Difference is the Greatest Influence: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Transcultural Sexual Fluidity

Date
2016
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Abstract
The lived experiences of transcultural sexually fluid identities (TSFI) within Canada’s diverse transnational communities remain an unexplored area of individuality and difference. TSFI fits within the general referencing of non-heteronormative sexual identities. In spite of Canada’s projected diversity and accommodating laws for human differences, there is still a stigma attached to non-traditional sexual expressions. Across the diverse Canadian landscape, there are numerous interpretations and understandings of same gender sex (SGS) engagement. In this study, interpretations of TSFI are viewed through a blended theoretical lens of borderland theory (Anzaldúa, 1993) and liminality theory (Turner, 1969). This fused theoretical lens informs a deeper understanding of TSFI and allows for an examination of the many identities that exist within the spectrum of non-heteronormative sexual identities. The non-heteronormative sexual identity context is a fluid spectrum of diversity consisting of various sexual identity labels residing in a space that are referenced in this research as fluidsexuality. Fluidsexuality is a term created for this research and refers to the range of sexual identities present between the binary constructs of heterosexuality and homosexuality. The combined poles of these binary concepts are premised by another term created for this research henceforth referenced as binarysexuality. Within the span of these opposite poles, lies an array of same-gender-sex (SGS) sexually fluid labels. In examining the plethora of emerging SGS labels, this research was guided by autoethnographic methodology through which I explored TSFI identities across Canada. This study investigated the lived experiences of TSFIs and how their lives can inform knowledge development that may result in a rejuvenated adult learning pedagogy focused on diversity and difference.
Description
Keywords
Education--Adult and Continuing
Citation
Francis, R. (2016). Difference is the Greatest Influence: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Transcultural Sexual Fluidity (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25707