Is there a significant difference between the lifestyles of gay men and lesbians?
In its most basic state, no differences exist between intimate relationships of any kind; however, societal pressures can cause distinct differences. For instance, all men, gay or straight, are typically expected to be macho and to engage in more short-term relationships than women, making it more difficult to engage in long-term, stable, monogamous relationships. In contrast, women have been socialized to believe that long-term monogamy is the standard. Those who maintain that people are people regardless of sex often believe that once society’s sex roles have been discarded men and women will be able to explore alternative models of behavior rather than relying on the predominant societal roles.
