An Interpretive Inquiry Into Women's Experience of Sex and Sexuality
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 2000 Permission to be whole: An interpretive inquiry into women's experience of sex and sexuality Borbridge, Corinne Borbridge, C. (2000). Permission to be whole: An interpretive inquiry into women's experience of sex and sexuality (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/21888 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/42924 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca Permission to be Whole: An Interpretive Inquiry into Women's Experience of Sex and Sexuality Corinne Borbridge Division of Applied Psychology The University of Calgary A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for The degree of Doctor of Philosophy O Corinne L. Borbridge, 2000 Bibliotheque nationale .,.. CI ----I- OU bat taoa Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Onawa ON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your file Volre r4fdrence Our Me Nolm nlldrence The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive pennettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduke, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the koit d'auteur qui protkge cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent &re imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT Despite decades of scientific and philosophical work and a bombardment of images from popular culture, our understanding of sexuality is still vague and troublesome. The intent of this interpretive investigation was to shed light on the lived experience of sexuality, focussing on the stories of women over age 45. Through a series of interviews, I explored with women their experience of being sexual and sought to understand the connection between sexuality and their identity throughout their lives and into older age. I used a hermeneutic-phenomenology approach, endeavouring to honour the lived experience and draw out the interpretive meanings of sexuality for the nine women who spoke with me. The results were rich discussions about sex, sexuality, desire, relationships, self-image and identity. I present the stories that women shared with me, offering their voices to our understanding of women's sexuality. The women tell of the ways that sexuality was part of their journeys toward being whole persons, and of the obstacles and supports which led to them having the permission to seek such wholeness. I share my thoughts on the meaning of women's stories of sexuality and the connections to identity development litcrature as wc currently understand it. The wisdom of these older women and their messages about women's sexuality contribute significant implications for counselling, education, social policy and further research. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated, with love and gratitude, to the older women of my own life: My grandmother, the late Margaret Irma Kiernan, who taught me about empathy, intuition, and the healing, loving power of being heard. My grandmother, Edna Helen Borbridge, who teaches me the value of stories, the importance of family, and the greatness in small, simple experiences. And my mother, Maureen Margaret Kiernan Borbridge, who teaches me the importance of education - in all its meanings, and about the power of grace, giving and love. You have taught me about being a woman. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like begin by expressing my gratitude to the wonderful women whose stories are represented in this dissertation--Brenda, Jane, Linda, Loretta, Lou, Marie, Nancy, Sandy (and her partner Leah), and Suzanne. I am honoured by your openness in sharing your experiences with me and by the gift of your wisdom. You have taught me so much and your voices stand together now to teach others about women and women's sexuality. Thank you. My thanks to my supervisory committee for guiding my learning and supporting my process. To Kathy, for believing in me, mentoring me, and validating that I had something to say about sexuality. You have stayed with me through six years of graduate school; now I will "let" you retire. To Jim, for inspiring me to learn and to read "one more thing" and for reminding me that I did not have to know it all. To Judy, for being available to me with celebrating words, motivating feedback, and e-mail reminders to get out and enjoy the sunshine. And to Mary for modeling her exceptional combination of intelligent academic, gifted counsellor, and caring friend. Thank you to the Calgary Birth Control Association, especially Carolyn Claire, and to Lorraine and Sandra Smyth, for contacting women to participate in this research project. Your enthusiasm and assistance were greatly appreciated. Thank you to Susan Cox for being a trustworthy and very competent transcriber. Your help was a godsend. I would like to thank my friends who came through with words of encouragement my faith in myself faltered or con~pletelycrashed. Thank you Amy, Bob, Bonnie, Cathlyn, Doris, Gary, Gloria, Gord, Kimberley, Larissa, Lorraine, Lori, Janet, Pauline, Stacey, Veronica, Vicky, and Yvonne. Thank you to all those people in my caring faith v community who asked how it was going and whether I was a "doctoryyyet. Thank you Michael and Tanya for all those fun and motivating Friday night "study group" meetings. My special thanks to Brent, my classmate and friend who shared the process of course work, chartering, and dissertation-writing with me. Thanks, Phyllo, for all the challenging discussions and supportive talks--and for all the silliness too. I am indebted to my special women friends, Monica and Eleanor, with whom I can talk about anything--even sex. Thank you for the insight, love and powerful energy you bring to my life. Thank you for understanding when I was absorbed in this project. Thank you for all the times you listened to me, encouraged me, laughed with me. Thank you Mum and Dad. I have not always appreciated out loud how much you have been there for me. It has become more and more clear as I "grow up" just how much you love me, believe in me, and are proud of me. It means so much. Thank you Michael for your con~puterhelp. And thanks to my sweet Sophia for reminding me--in your purring, graceful, and not-so-subtle ways--to take breaks from the daily grind. To my darling Chris ... You rode through my doctoral candidacy exams with me so early in our relationship and became my husband at the end of my doctoral journey. Thank you so much for being part of my process with your endless enthusiasm and unconditional support. Thank you for reading my work as if it was the most brilliant of all dissertations and for honouring me with your thoughts. Thank you for the blessing of your love. May I never take for granted the gifts of the Creator and of the people around nze. Through tlzenz, I am$lled with love and hope and the strength to be my Self: TABLE OF CONTENTS .. APPROVAL PAGE 11 .. ABSTRACT 111 DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vii CHAPTER ONE: Introducing Women's Sexuality A Context for Exploring Women's Sexuality My Personal Context for Exploring Women's Sexuality Cultivating Purpose Defining the Terms Wondering about Sexuality Outlining our Path CHAPTER TWO: Reviewing and Challenging the Literature 12 An Historical Overview 12 First Wave Sexology--Freud and the Boys 13 Second Wave Sexology--From Kinsey to Masters and Johnson 16 Women Enter the Sexology Scene 20 The Impact of the Feminist Movement 23 The Latest News on Constructing Women's Sexuality 26 Women's Identity Development Relational Models Women's Ways of Knowing An Additional Note on Relational Identity Models Cultural Identity Development Lesbian Identity Development Defining Lesbianism Women's Sexuality, Women's Voices Speaking of Desires Naming and Owning Our Bodies Embodiment Reclaiming Power and Value Developing a Sense of Sexual Self Women's Sexuality and Aging A Note About Reviewing the Literature and Moving On CHAPTER THREE: En Route to the Goal of Understanding Choosing a Path Existential Phenomenology Feminist Research Principles Feminist Postmodernism Feminist Interviewing Applying the Principles of the Method vii Collaboration and Power Connection Reflexivity Valuing Women's Experiences Engaging in the Inquiry Process The Questions Not Asked ClarifLing My Assumptions Finding Women to Talk about Sexuality The Women Who Found Me Journeying Together Creating Meaning Writing Women's Lives CHAPTER FOUR: Exploring Women's Voices Discovering Women's Sexuality Understanding Sex and Sexuality Sexuality Education: What the Women Learned Sexuality Education: What