S/PS/42. How has sex research contributed to our understanding of homosexuality?

A brief history of the biological approaches to the study of homosexuality is given, and consideration to the way that ideas from the nineteenth century are still visible today. This is followed by an insight into how the social constructionist stance has contributed to an alternative understanding of homosexuality. It is important to note that the way in which homosexuality is studied has real consequences for the way that homosexuals perceive their sexual identity. Thus, consideration is briefly given to how these different approaches affect lesbians' perceptions of their sexuality.