Identity, adult development, and narrative: An interview study of women with a bisexual life history
Item
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Title
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Identity, adult development, and narrative: An interview study of women with a bisexual life history
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:8393bd2724c0:10959
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identifier
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11236
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Creator
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Young, Lauren,
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Contributor
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Elliot Jurist
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Date
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2011
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Developmental psychology | Womens studies | adult development | bisexual | identity | women
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Abstract
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This qualitative study investigates the experiences of eight women with a bisexual life history, through the lens of identity and adult development. These women, aged 30-61, had all spent at least six years since age 20 primarily involved with women, and at the time of the interview were primarily involved with or seeking to be involved with men. Open-ended questions regarding subjects' relationship and sexual identity histories elicited narratives that emphasized over-arching relational and emotional concerns that applied equally to partners of either sex. All subjects made multiple, important changes in their life commitments at roughly age 30, including choice of sexual object, reproducing Levinson's (1978) finding that adults tend to go through a period of change at that age. Sexual orientation identity was fluid, as subjects revised their identifications and their preferences over time. Subjects discussed matters of identification in ways that reflected their characteristic attitudes and relational styles. Subjects offered a variety of commentary on the meanings of their sexual trajectories, ranging from a serendipitous view to complex, psychological and psychoanalytic interpretations.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
