Some food for thought: I was just thinking about why the GSS survey doesn't seem to show the same drastic mode difference (even after expanding the age range for a higher N) and thought back to the explanation you put forward here. The sex questions in the GSS are part of a small section (especially this time around it seems) which doesn't have the same 'say no then skip a bunch of questions' feature. I also don't think they offer a monetary incentive either.
Another possibility is that respondents who previously responded that they had heterosexual intercourse are now proud to be a 'gold star' lesbian or identify as asexual. It could be that they lied during earlier surveys due to social expectations, or that they have reframed their personal histories to support a current identity.
Thanks for the comment. This is an interesting dimension I didn’t think of, how the rise of sexuality as an identity might be influencing (particularly younger) survey respondents.
I recently read an article about the rise in sexual identities that found, for instance, a rise in identification among young women as bisexual, but that the vast majority of young women who identify as bisexual are in opposite-sex relationships. (I went back through my reading history only to find that the article is now paywalled. Sad trombone. https://www.americanstorylines.com/p/whats-behind-the-rapid-rise-in-lgbtq)
I could imagine, given for instance incel culture online, individuals claiming lack of sexual activity to identify as asexual.
Some food for thought: I was just thinking about why the GSS survey doesn't seem to show the same drastic mode difference (even after expanding the age range for a higher N) and thought back to the explanation you put forward here. The sex questions in the GSS are part of a small section (especially this time around it seems) which doesn't have the same 'say no then skip a bunch of questions' feature. I also don't think they offer a monetary incentive either.
Another possibility is that respondents who previously responded that they had heterosexual intercourse are now proud to be a 'gold star' lesbian or identify as asexual. It could be that they lied during earlier surveys due to social expectations, or that they have reframed their personal histories to support a current identity.
Thanks for the comment. This is an interesting dimension I didn’t think of, how the rise of sexuality as an identity might be influencing (particularly younger) survey respondents.
I recently read an article about the rise in sexual identities that found, for instance, a rise in identification among young women as bisexual, but that the vast majority of young women who identify as bisexual are in opposite-sex relationships. (I went back through my reading history only to find that the article is now paywalled. Sad trombone. https://www.americanstorylines.com/p/whats-behind-the-rapid-rise-in-lgbtq)
I could imagine, given for instance incel culture online, individuals claiming lack of sexual activity to identify as asexual.