Theoretical Perspectives on Human Sexuality

Theoretical Perspectives on Human Sexuality

Theoretical Perspectives on Human Sexuality

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Case Study: Jeanette Jeanette is a 34-year-old genetically born female. She is an only child who was raised by her father and grandparents. When Jeanette was eight years old, her mother died as a result of a car accident. As a young woman, Jeanette was very successful in school, often advancing far more quickly than her peers with normal academic milestones. She was able to maintain very high grades despite occasional experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Jeanette was well liked and well regarded by both her classmates and her teachers. Jeanette attended an elite private college on a partial scholarship; she worked part time on campus to supplement her scholarship funds. It was during college that Jeanette realized she was attracted to both men and women. After a brief “coming out” period, she was fairly open about her sexuality. She also realized she was interested in a career in law and pursued her juris doctorate immediately upon completion of her bachelor’s degree. Now a successful criminal prosecutor, Jeanette loves her job and has aspirations to advance in the law firm where she works and then pursue a career in local politics. She enjoys the demanding pace and the challenging and unpredictable nature of prosecuting criminal defendants. In addition to her career, Jeanette enjoys a wide range of physical activities as an outlet for stress. She is particularly drawn to highly competitive and risky sports, such as martial arts and large wave surfing. She has participated in various marathons and is currently training for an Ironman triathlon competition. She takes great pride in her athletic ability and stamina, and she frequently visits the gym. Jeanette has remained, for the most part, single. She has had several relationships with both men and women; these relationships lasted a few months. However, she finds it difficult to maintain a relationship given the demands of her job and sporting interests. She prefers to casually date and enjoys an active sexual life. Recently, she has begun to experience some challenges at work with regard to advancement and her direct supervisor. On several occasions, he has made vague comments about women who are not “feminine” and jokes about how the “old boys club” at the office is disappearing. Despite having a very successful prosecution record, Jeanette received a very lukewarm annual performance evaluation. Her supervisor commented specifically about his concerns regarding  © 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. her leadership ability, and he wondered aloud if she might “soften” her approach a bit.

Readings for this week;

Helgeson, V. S. (2017). Psychology of gender (5th ed.). New York, NY: Taylor and Francis.
Chapter 9, “Romantic Relationships” (pp. 377–428)

Lehmiller, J. J. (2013). Psychology of human sexuality. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Chapter 1, “Theoretical Perspectives on Human Sexuality” (pp. 2–26)
Chapter 6, “Sexual Orientation” (pp. 144–170)