08. Feminist Reconsiderations of Choice, Empowerment, and Satisfaction in Sexuality Research

• In Event: 232 - Informal Discussion Roundtable Session

Abstract

The sexual domain is an essential space for researchers focused on issues of justice to consider – not only to understand how sexual relationships serve as sites of violence and conflict, but additionally, how sexual relationships reflect adaptions to and normalizations of inequality. This roundtable offers three perspectives on working with justice theories to “enliven” key concepts in sexuality research. The roundtable will focus on three key concepts in sexuality research – choice, empowerment, and satisfaction – and, in particular, on how experiences of entitlement and deservingness shape individuals’ sexual lives. The roundtable will focus on how gender shapes sexual entitlement as well as how feminist social psychological research plays an role in understanding experiences of normalized injustices in intimate relationships. Roundtable participants will reflect on three recent empirical studies that shed light on how these terms are being used in contemporary sexuality research. The discussion will focus on the role of sexual embodiment, as well as the role of socialization in evaluations of feeling empowered, being satisfied, or deciding amongst sexual “choices.”

Authors

• Sara McClelland, University of Michigan

• Deborah Tolman, City University of New York-Hunter College

• Stephanie M Anderson, City University of New York-Graduate Center

• Kimberly Belmonte, City University of New York-Graduate Center