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, India 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 lesbians 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 'lesbian' 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