NARRATIVES ON BECOMING A SEXUALLY LIBERATED BLACK-WOMXN : EXPLORING THE INTERSECTIONS OF HERSTORY USING A SEX-POSITIVE BLACK FEMINIST-WOMXNIST LENS
about research
Black-Womxn's sexuality has been historically defined by controlling images (Collins, 2000), in terms of risky sexual behaviors (Thomas et al., 2009), and limited by sexual double standards (Fasula et al., 2014). As Black-Womxn's sexuality is frequently examined with a sex-negative lens (i.e., controlling images, sexual double standards, and sexual risk) and few studies challenge the traditionally oppressive depictions of her sexuality, this study will explore the lived experiences of sexually liberated Black-Womxn guided by a Black Feminist-Womxnist (BFW) research paradigm (Lindsay-Dennis, 2015) and sex-positive framework (Burnes et al., 2017; Hargons et al., 2017; Mosher, 2017).
Through an exploration of the intersections of Black-Womxn's race and ethnicity (i.e., being Black or her Blackness), sex and gender (i.e., being Womxn or her Womxnness), and sexuality (i.e., becoming or being sexually liberated), this narrative inquiry has three primary purposes. First, to understand how Black-Womxn's define sexual liberation. Second, to understand what becoming sexually liberated means to Black-Womxn. Third, to explore how Black-Womxn become sexually liberated. In other words, this study explores the definition, meaning, and journey to sexual liberation among Black-Womxn. By exploring the narratives of becoming sexually liberated, the goal is to demystify the experiences and behaviors of Black-Womxn as sexual beings and to debunk harmful stereotypes, inaccuracies, and distortions about Black-Womxn's sexuality.
Additionally, by seeking to understand the change process from sexual oppression to sexual liberation, this study contributes to the literature and clinical training about the significant factors that contribute to Black-Womxn's ability to transcend interlocking systems of oppression and socialization enforced by sex-negativity, controlling images, and sexual double standards to identify ways to help Black-Womxn on their sexual liberation journey. Understanding Black-Womxn's sexual development process in a sex-positive cultural context is essential to developing counseling interventions and prevention strategies that can lead to decreased risk (Thomas, Crook, & Cobia, 2009), as well as improved sexual health and overall well-being. To explore and understand what it is like for Black-Womxn to become sexually liberated, and to understand what it means for Black-Womxn to self-define as sexually liberated at the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality, this study presents the following central research question: what are the lived experiences for Black-Womxn during their journey to become sexually liberated?
central research question
What are the lived experiences of Black-Womxn during the journey to becoming sexually liberated?
— andrea m. stiles | narratives on becoming a sexually liberated black-womxn
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The primary purpose of this preliminary research was to explore the intricate interplay of Black-Womxn’s race/ethnicity (i.e., her Blackness), gender identity (i.e., her Womxnness), and sexuality (i.e., the process of achieving or state of being sexually liberated), revolved around four primary objectives.
Initially, I sought to offer a firsthand account of the lived experiences of Black-Womxn, examined through multiple theoretical and conceptual frameworks. This approach facilitated an understanding of what the journey toward sexual liberation may involve for Black-Womxn.
Second, I aimed to comprehend how Black-Womxn define and articulate the concept of sexual liberation, in general, and within a cultural context.
Third, I explored the lived experiences, definitions, processes, and journeys related to sexual liberation among Black-Womxn, aiming to provide a comprehensive view from a Black-Womxn’s perspective and to describe the necessary steps and conditions for Black-Womxn to attain and sustain sexual liberation. Lastly, I used creative narratives to portray Black-Womxn’s journey toward sexual liberation.
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The overarching goal was to demystify the sexual experiences and behaviors of Black-Womxn as sexual beings, thereby debunking prevalent harmful race-based sexual stereotypes [RBSS], inaccuracies, and distortions about Black-Womxn’s sexuality. In doing so, I sought to shed light on the transitional process from sexual oppression to liberation to understand Black-Womxn’s sexual development process through a sex-positive lens. By understanding the change process from experiencing sexual oppression to experiencing sexual liberation, this inquiry contributes to the literature and clinical training regarding the significant factors that contribute to Black-Womxn’s capacity to transcend interlocking systems of oppression and socialization enforced by race-based sex-negativity, controlling images, and sexual double standards.
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Multiple narrative methodologies were applied to explore the multidimensional nature of sexual liberation among Black-Womxn including Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989, 1991), Black Feminist Thought (BFT) (Collins, 1990/2009), Womanist (Maparyan, 2012; Phillips, 2006; Walker, 1983 perspectives), Endarkened Feminism (Dillard, 2000, 2012; Toliver, 2021), Audre Lorde’s Theory of the Erotic (Lorde, 2007), and the Multidisciplinary Framework of Positive Sexuality (Williams et al., 2015). An exploration and understanding of the sexualities of Black-Womxn using a sex-positive lens and culturally relevant approaches have largely remained unexamined. As the sexualities of Black-Womxn are often defined, described, and examined with a sex-negative lens (Hargons et al., 2017), this study contributes to a much-needed exploration and understanding.