Sexual Identity, Behavior and Health: Women Who Have Relationshipswith Women and Men Pubblico

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

About this Dissertation

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Women's Studies
Degree	PhD
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Gender Studies Women's Studies
Parola chiave	women gender bisexuality sexuality sexually transmitted diseases
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Sterk, Claire E, Emory University
Committee Members	Levinson, Richard M, Emory University Hall, Pamela M, Emory University

Ultima modifica

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Sexual Identity, Behavior and Health: Women Who Have Relationshipswith Women and Men ()	2018-08-28 10:55:27 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions