Female Homosexuals' Concepts of Self, Men, and Women

Twenty-four female homosexuals and 24 female heterosexuals matched for age and education were given the Draw-A-Person Test (DAP) and, on the Gough-Heilbrun Adjective Check List (ACL), were asked to describe themselves, men in general, and women in general. Results indicated that homosexuals, relative to the heterosuxual controls: (a) sexualized their drawings (p smaller than .02) and embellished the female figure more (p smaller than .05); (b) showed no evidence of confusion in gender identity on the DAP or ACL; (c) scored sifnigicantly higher on Autonomy, Change, and Exhibition on the ACL; and (d) scored significantly lower on Abasement, Defensiveness, Deference, Endurance, Order, Personal Adjustment and Self-control on the ACL. It was concluded that the female homosexual may be more independent, changeable, and sexually preoccupied and less well adjusted than her heterosexual counterpart.