An Exploration of Gender and Sexually Diverse Understandings and Experiences of Femininity
Sophie Capern and Linda Chiodo
Femininity is often reductively conceived of in feminist research as oppressive and synonymous with the experiences of cisgender heterosexual women, excluding the wealth of diverse LGBTQIA+ lived experiences of femininity.
To exclude gender and sexually diverse voices in the context of a social issue they are central to, is in great misalignment with community psychology values. Thus, the current qualitative research explored gender and sexually diverse understandings and engagements with femininity.
Fourteen gender and sexually diverse people shared their valuable insights and personal experiences via semi-structured interviews.
Individually and collectively, the depth and complexity surrounding participant experiences was apparent, as was the clear value femininity held.
Through a reflexive thematic analysis, several main and sub-themes were identified; a theme whereby normative and alternative conceptions of femininity were defined by participants, and where engagement with femininity was identified by participants as a journey including stages of separation, ordeal and meaningful return.
The current paper interrogates a notable gap in critical feminist literature by centering LGBTQIA+ experiences of femininity, untethering femininity from gender and/or sexual orientation with the overall aim of fostering greater gender inclusivity and equity for feminine people in future research, intervention and practice.
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