Biological models have
typically framed sexual orientation in terms of effects of variation in fetal
androgen signaling on sexual differentiation, although other biological models
exist. Despite marked sex differences in facial structure, the relationship
between sexual orientation and facial structure is understudied.
A total of 52
lesbian women, 134 heterosexual women, 77 gay men, and 127 heterosexual men
were recruited at a Canadian campus and various Canadian Pride and sexuality
events. We found that facial structure differed depending on sexual
orientation; substantial variation in sexual orientation was predicted using
facial metrics computed by a facial modelling program from photographs of White
faces.
At the univariate level, lesbian and heterosexual women differed in 17
facial features (out of 63) and four were unique multivariate predictors in
logistic regression. Gay and heterosexual men differed in 11 facial features at
the univariate level, of which three were unique multivariate predictors. Some,
but not all, of the facial metrics differed between the sexes. Lesbian women
had noses that were more turned up (also more turned up in heterosexual men),
mouths that were more puckered, smaller foreheads, and marginally more
masculine face shapes (also in heterosexual men) than heterosexual women.
Gay
men had more convex cheeks, shorter noses (also in heterosexual women), and foreheads
that were more tilted back relative to heterosexual men. Principal components
analysis and discriminant functions analysis generally corroborated these
results.
The mechanisms underlying variation in craniofacial structure--both
related and unrelated to sexual differentiation--may thus be important in
understanding the development of sexual orientation.
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By:
1Department of Psychology, Brock University, St.
Catharines, ON, Canada.
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