Sexual Identity, Behavior and Health: Women Who Have Relationshipswith Women and Men Public
Comeau, Dawn Leslie (2009)
Abstract
Sexual Identity, Behavior and Health: Women Who Have Relationships with Women and Men By Dawn L. Comeau Only recently have scholars begun to understand bisexuality as a salient sexual identity category. Throughout history, they have approached bisexuality as a transitional phase in a person's life when studying human biology, sexual and gender identity development, and sexual behavior. As a result, our knowledge about women who self- identify as bisexual is limited. Current social science literature about bisexuality and sexual identity suggests that women who have relationships with women and men suffer from stigma, isolation, and lack of community. Moreover, public health studies consistently show that bisexual women have more negative health outcomes than their heterosexual and lesbian counterparts. This qualitative study with women who have relationships with women and men explores the shifts in women's sexual identity, behavior, and attraction, including same-sex and bisexual relationships, over the lifespan. It provides a picture of sexuality that is fluid. In-depth life history interviews were conducted with forty women from major cities in the South- and Northeast. The women mapped their sexual identity, behavior and attractions from childhood to adulthood and discussed the relationship between their choice in sexual identity and their coinciding sexual attractions and behaviors. This includes addressing the impact of age, racial and ethnic identity, family values, religion, education and socioeconomic status on sexual identity labeling, partner choice, and decisions regarding sexual behavior. In particular,
this study focuses on periods of incongruence between sexual identity and behavior, gendered aspects of relationships, and decisions about safer sex with women and men. Furthermore, the implications for public health programs and policy are discussed.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Bisexuality: A Review of the Literature…………………………………1
Historical Background……………………………………………..2
Feminist Theories of Intersectionality……………………………..9
Public Health Research…………………………………………….11
Sexual health……………………………………………….. 16
Substance use………………………………………………. 25
Nutrition, weight, fitness and body image…………………....27
Transgender health…………………………………………. ..28
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 30
Methods……………………………………………………………………. 33
Feminist Research Methods…………………………………………34
Qualitative Methods…………………………………………………38
Study Location………………………………………………………39
Recruitment and Eligibility Criteria…………………………………44
Sample………………………………………………………………48
Interview Procedures………………………………………………. 49
Timeline…………………………………………………50
Data Coding and Analysis…………………………………………. 52
Heterosexual Identity and Same-Sex Behavior……………………………. 56
Sharon……………………………………………………………… 60
Nina…………………………………………………………………69
Conclusion…………………………………………………………..77
Bisexual Identity without Same-Sex Behavior…………………………….. 79
Laurie………………………………………………………………. 82
Melanie…………………………………………………………….. 95
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 105
Conceptions of Gender - Gendered Relationships…………………………106
Emotional Differences between Women and Men………………… 110
Men Are Easier…………………………………………………….. 118
Quality of Sex……………………………………………………… 120
Emotional Intimacy over the Lifetime…………………………….. 127
Different but Equal?.......................................................................... 131
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 135
Sexual Health: Women Having Sex with Women…………………………. 139
Dental Dams: Knowledge, Access, Pleasure………………………. 142
Safer Sex with Men but Not Women……………………………….144
Role of Knowledge and Dental Dam Use………………………….. 145
Conversations as a Means of Safer Sex……………………………. 148
Appearance as a Method of Safer Sex……………………………... 149
Negotiating Partnerships with STIs…………………………………151
Polyamory and Safer Sex Practices…………………………………155
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 159
Sexual Fluidity, Health and Directions for Future Research………………. 161
Future Research: Model of Sexual Fluidity……………………. 165
Public Health Concerns…………………………………………….. 176
Safer Sex Promotion……………………………………………….. 181
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 182
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