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An Exploration of Sexual Orientation in Women Aged 18 and Older BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Spring 2016 Beyond The Three-Category Model: An Exploration Of Sexual Orientation In Women Aged 18 And Older Julie C. Wrocklage As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Counseling Commons Recommended Citation Wrocklage, Julie C., "Beyond The Three-Category Model: An Exploration Of Sexual Orientation In Women Aged 18 And Older" (2016). MSU Graduate Theses. 2354. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/2354 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BEYOND THE THREE-CATEGORY MODEL: AN EXPLORATION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN WOMEN AGED 18 AND OLDER A Masters Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science, Counseling By Julie C. Wrocklage May 2016 Copyright 2016 by Julie Christine Wrocklage ii BEYOND THE THREE-CATEGORY MODEL: AN EXPLORATION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN WOMEN AGED 18 AND OLDER Counseling, Leadership and Special Education Missouri State University, May 2016 Master of Science Julie C. Wrocklage ABSTRACT This qualitative study increases our understanding of sexual orientation in women aged 18 and older whose experiences do not fit within the three-category (heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual) model of sexual orientation. Through in-depth interviewing, this study explored the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of five women who described their sexual orientation as ‘unlabeled’, ‘mostly heterosexual’, and/or reported experiencing sexual fluidity. The results suggest that gender is not always the determining factor in an individual’s experience of attraction and that the three-category model is an oversimplification of the complexity inherent in sexual orientation. The lived experience of the women in this study calls for the development of a more inclusive model of sexual orientation. Findings in this and other studies expanding on our awareness of sexual fluidity can be used to improve sexuality education in schools, to train counselors and psychologists effectively to understand and validate the experiences of clients, to promote healthy conversation about sexuality as an aspect of identity, and to reduce the stigma surrounding same-sex attraction in the United States. KEYWORDS: sexual orientation, sexual fluidity, unlabeled, three-category model, mostly heterosexual, mostly homosexual, same-sex sexuality, sexual identity, women This abstract is approved as to form and content _______________________________ Angela L. Anderson, PhD Chairperson, Advisory Committee Missouri State University iii BEYOND THE THREE-CATEGORY MODEL: AN EXPLORATION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN WOMEN AGED 18 AND OLDER By Julie C. Wrocklage A Masters Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College Of Missouri State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Counseling May 2016 Approved: __________________________________________ Angela L. Anderson, PhD __________________________________________ Amy Chenoweth, MS __________________________________________ Rebecca J. Smotherman, MS __________________________________________ Julie Masterson, PhD: Dean, Graduate College iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge my committee chair, Dr. Anderson, for her investment in me and in this project. From our very first meeting, Dr. Anderson was right there with me in her understanding of and conviction about this work. Dr. Anderson has challenged and encouraged me in a way that’s been very empowering for me. I could not have done this without Dr. Anderson and the support of my other two committee members, Amy Chenoweth and Rebecca Smotherman. I am very thankful to my committee for their consistent support throughout this process. Finally, I am deeply grateful to the five women I interviewed for this study for their courage in sharing with me their thoughts, feelings and experiences on such a personal subject as sexuality. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I: Overview of the Study ....................................................................................... 1 Rationale for the Study ........................................................................................... 5 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................... 7 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 8 Research Design ...................................................................................................... 8 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 9 Assumptions and Limitations of the Study ............................................................. 9 Definition of Terms ............................................................................................... 10 Chapter II: Review of Related Literature .......................................................................... 12 Definitions and Measurement of Sexual Orientation ............................................ 12 The Limitations of Sexual Orientation Labels ...................................................... 14 Bisexuality and Sexual Fluidity in Nonheterosexual Women .............................. 20 Sexual Questioning and Same-sex Sexuality among Heterosexual Women ........ 24 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................... 27 Chapter III: Methodology ................................................................................................. 29 Research Design .................................................................................................... 29 Site of the Study .................................................................................................... 30 Participants ............................................................................................................ 31 Data Collection Procedures ................................................................................... 32 Role of the Researcher and Data Analysis ............................................................ 33 Chapter IV: Results .......................................................................................................... 36 Participant 1 .......................................................................................................... 37 Participant 2 .......................................................................................................... 38 Participant 3 .......................................................................................................... 38 Participant 4 .......................................................................................................... 39 Participant 5 .......................................................................................................... 40 Chapter V: Discussion ...................................................................................................... 41 Research Question 1 ............................................................................................. 41 Research Question 2 ............................................................................................. 44 Research Question 3 ............................................................................................. 48 Research Question 4 ............................................................................................. 52 Research Question 5 ............................................................................................ 56 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................... 58 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 59 References ......................................................................................................................... 64 Appendices ....................................................................................................................... 69 Appendix A. Flyer ................................................................................................ 69 vi Appendix B. Research Survey .............................................................................. 70 Appendix C. Human Subjects IRB Approval ....................................................... 72 Appendix D. Informed Consent Form .................................................................. 73 Appendix E. Interview Questions ......................................................................... 75 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Age, Sexual Orientation Label and Relationship status ....................................
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