brooks, K., & Ritz, S. F.

78 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture (2008). “Bringing Home More Than a Griffith, K. H., &Hebl, M. R. (2002). The Paycheck” An Exploratory Analysis of disclosure dilemma for gay men and Black Lesbians' Experiences of Stress lesbians:" Coming out" at work. Journal and Coping in the Workplace. Journal of of applied psychology, 87(6), 1191. Lesbian Studies, 12(1), 69-84. Hughes, T. L., Johnson, T., & Wilsnack, Bowring, M. A., & Brewis, J. (2009). S. C. (2001). Sexual assault and alcohol Truth and consequences: Managing abuse: A comparison of lesbians and lesbian and gay identity in the Canadian heterosexual women. Journal of workplace. Equal Opportunities substance abuse, 13(4), 515-532. International, 28(5), 361-377. Hull, I. V. (1983). “Surpassing the Love of Brogan, D., Frank, E., Elon, L., Men: Romantic Friendship and Love &O'Hanlan, K. A. (2001). Methodologic between Women from the Renaissance to concerns in defining lesbian for health the Present" by Lillian Faderman (Book research. Epidemiology, 109-113. Review). Signs, 8(4), 708.

Carrol, A. (2016). International Lesbian, ILGA; (2016) press-releases-statements. Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Retrieved from https:/ /ilga.org[Last Association (ILGA), State Sponsored accessed on 17-05-2019 ] Homophobia. A World Survey of Sexual Orientation Laws: Criminalisation, Protection and Recognition, May 2017, Julian, S. (2016). Exploring Factors 12th Edition, available at: https://www. Impacting the Decision to Disclose refworld. org/docid/59e615f64. Sexual Orientation: A Qualitative Study html[Last accessed on 23-05-2019] of Older Gays and Lesbians in Ohio (Doctoral dissertation, Ashland University).(Electronic Thesis or Caylor, J. R. (2018). Identifying as Dissertation). Retrieved from https:// Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual at Work: etd.ohiolink.edu/ [Last accessed on 18- Implications of Disclosure Within Work 05-2019] Teams(Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://repository. lib.fit.edu/ handle/11141/2550 [Last accessed on Lesbian. Oxford Reference. Ed. Retrieved 18-05-2019] from http://www. oxfordreference. com/view/10.1093/ oi/ authority. 20110803100100998 [Last accessed on ] Floyd, F. J., & Stein, T. S. (2002). Sexual orientation identity formation among LGBT support and helplines in India. gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: R e t r i e v e d f r o m : h t t p : / / f i f t y Multiple patterns of milestone shadesofgay.co.in/lgbtq-support-and- experiences. Journal of Research on helplines-in-india/ [Last accessed on 19- Adolescence, 12(2), 167-191. Retrieved 05-2019] from https://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/ Marcus, S. (2002). Comparative doi/abs/10.1111/1532-7795. 00030 Sapphism. In The Literary Channel: The Inter-National Invention of the Novel (pp. Gooren, L. (2006). The biology of human 251-285). psychosexual differentiation. Hormones and behavior, 50(4), 589-601. Martos, A. J., Wilson, P. A., & Meyer, I. H. (2017). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Gooren, L. (2011). Is there a hormonal transgender (LGBT) health services in the basis for human homosexuality? Asian United States: Origins, evolution, and journal of andrology, 13(6), 793. 79 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality & Culture contemporary landscape. PloS one, Rust, P. C. (1992). The politics of sexual 12(7). Retreived from e0180544. identity: Sexual attraction and behavior Retrieved from https://www. ncbi. among lesbian and bisexual women. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28692659 Social problems, 39(4), 366-386.

McCormick, N. B., McCormick, N. B., & Schlager, N. (Ed.). (1998). Saint James Levine, A. (1994). Sexual salvation: Press gay and lesbian almanac. St James Affirming women's sexual rights and Pr. pleasures. Greenwood Publishing Group. Tandon S. Here are the crusaders why've spent decades fighting for gay rights in Miller, S. L., Forest, K. B., &Jurik, N. C. India. Retrieved from: https:// (2003). Diversity in blue: Lesbian and gay qz.com/india/1379618/section-377- police officers in a masculine occupation. -crusaders-who-stood-up-for-gay- Men and masculinities, 5(4), 355-385. rights/ [Last accessed on 23-05-2019]

Moore, M. R., &Stambolis-Ruhstorfer, M. Timeline of LGBT history. (2019) In (2013). LGBT sexuality and families at Wikipedia. Last edited on 13 June 2019 the start of the twenty-first century. Annual Review of Sociology, 39, 491-507 Retrieved from https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBT_history[Las Rajagopal, K. ( 2018, September 8). "SC t accessed on 17-06-2019] decriminalises homosexuality".The Hindu .Retrieved from https://www. Vanita, R. (2007). Lesbian studies and thehindu.com/news/national/sc-de- activism in India. Journal of lesbian criminalises-homo sexuality-says- studies, 11(3-4), 244-253. history-owes-lgbtq-community-an- apology/article 24881549.ece[Last Weick, A. J. (2010). The 1978 “A Lesbian accessed on 22-05-2019] Show” Exhibition: The Politics of Queer Organizing around the Arts and the Fight for Visibility in American Cultural Rothman, E. F., Sullivan, M., Keyes, S., & Memory Retrieved from https:// Boehmer, U. (2012). Parents' supportive www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/a reactions to sexual orientation disclosure ssets/departments/americanstudies/fil associated with better health: Results es/anna-weick---hersey-prize-paper- from a population-based survey of LGB 2011.pdf[Last accessed on 24-05-2019] adults in Massachusetts. Journal of homosexuality, 59(2), 186-200. Wilsnack, S. C., Kristjanson, A. F., Hughes, T. L., & Benson, P. W. (2012). Rukhmani S. : Characteristics of childhood sexual What data shows. Retrieved from abuse in lesbians and heterosexual https://www.livemint.com/Politics/nL women. Child abuse & neglect, 36(3), QiPpl5UICajLDXETU3EO/Homosexualit 260. y-in-India-What-data-shows.html [Last accessed on 22-05-2019] Zimmerman, B. (2000). Lesbian histories and cultures: An encyclopedia (Vol. 1). Rullo, J. E., &Faubion, S. S. (2017). Taylor & Francis. Caring for the lesbian patient at midlife and beyond. Menopause, 24(12), 1402- 1403.

80 June 2019 Indian Institute of Sexology Bhubaneswar