Fridae

A new survey of lesbians in Beijing has revealed that almost half of them have had suicidal thoughts, while almost one in five have tried to kill themselves.

Sylvia Cheng, a student of Beijing's Broadcasting University took two months to conduct face-to-face interviews with some 300 lesbians in the capital city this summer. The majority of the women were in their mid-twenties.

She queried them on safe sex practices, coming out to their parents, mental pressures and sexual habits including the use of sex toys and the issue of fidelity.

Some 45.6 per cent said they had considered suicide, with 16.5 per cent saying they had actually tried to kill themselves.

While the reasons behind the suicidal thoughts do not always stem from pressures related to their sexuality, Cheng said that about half of the women surveyed felt pressure from their families to get married.

Observers said it was a common sight to see young Chinese lesbians date girls but by the end of their 20's even the butchiest girls end up caving in to parental pressure and getting married.

Twenty-three-year-old, "Eric," said she could never tell her parents she was lesbian because she feared they would kick her out of home and that she would probably get married by the time she was 30 to make her family happy.

"At least if I finish with my girlfriend now I won't date another girl," she said.

She said she really considers herself a lesbian but does not know what will happen in the future.

From the survey, only 21.8 per cent said they would come out to their parents.

But some girls do find the courage to come out.

Kiko, from Hangzhou said it was difficult for her parents at first - but they came round in the end. Her father spent hours on the Internet learning about homosexuality to try to understand, she said.

Cheng said the main problem is that hardly any research has been done on lesbians in China - and almost none on their mental and physical health. Girls here have few resources to find help, she said, adding that most turn to the Internet sites such as lescn.com, les99.com and ladycn.com.

The majority of the women questioned said they used the Internet to feel better about themselves whenever they felt under pressure. Around 40 per cent said they smoked and drank to release stress.

Cheng said that while she did not question any straight women for her survey she felt that lesbians smoked and drank significantly more than their straight sisters. Perhaps, she said, they felt they did not have to act 'well behaved' to attract men.

The survey also questioned women on their safe sexual practices.

Of those women who have sex with both men and women - around a quarter of those women surveyed - almost 80 per cent do not use condoms when they sleep with men. "That's so dangerous," said Cheng.

But, she added, the most worrying statistic from her survey was that 63.6 per cent did not believe it was necessary to get a medical health check up - including breast and cervical checks.

"I think some of the T's (an abbreviation of tomboy which also means butch) girls don't consider themselves to be women, so they don't think they need to make a health check," Cheng said, although she did not break down her statistics as to their "roles."

The survey also took a lighter note and asked girls about their sex practices.

It seems around half of Beijing's lesbians like to get kinky. Some 54.7 per cent use sex toys. But around one in ten girls have never given or received oral sex.

Less admit to having casual sex - 16.4 per cent of the girls surveyed said they had had a one night stand and 8.6 per cent have had more than 10 partners.

Some 56 per cent said they are faithful to their lover - which means almost half of the girls cheat on their partners.

Cheng said the results of her survey - which was sponsored by AIZHI Action Project (Beijing), a local non-profit organisation on AIDS related issues, will be compiled and published into a booklet to be handed out free at lesbian bars and cafes in Beijing.

She is planning a second survey of in depth interviews of lesbians - a kind of "her story" - which will also be distributed free.

Cheng hopes her work will prompt more research and help for Beijing's lala (lesbian) community.