Research Identifies 3 Motivations For Straight Women Kissing Other Women

A recent article by Samantha Stevens, Flora Oswald, and Jes Matsick, published in the journal Personal Relationships, explores the phenomenon of same-sex performativity (SSP) among college-aged heterosexual women, shedding light on its prevalence.

Same-sex performativity refers to public displays of same-sex attraction, such as kissing, among individuals who identify as heterosexual. The research reveals that between 20 and 33% of heterosexual college women have engaged in same-sex performativity, demonstrating how common it is among this demographic.

“Our purpose for conducting this research was to highlight the diversity among women who participate in same-sex performativity,” says Samantha Stevens, the lead author of the paper and a research scientist at Equity Accelerator. “Media and popular culture often sensationalize and oversimplify this type of sexual behavior among college women, but there are complexities that should not be overlooked. It is crucial to avoid generalizations and to recognize the unique experiences and motivations of the women involved.”

To conduct the study, the researchers surveyed 282 heterosexual women who reported engaging in same-sex performativity. The online surveys included questions about their identities, attitudes, motivations, and evaluations of their experiences. Using a statistical technique called latent class analysis, the researchers identified three distinct groups of women with shared patterns of motivations for participating in same-sex performativity: Other-Motivated, Ambiguously Motivated, and Sexually Motivated.

1. The Other-Motivated group was primarily driven by factors such as seeking male attention and bonding with others.
2. The Sexually Motivated group was characterized by motivations related to sexual desire and exploration.
3. The largest group, Ambiguously Motivated, displayed relatively low endorsement of any specific motivating factors.

Interestingly, all three groups showed some endorsement of alcohol intoxication and fun as motivators for their engagement in same-sex performativity, highlighting the influence of party settings where these experiences often occur.

The study also revealed the following:

1. Women in the Ambiguously Motivated group perceived their experiences less positively compared to the other groups, resulting in a decreased desire to engage in same-sex performativity in the future.
2. Conversely, women in the Other-Motivated group viewed the experience as more objectifying, but not necessarily more negative. Additionally, this group displayed a greater likelihood of being associated with or interested in sororities compared to the other groups.
3. Regarding sexuality, the authors observed that Sexually Motivated women reported the highest levels of same-sex desire, aligning with their motivations for engaging in same-sex performativity.

In terms of self and identity, the groups did not significantly differ in self-esteem, femininity, privilege, or political conservatism. However, a notable distinction was observed: the Other-Motivated group showed a higher likelihood of being associated with or expressing a desire to be part of a sorority.

In addition, despite the different motivations for engaging in same-sex performativity among the three groups, there were no significant group differences in heterosexist attitudes. This suggests that women’s reasons for participating in same-sex performativity are not linked to biased beliefs against bisexual individuals or discomfort with queer women.

When asked about the key findings of this research, Stevens emphasizes the importance of recognizing the diversity in women’s motivations and experiences with same-sex performativity. Stereotyping and oversimplifying these experiences can perpetuate stigmas and be detrimental.

Instead, Stevens points out that same-sex experimentation is a normal part of development, and same-sex performativity may serve as a comfortable way for some women to explore their sexuality.

You can read the full interview with researcher Samantha Stevens here.

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