SEXUAL FLUIDITY: HISTORICAL CONTEXTUALIZATION AND THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Abstract
In this study, we sought to deepen the concept of sexual fluidity through a critical analysis of the literature and an integrative synthesis on the topic. In it, we analyzed studies that focus on sexual fluidity, explored the concept, under the guidance of how Lisa Diamond introduces it into the scientific literature, defines it, and operationalizes it. Finally, we focused on studies on sexual fluidity, trying to understand the meanings attributed to the concept, questioning the potential gender bias that accompanies a concept located in a heteronormative time and context. As a contribution to the deepening of the concept and reinforcement of its potential, reflections are presented on the relationship between sexual fluidity and hegemonic masculinity, a relationship that is little valued in the scientific literature. Overall, this work promotes, critically and in an intersectional way, the questioning about the fixation in sex/gender of people involved in a sexual situation and discussed the boundaries of the concept of sexual fluidity and its (im)permeability.
Downloads
References
Blumstein, P. W., & Schwartz, P. (1977). Bisexuality: Some social psychological issues. Journal of Social Issues, 33(2), 30–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1977.tb02004.x
Bordini, G. S., & Sperb, T. M. (2013). Negociação de significados associados às sexualidades: Análise de narrativa construída em interação. Psicologia em Estudo, 18(1), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-73722013000100005
Butler, J. (1999). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity (ed. rev.). Routledge.
Butler, J. (2004). Undoing gender. Routledge.
Connell, R. W. (1987). Gender and power: Society, the person, and sexual politics. Standford California Press.
Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity: Rethinking the concept. Gender & Society, 19(6), 829–859. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243205278639
Diamond, L. (2003). What does sexual orientation orient? A biobehavioral model distinguishing romantic love and sexual desire. Psychological Review, 110(1), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.110.1.173
Diamond, L. (2008). Sexual fluidity: Understanding women’s love and desire. Harvard University Press.
Diamond, L. (2016). Sexual fluidity in males and females. Current Sexual Health Reports, 8(4), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-016-0092-z
Diamond, L., Alley, J., Dickenson, J., & Blair, K. L. (2019). Who counts as sexually fluid? Comparing four different types of sexual fluidity in women. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01565-1
Goode, E., & Haber, L. (1977). Sexual correlates of homosexual experience: An exploratory study of college women. The Journal of Sex Research, 13(1), 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224497709550956
Hoy, A., & London, A. S. (2018). The experience and meaning of same-sex sexuality among heterosexually identified men and women: An analytic review. Sociology Compass, 12(7), e12596. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12596
Katz-Wise, S. L. (2014). Sexual fluidity in young adult women and men: Associations with sexual orientation and sexual identity development. Psychology & Sexuality, 6(2), 189–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2013.876445
Kinnish, K. K., Strassberg, D. S., & Turner, C. W. (2005). Sex differences in the flexibility of sexual orientation: A multidimensional retrospective assessment. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(2), 173–183. https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s10508-005-1795-9
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. W. B. Saunders.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., & Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual behavior in the human female. W. B. Saunders.
Kitzinger, C., & Wilkinson, S. (1995). Transitions from heterosexuality to lesbianism: The discursive production of lesbian identities. Developmental Psychology, 31(1), 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.31.1.95
Mock, S. E., & Eibach, R. P. (2012). Stability and change in sexual orientation identity over a 10-year period in adulthood. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(3), 641–648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9761-1
Paiva, V. (2008). A psicologia redescobrirá a sexualidade? Psicologia em Estudo, 13(4), 641–651. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-73722008000400002
Ross, M. W., Daneback, K., & Månsson, S.-A. (2012). Fluid versus fixed: A new perspective on bisexuality as a fluid sexual orientation beyond gender. Journal of Bisexuality, 12(4), 449–460. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2012.702609
Rust, P. C. (1993). “Coming out” in the age of social constructionism: Sexual identity formation among lesbian and bisexual women. Gender & Society, 7(1), 50–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124393007001004
Savin-Williams, R. C. (2017). Mostly straight: Sexual fluidity among men. Harvard University Press.
Silva, T. (2017). BUD-SEX: Constructing normative masculinity among rural straight men that have sex with men. Gender & Society, 31(1), 51–73.https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243216679934
Sophie, J. (1986). A critical examination of stage theories of lesbian identity development. Journal of Homosexuality, 12(2), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v12n02_03
Subhi, N., Geelan, D., Nen, S., Fauziah, I., Mohamad, M. S., Lukman, Z. M., Alavi, K., Hoesni, S. M., & Rusyda, H. M. (2011). Sexual identity and sexual fluidity among gay men and lesbians. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities 19(S), 163-172.
Tiefer, L. (2004). Sex is not a natural act and other essays (2nd ed.). Westview Press.
Ward, J. (2015). Not gay: Sex between straight white men. New York University Press.
Warner, M. (1991). Introduction: Fear of queer planet. Social Text, 29, 3–17.
Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Pryor, D. W. (1994). Dual attraction: Understanding bisexuality. Oxford University Press.
Copyright (c) 2023 Psicologia em Estudo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
As opiniões emitidas, são de exclusiva responsabilidade do(s) autor(es). Ao submeterem o manuscrito ao Conselho Editorial de Psicologia em Estudo, o(s) autor(es) assume(m) a responsabilidade de não ter previamente publicado ou submetido o mesmo manuscrito por outro periódico. Em caso de autoria múltipla, o manuscrito deve vir acompanhado de autorização assinada por todos os autores. Artigos aceitos para publicação passam a ser propriedade da revista, podendo ser remixados e reaproveitados conforme prevê a licença Creative Commons CC-BY.
The opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the author (s). When submitting the manuscript to the Editorial Board of Study Psychology, the author (s) assumes responsibility for not having previously published or submitted the same manuscript by another journal. In case of multiple authorship, the manuscript must be accompanied by an authorization signed by all authors. Articles accepted for publication become the property of the journal, and can be remixed and reused as provided for in theby a license Creative Commons CC-BY.