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Cited by 651LGBTQ Health, Identity, and PolicyGender and Feminist StudiesGender, Sexuality, and Education

Beyond sexual orientation: integrating gender/sex and diverse sexualities via sexual configurations theory

van Anders, Sari M.·2015·Archives of Sexual Behavior
DOI 10.1007/s10508-015-0490-8
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Abstract

Sexual orientation typically describes people's sexual attractions or desires based on their sex relative to that of a target. Despite its utility, it has been critiqued in part because it fails to account for non-biological gender-related factors, partnered sexualities unrelated to gender or sex, or potential divergences between love and lust. In this article, I propose Sexual Configurations Theory (SCT) as a testable, empirically grounded framework for understanding diverse partnered sexualities, separate from solitary sexualities. I focus on and provide models of two parameters of partnered sexuality--gender/sex and partner number. SCT also delineates individual gender/sex. I discuss a sexual diversity lens as a way to study the particularities and generalities of diverse sexualities without privileging either. I also discuss how sexual identities, orientations, and statuses that are typically seen as misaligned or aligned are more meaningfully conceptualized as branched or co-incident. I map out some existing identities using SCT and detail its applied implications for health and counseling work. I highlight its importance for sexuality in terms of measurement and social neuroendocrinology, and the ways it may be useful for self-knowledge and feminist and queer empowerment and alliance building. I also make a case that SCT changes existing understandings and conceptualizations of sexuality in constructive and generative ways informed by both biology and culture, and that it is a potential starting point for sexual diversity studies and research.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s10508-015-0490-8

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  • Adolescents are less likely than adults to conform to firm categories of sexual orientation or gender identity.

    “To do this well will require careful attention, as adolescents are less likely than adults to conform to firm categories of sexual orientation or gender identity (Savin-Williams et al., 2012, van Anders, 2015).”

    From Becoming a sexual being: The “elephant in the room” of adolescent brain development (2017) · cites this paper as van Anders, 2015

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Authors
van Anders, S. M.
Venue
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2015-03-14
Volume
44
Issue
5
Pages
1177-1213
ISSN
  • 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2800
DOI
10.1007/s10508-015-0490-8
OpenAlex
W2032467534
Semantic Scholar
9a64c90dad14f8b15f8b941a8f5e5e06529aeb4e
Cited by
651
References
229
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 96 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 17
FWCI
60.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Sexuality, and Education
Keywords
sexual orientation, sexual diversity, sex and gender, sexual identity, sexual status, love and lust, feminist empowerment, alliance building
MeSH terms
Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Love, Personality, Power, Psychological, Sexual Behavior, Social Perception, Sexuality, Social Theory

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