Narrative Research, Sexuality, and Social Policy

Abstract

Narrative research methods have the potential to illuminate the complex interplay between social policy and individuals' lived experiences (e.g., Frost and Ouellette 2011;Lykes et al. 2003). The ability of narrative methods to highlight critical issues located at the junctures of individuals' experiences of sexuality and policy is a direct result of the epistemological foundations of narrative methods that emphasize meaning making, phenomenology, development, and the inherent complexity of lived lives (Fine 2006;Frost 2011;McAdams and Pals 2006;Ouellette 2008). However, when drawing on relevant social science literature, social policy-making efforts most often privilege data produced solely from quantitative research. The advantage afforded to quantitative methods in policy arenas likely stems from positivistic notions of what constitutes evidence, predicated on notions of reliability and validity based in quantitatively oriented epistemologies. Given sexuality-related phenomena and the policies that shape the experience of one's sexuality are inherently and simultaneously personal and social, evidence from both quantitative and narrative research paradigms are necessary for policy makers to best gauge the need for, experience of, and effectiveness of sexuality-related social policy.In light of the concerning lack of findings from narrative research in sexuality-related policy-making arenas, the aims of this special issue were to (a) demonstrate the relevance and utility of narrative research for and within sexuality-related policy-making efforts and (b) showcase empirical contributions from narrative research with implications in critical sexuality-related policy areas. In our call for papers for this special issue, we cast the net broadly, hoping to receive submissions that pertain to a wide variety of sexuality-related social policy issues utilizing a diverse set of narrative theories and methodologies. The call accomplished these aims in its receipt of over 50 abstracts, only 16 of which we were able to showcase in this double special issue. Contributions span the gamut of sexuality-related policy issues ranging from same-sex marriage, to sex work, to lesbian and gay foster carers, to adolescent pregnancy. The studies reported in the papers similarly derive from a wide variety of locations and are couched in/informed by a wide array of disciplines: the papers are from six countries located across North America and Western Europe, also including Australia, and New Zealand, and are framed within the fields of women's studies, psychology, sociology, nursing, and their intersections.We did not provide interested authors with a set definition of narrative research in the call for papers. Indeed, our aim was to leave the call as general as possible such that the special issues could present a wide variety of ways of "doing" narrative. Thus, one of the major collective contributions of this special issue is its ability to showcase multiple approaches to narrative research on sexualityrelated topics ranging from phen...