WOMEN'S SEXUALITY IN SWINGING

Abstract

For the first time in decades America is debating over marriage as an institution in combination with sexuality and the onslaught of what it means to people’s identity (Adam 2003; Brandzel 2005; and Poirier 2008). Swinging combines traditional marriage with the nontraditional sex typically associated with casual dating. Women’s historical redefinition of marriage makes swinging distinct enough to discover how women experience their sexuality in an environment that encourages sexual exploration while operating from a traditional framework that embraces family and emotional monogamy. I apply a social constructionist approach using the concept of sexual fluidity to explore women’s navigation of their sexuality within swinging, and as such, gain an idea of their perceived empowerment through that process. I discuss the social construction of women’s sexuality and swinging including the debates that arise in combination with their contribution to feminist theory, then I compare these to my interviewees’ own words.