Various close relationships for lesbian women in 1986 and 2005

Abstract

This work explored various close relationships (romantic relationships and motherhood) as this relates to historical time period. Two national samples of self-identified lesbian women aged 20 to 49 years in Norway were compared, one from 1986 (n = 123) and one from 2005 (n = 236). Data were collected through mailed questionnaires. No time-period effects were identified regarding lesbians' relationships with women and steady relationships with men. The same proportion had children in 2005 as in 1986. The overall results may reflect stability in social structuring forces in lesbian life in the last two decades.