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An exploration of the impact of social institutions and interpersonal connections on the sexual expression and identity of dually attracted and bisexual women
Descriptive
TypeOfResource
Text
TitleInfo
(ID = T-1)
Title
An exploration of the impact of social institutions and interpersonal connections on the sexual expression and identity of dually attracted and bisexual women
Identifier
ETD_2991
Identifier
(type = hdl)
http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10001800001.ETD.000055944
Language
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(authority = ISO639-2);
(type = code)
eng
Genre
(authority = marcgt)
theses
Subject
(ID = SBJ-1);
(authority = RUETD)
Topic
Clinical Psychology
Subject
(ID = SBJ-2);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Bisexuality--Case studies
Subject
(ID = SBJ-3);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Bisexual women--Psychology
Subject
(ID = SBJ-4);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Bisexual women--Identity
Subject
(ID = SBJ-5);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Bisexual women--Interviews
Abstract
(type = abstract)
Research about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations reveals a dearth of empirical knowledge about bisexual women. This study explores the experiences of eleven dually attracted/bisexual women between the ages of 25 and 42, with particular emphasis on communities and social institutions to which they belong. Although research demonstrates that community support plays a critical role in minority
mental health, current data reveals that bisexuals experience significant degrees of biphobia and marginalization within LGBT and other communities. This qualitative study focuses on the thoughts and feelings that bisexual/dually attracted women have about
their sexuality. Each 1.5 hour long interview probed about how participants’ thoughts and feelings were influenced by experiences in schools, workplaces, religious settings, LGBT groups and families of origin. The semi-structured interview tool was designed to 1) gain a deeper understanding of the overall experience of dual attraction/bisexuality in adult women 2) identify themes that illustrate the core factors that influence how bisexual women choose to identify and participate in their social contexts. The results illustrate that, largely due to perceived social stigma within both heterosexual and homosexual communities, the choice to utilize the term bisexual is highly complicated and leads some
women to refuse the identity altogether. Data also illustrates the complex ways in which families, religions and other identity groups influence how participants name their sexual identity. Interestingly, bisexual celebrities emerged as an unexpected and influential
“community” for some subjects in this sample. In sum, the core overarching themes that emerged from interview data were 1) Naming (or choosing not-to name) sexual identity; 2) Coming out; 3) Religion and family – acceptance, rejection and the negotiation of conflicting values and beliefs; 4) Workplace and school experiences; 5) Dual identity and other social minority experiences. The results of this study can be utilized to guide future research as well as inform clinicians and service providers who aim to gain a more nuanced understanding of the unique experiences and perspectives of this population.
mental health, current data reveals that bisexuals experience significant degrees of biphobia and marginalization within LGBT and other communities. This qualitative study focuses on the thoughts and feelings that bisexual/dually attracted women have about
their sexuality. Each 1.5 hour long interview probed about how participants’ thoughts and feelings were influenced by experiences in schools, workplaces, religious settings, LGBT groups and families of origin. The semi-structured interview tool was designed to 1) gain a deeper understanding of the overall experience of dual attraction/bisexuality in adult women 2) identify themes that illustrate the core factors that influence how bisexual women choose to identify and participate in their social contexts. The results illustrate that, largely due to perceived social stigma within both heterosexual and homosexual communities, the choice to utilize the term bisexual is highly complicated and leads some
women to refuse the identity altogether. Data also illustrates the complex ways in which families, religions and other identity groups influence how participants name their sexual identity. Interestingly, bisexual celebrities emerged as an unexpected and influential
“community” for some subjects in this sample. In sum, the core overarching themes that emerged from interview data were 1) Naming (or choosing not-to name) sexual identity; 2) Coming out; 3) Religion and family – acceptance, rejection and the negotiation of conflicting values and beliefs; 4) Workplace and school experiences; 5) Dual identity and other social minority experiences. The results of this study can be utilized to guide future research as well as inform clinicians and service providers who aim to gain a more nuanced understanding of the unique experiences and perspectives of this population.
PhysicalDescription
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electronic resource
Extent
vii, 116 p.
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application/pdf
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text/xml
Note
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Psy.D.
Note
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Includes bibliographical references
Note
(type = statement of responsibility)
by Sarah Kowal
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Kowal
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Sarah
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1975-
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Sarah Kowal
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Gantwerk
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Louis
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chair
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Advisory Committee
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Louis Gantwerk
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Williams
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Nina
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internal member
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Advisory Committee
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Nina Williams
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Rutgers University
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degree grantor
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Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
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school
OriginInfo
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2010
DateOther
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2010-10
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xx
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Title
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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ETD
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Title
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore10001800001
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NjNbRU
Identifier
(type = doi)
doi:10.7282/T3SB45KW
Genre
(authority = ExL-Esploro)
ETD doctoral
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Rights
RightsDeclaration
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
Copyright
Status
Copyright protected
Availability
Status
Open
Reason
Permission or license
RightsHolder
(ID = PRH-1);
(type = personal)
Name
FamilyName
Kowal
GivenName
Sarah
Role
Copyright Holder
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(ID = RE-1);
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Permission or license
DateTime
2010-10-06 12:36:28
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Role
Copyright holder
Name
Sarah Kowal
Affiliation
Rutgers University. Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
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License
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Author Agreement License
Detail
I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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Technical
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ETD
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application/x-tar
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491520
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