Researcher bios and how their research backgrounds relate to this study

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Social Psychology at the University of Windsor, with a research focus on women’s experiences of sexual agency, sexual violence, and the impact of social inequalities on well-being. My research is grounded in a critical feminist framework and a published systematic review of women's sexual agency. I have led and collaborated on multiple studies, including work on resilience, gender identity, and intersectionality, with a particular emphasis on marginalized populations such as LGBTQ+ women. For the past two years, I have also worked on a study funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, testing a sexual violence education program for teen girls. My research seeks to uncover how social structures shape women’s empowerment, particularly in the context of sexuality, contributing to a deeper understanding of the intersection between sexual health, empowerment, and social justice.

Purpose of this research project

The purpose of this research project is to examine how self-identified women experience sexual agency in a society influenced by oppressive structures that constrain our experiences through a survey that assesses key constructs such as communication, safety, desire, and control over sexual experiences. The survey will focus on understanding how these factors vary across diverse groups of women, including those with different racial, sexual, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The survey aims to capture how women navigate sexual agency, exploring elements like sexual compliance and coercion, consensual sex without desire, and their ability to communicate sexual needs. By collecting data from a diverse sample, the study seeks to identify patterns and differences in how women exercise agency over their sexual lives and how social and cultural factors influence these experiences. The results will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding sexual agency to inform programs that promote sexual empowerment and improve sexual health education. This research aims to highlight the diverse ways in which women experience and express sexual autonomy, offering insights into how intersecting identities impact their sexual decision-making.

How this research will help LGBT2SQ people and communities

This research focuses on self-identified women, specifically examining how women from various intersections of identity, such as race and sexual orientation, experience sexual agency in a heterosexist society. Many existing studies fail to account for the unique challenges faced by women who belong to marginalized racial and sexual groups. By centring these intersections, this project aims to explore how social structures like racism, homophobia, and heteronormativity influence the way women express and navigate sexual agency. For 2SLGBTQ women, this research will investigate how their experiences with sexual agency are shaped by both their sexual orientation and the broader societal pressures of heterosexism. This approach will offer a more comprehensive understanding of how diverse women experience and negotiate their sexual autonomy in a society that often marginalizes their identities.

Participants

The inclusion criteria is self-identified women 16-30, in Canada

Compensation

For those who complete the survey they will be entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 $50 gift cards to a location of their choosing, or the grand prize of an iPad

Mitigation measures

I am transparent in the informed consent form that I ask questions about positive and negative sexual experiences and some questions may cause discomfort. However, participants are not required to answer any questions they do not want. I also provide nationwide mental health resources in PDF format before and after the survey.

Promoting the Study

I am contacting organizations, promoting it through Facebook and Instagram, and word of mouth. Facebook: Uwindsor Women's Sexuality Study, Instagram: womenssexualitystudy