More straight women than ever are having gay sexual experiences and fewer believe that their gender is something that is fixed. According to new research, a quarter of 18 to 24-year-old women who identify as straight say they have had a sexual encounter with someone of the same sex, with a third saying they have been attracted to someone outside of their defined sexuality.

In addition, just a third of the age bracket think marriage is relevant to their lives, and 45 per cent would consider having a baby without a partner. Of the next age bracket – the 25 to 34-year-olds – more than one in 10 women admitted they would avoid choosing pink for their daughters, and a quarter believe their gender has held them back in their career. The mothers in this group say they would give their child both ‘male’ and ‘female’ toys, and read them ‘non-stereotypical’ stories. The third group – aged 35-44 – said they felt society was more accepting of gender fluidity than it was a decade ago. One in five said they are sexuality experimental – with a quarter saying they’d like to be more so – and a quarter have bought an item of menswear for themselves.

 

Researchers say the results show that negative experiences – such as feeling disadvantaged at work or home – have led to many rejecting the traditional ideas of womanhood. Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus discussing their own sexual experiences has encouraged young women to feel open to encounters with the same sex, the study found.