Earlier this week, HuffPost Live discussed a recent British study which found that the number of women who claim to have had same-sex encounters has quadrupled [1] over the past 20 years.


While the study was focused on UK-relevant data exclusively, experts told HuffPost Live that the statistics would likely be similar in the U.S.


Debra Herbenick, Associate Research Scientist at Indiana University, said the figures were representative of a cultural shift that included the "loosening up and encouragement for both women and men for exploring the desires that they do have."


"We certainly do see as a society significant changes in the United States in terms of acceptance of a number of issues related to LGBT individuals...same-sex marriage rights and many, many schools having gay-straight alliances," she said. She also pointed out that developments in technology over the past two decades played a significant impact: "The Internet changed a lot of things for many people."



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  • Kim Kardashian Crushes On Megan Fox


    "Megan Fox is so hot," Kardashian once revealed. "She is like my girl crush and I don't have girl crushes."




  • Megan Fox Crushes On Olivia Wilde


    When asked about Olivia Wilde, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/06/16/olivia-wilde-talks-royalty-megan-foxs-girl-crush/">Fox replied</a>, "[She is] so sexy, she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox."




  • Selena Gomez Crushes On Emma Stone


    "I'm obsessed with Emma Stone," Gomez <a href="http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/08/23/selena-gomez-emma-stone-justin-bieber-girl-crush/" target="_hplink">told Philly radio station</a> Q102. "She's totally my girl crush. I love her!"




  • Emma Stone Crushes On Christina Hendricks


    When asked by <em>The Advocate</em> if she had a girl crush, <a href="http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Film/Romancing_Emma_Stone/" target="_hplink">Stone replied</a>, "Christina Hendricks. It's a no-brainer. Everything about her does it for me. That's my kind of woman."




  • Christina Hendricks Crushes On Zooey Deschanel


    When asked about her girl crush, Christina Hendricks <a href="http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Television/Ahead_of_the_Curves/" target="_hplink">told <em>The Advocate</em></a>, "Probably Zooey Deschanel. [Laughs] My fiancé [Geoffrey Arend] is in '500 Days of Summer' with her, so I've seen that movie three times in a row, and I'm like, 'God, I love watching her!' I find her very unique and interesting. She's lovely."




  • Nicki Minaj Crushes On Rihanna


    Minaj told <a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/01/06/rihanna-slaps-nicki-minajs-butt-celeb-crush/" target="_hplink"><em>Life & Style</em></a> Rihanna was her "biggest celebrity crush" because "she slapped my ass at the [American Music Awards]."




  • Rihanna Crushes On Cheryl Cole


    <em>The Sun</em> <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/brits/3414414/Cheryl-Coles-crush-on-Rihanna-at-the-Brits.html" target="_hplink">reported that</a> Rihanna said, "[Cole] is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen... How do you have a face like that, with hair like that and dimples, and a body like that, that's proportioned like that? And you have a successful career, something about that is not right!"




  • Cheryl Cole Crushes On Cameron Diaz


    Cole <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2011/09/20/cheryl-cole-interview---shoe-collection-style-and-film" target="_hplink">told Vogue.co.uk</a>, "Cameron is amazing, honestly I've got such a girl crush on her... She's such an amazing woman. It's just so good to be doing new stuff. I never had the confidence to do acting before, and I've said I could probably play myself quite well. It was brilliant, we'll see what happens next."




  • Cameron Diaz Crushes On Mila Kunis


    Diaz <a href="http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebrity-news-gossip/diazs-girl-crush-on-mila-kunis-2638233.html" target="_hplink">told <em>Maxim</em></a>, "Mila Kunis is a little hottie."




  • Sophia Vergara Crushes On Halle Berry


    When asked by <em>The Advocate</em> who her girl crush is, <a href="http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Television/Sofias_Choice_Sofia_Vergara/" target="_hplink">Vergara responded</a>, "I have many, but I love Halle Berry. She's perfection. Every time I see her, I want to give her a standing ovation because she's so flawless.