Women usually question whether they are heterosexual 'straight' or lesbian same-sex attracted when they realise they are feeling attracted to other women. Lesbians usually say their main physical, emotional and sexual feelings are for women. Many women report they have lesbian experiences or feelings, but do not think of themselves as lesbians or gay. There is no real explanation as to why some women are lesbians and others are not β it is just a part of who we are.
It may be a result of genetic influences or because of social experiences or a combination of the two. Some people recognise their attractions at an early age, while others don't develop attractions until well into adulthood.
Many young people begin to develop feelings and attractions for people of the same sex during their teenage years. There is no questionnaire or test you can complete that will tell you whether you are lesbian or not.
If you are a lesbian you may:. These feelings can be difficult to cope with, but are all very normal. It can take time to work out how you feel about your sexuality.
You should not be in a rush to work out what your sexuality is β it will develop over time. It's okay to feel unsure. You probably won't know if a woman is gay until she tells you. There is no way you can tell whether a woman is a lesbian just by looking at her. The way people dress is about their personal identity, not their sexuality.
