Transcending the 'grotesque' illumination of female sexuality
Date
2019
Authors
Damgaard, L. Marie
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education
Abstract
This study contributes to the scholarship of women’s sexuality by utilizing a hermeneutic phenomenological lens, with feminist, Tantric nondual underpinnings to explore a group of co-researcher women's understanding of their self-defined ‘grotesque’ sexual experiences. Furthermore, the analysis of their interviews sought to discover the meanings and resulting transformations that these women have undertaken in their experience of sexuality, self, and beyond, which they ascribe to these ‘grotesque’ sexual experiences. Analysis and interpretation of the transcripts resulted in the emergence of several subthemes. The subthemes fell into three main themes, including, Theme A: Patriarchy as a Sculptor of the ‘Grotesque’, Theme B: Denying Authentic Self, and Theme C: Becoming Transformed Through Transgression. Ultimately, the findings of this research study are significant in that they give value to women’s experience, while simultaneously exploring the meaning and understanding that these co-researchers acquired from reflecting on these experiences.
Description
Keywords
female sexuality , good girl/bad girl constructs , hermeneutic phenomenology , sexual experiences , tantra , tantric nondual perspective