Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-16-2026

Abstract

Research on sexual fluidity has relied on categorical, gender-based measurement frameworks that prioritize quantifying change over exploring the lived experience of sexually fluid people. This study employed Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to qualitatively and ideographically explore how self-identified sexually fluid people made sense of their own sexual identity, gender (more broadly), and attraction as it relates or does not relate to gender. Three participants completed structured interviews with open-ended questions. Participants unanimously made sense of identity as a self-constructed journey and tied to their social realities. Participants’ lived experiences of their own gender identities informed their sense-making of gender more broadly and thus differed from one another. Participants revealed that they did not conceptualize gender as the primary organizing principle of their attractions. Instead, qualities such as emotional congruence and value alignment were central. These findings challenge foundational work in sexual fluidity research and highlight the need for measurement approaches that move beyond gender primacy.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

David Witherington

Second Committee Member

Tania Reynolds

Third Committee Member

Ilia Rodriguez Nazario

Language

English

Keywords

Sexual Fluidity, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), Process-Relational Theory, Gender Primacy, De-centering Gender, Fluid Attraction

Document Type

Thesis

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