Young women are identifying as less straight; young men, not so much

The boundaries of heterosexuality are bending for women but not for men, who appear to have less room to explore and are bound to a more rigid, traditional concept of masculinity.

By: Sean G. Massey, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Ann M. Merriwether, Binghamton University, State University of New York, and Melissa Hardesty, Binghamton University, State University of New York, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 7, 2026

Words: 1,555

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

Body Text Preview

By Sean G. Massey, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Ann M. Merriwether, Binghamton University, State University of New York, and Melissa Hardesty, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Young women are moving away from exclusive heterosexuality faster than young men.

In a recent poll, Gallup found that LGBTQ+ identification has more than doubled since 2012, with especially high rates among Gen Z women, or those born between 1997 and 2012. In …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us