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Deconstructing Sex: an In-Depth, Qualitative Exploration of Women's Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 2012 Deconstructing sex: an in-depth, qualitative exploration of women’s sexual experiences and difficulties Madalena Grobbelaar Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, and the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Grobbelaar, M. (2012). Deconstructing sex: an in-depth, qualitative exploration of women’s sexual experiences and difficulties. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/560 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/560 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. Running head: DECONSTRUCTING SEX Deconstructing sex: An in-depth, qualitative exploration of women’s sexual experiences and difficulties By Madalena Grobbelaar, BA Hons (Psychology) Faculty of Computing, Health and Sciences Edith Cowan University Western Australia A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) Date of submission: 30 November 2012 USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. DECONSTRUCTING SEX iii Statement of Confidentiality Ethical clearance from the Edith Cowan University Ethics Committee was granted in November 2005. The confidentiality and privacy of the participants were protected at all times, including in all correspondence between myself, my research supervisor, and other colleagues. Pseudonyms for all participants were used in the current study. All raw data included in the thesis (i.e., verbatim quotes) was scrutinised for information that could render the informant identifiable. DECONSTRUCTING SEX iv Abstract Epidemiological research on sexual difficulties in women has reported high rates of sexual problems and dissatisfaction across the lifespan. Nevertheless, feminist scholars and social science researchers argue that an absence of research exploring women’s subjective interpretations of their sexuality and sexual difficulties exists, since prevalence studies do not address how the range of diverse socio-cultural, relational, biological and psychological processes interact to influence women’s sexuality across the lifespan. The current study aimed to narrow this research dearth by presenting an in-depth, qualitative exploration of heterosexual women’s accounts of their sexual experiences and their perceived sexuality. A phenomenological approach was utilised against the socially constructed notion of sex to understand women’s sexuality. Five core themes emerged from qualitative interviews with 18 women that were considered paramount to women’s subjective interpretations and experience of their sexuality and sexual difficulties. There were socio-cultural factors; inter-relationship factors; social roles and expectations; practices and preferences; and views on change. The current study highlights the multifaceted double standard within socio-cultural expectations of what it means to be a heterosexual woman, exemplified in the relationship between women’s sexual difficulties and idealistic sexual expectations, male-centred sexual socialisation, over-burdened social roles, unequal relationships, and inadequate sexual practices. Despite experiencing sexual difficulties with associated distress throughout the lifespan, participants did not identify with prevailing medicalised notions of sexual problems. Participants differentiated between sex as important and sex as a priority. Relationships between sexual maturity, confidence and sexual satisfaction as well as sexual knowledge and sexual agency emerged in the narratives. Clinical implications incorporating women-centred classification frameworks such as a New View of women’s sexual problems are discussed. Directions for future research are presented. DECONSTRUCTING SEX vi Acknowledgements First, my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Eyal Gringart who has provided me with countless hours of his time, knowledge, patience, encouragement, interest, critical thinking skills, and expert guidance throughout the conceptualisation, execution and completion of this study. It has been a long journey, yet one filled with exciting discoveries, humour, companionship and thought-provoking intellectual stimulation and accomplishment. I am indebted to him and his consistent support of my work. Second, to all those participants who volunteered their time so willingly and enthusiastically, my heartfelt appreciation to them as without their willingness to participate and their forthcoming contributions to this endeavour, the current study would not have been possible. Third, to my friends and colleagues Eimear Quigley Davis and Sonia Smuts, who encouraged me and provided their invaluable support in checking transcripts and proof reading some of my work. Finally, to my husband Marius, who continues to be my unconditional support, my biggest fan and the one person who believes in me when I have ceased to, my gratitude remains unrequited. DECONSTRUCTING SEX vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Use of Thesis.............................................................................................................................. ii Statement of Confidentiality .................................................................................................... iii Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... iv Declaration ................................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ xi CHAPTER I ............................................................................................................................... 1 Motivation for the Current Study ........................................................................................... 1 Introduction to the Study ........................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER II ............................................................................................................................ 11 Literature Review..................................................................................................................... 11 Prologue: Historical Status of Women’s Sexuality ............................................................. 11 Religious attitudes to women’s sexuality. ....................................................................... 11 Non-religious views of women’s sexuality...................................................................... 15 Victorian attitudes to women’s sexuality. ........................................................................ 17 The contribution of early sexologists. .............................................................................. 19 Sexual revolution and the women’s liberation movement. .............................................. 23 Introduction: Present Status of the Literature on Women’s Sexuality ................................ 28 Social Context of Women’s Sexual Experiences ................................................................. 28 Sexual socialisation of women and men. ......................................................................... 28 Hierarchy of sex – the ‘coital imperative’. ...................................................................... 33 Women and orgasm. ........................................................................................................ 37 Female sexuality, masturbation and religion. .................................................................. 42 Sex education in schools. ................................................................................................. 48 Sexual double standards. .................................................................................................. 53 Women’s sexual bodies. .................................................................................................. 58 Gender roles and women’s sexuality. .............................................................................
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