Single women’s sexualities across the life course: The role of major events, transitions, and turning points

Abstract

Most research on women’s sexualities focuses on a single event or developmental period, often failing to document romantic and sexual trajectories over time. Moreover, life course studies of sexuality have not exclusively examined single women, including major life events that may alter their sexual attitudes and behaviors. Using life story interview data with 60 single, heterosexual women between the ages of 18 and 91, I document five common pathways through romantic and sexual life, including opting out of marital relationships, the development of sexual subjectivity, sexual exploration and maintaining independence, sex positivity and increases in sexual communication, and a maintenance of sexual conservatism. The findings also reveal the role of domestic violence, sexual abuse, relationship dissolution, sexually transmitted illnesses, and menopause in altering sexual attitudes and behaviors. This study has several implications for life course studies of intimate relationships and sexuality.