Date of Graduation
Summer 8-9-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Program
Clinical Psychology (PsyD)
First Advisor
Michelle Montagno, PsyD
Second Advisor
Kaela Jospeh, PhD
Third Advisor
Michael Burnias, PsyD
Abstract
This dissertation explores the impact of compulsory heterosexuality on the sexual identity development of plurisexual cisgender women by examining socio-cultural factors such as heterosexism, monosexism, and misogyny. Furthermore, this study considers the process of unlearning compulsory heterosexuality as an ongoing and nonlinear experience of self-discovery, which is characterized by fluidity and a reclaiming of agency. This study centers stories of plurisexual women, an under-researched group who experience complexities in their development trajectories due to the intersection of their gender identity, their gender expression, and their plurisexuality. Four participants participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants reflected on how messages they received in their youth assumed hegemonic femininity and heterosexuality as the only viable options for development, in order to avoid harm, rejection, marginalization, and social othering. Participants shared about how early influences of heterosexism, misogyny, and monosexism became internalized within their sense of self and were unconsciously and consciously acted upon through a heterosexual performance to maintain safety. Participants provided reflections on how these factors contributed to a disconnection with their authentic self, which influenced their decisions around relationships and therefore caused delay/confusion in developing their sexual identities. Later, participants provided reports on how they began deconstructing compulsory heterosexuality, monosexism, and hegemonic femininity which involved challenges, instability, and nonlinearity. Finally, the participants shared factors that helped them develop self-acceptance and a more confident queer identity, through focusing on their mental health, through finding supportive relationships, and through understanding their plurisexuality as being fluid and self-defined.
Recommended Citation
Holden, E. (2024). The Impact of Compulsory Heterosexuality on the Sexual Identity Development of Plurisexual Cisgender Women. Retrieved from https://repository.usfca.edu/diss/700
