V. The meaning of sexual desire: Experiences of heterosexual and lesbian girls

Experiences of sexual desire and first sexual relationships are central parts of the transition from adolescence to adulthood, and for many girls the first marker of being 'woman'. For young girls who identify as lesbian, experiences of sexual desire and first sexual relationships mark them not as 'woman' but as 'lesbian'. In a cultural context where lesbianism is positioned as deviant, dangerous or shameful, the categorization and acceptance of feelings as lesbian desire is a complex process, but not necessarily a negative one" as is evidenced by this research. Researchers and practitioners thus need to be aware of the multiplicity of young women's experiences of desire, acknowledging the positive and negative aspects of both heterosexuality and lesbianism.