Young women's passionate friendships: a qualitative analysis

Abstract

Recent research suggests that heterosexual and sexual minority women are more similar to each other in relationship development than they are to men who identify a similar sexual orientation (Diamond, L.M., 2008. Sexual fluidity: understanding women's love and desire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; Glover, J.A., Galliher, R.V., and Lamere, T.G., 2009. Identity development and exploration among sexual minority adolescents: examination of a multidimensional model. Journal of homosexuality, 56, 77 -101). The current study adds to this literature by examining past and current passionate friendship experiences of a small sample of heterosexual and sexual minority young adult women through qualitative interviews. Passionate friendships represent a unique relationship category that blurs the lines between friendship and romantic relationship. Five content themes emerged regarding the formation, features, and function of passionate friendships. Implications for future research based on preliminary findings of similarities and differences within this small sample of heterosexual and sexual minority women's passionate friendships are discussed.

Changes in Sexual Identity Labels in a Contemporary Cohort of Emerging Adult Women: Patterns, Prevalence and a Typology

“…For instance, there is a marked difference in levels of homophobia directed towards men versus women (Bettinsoli, Supps & Napier, 2019), as well as the sexual scripts that members of each gender are expected to follow (Wiederman, 2005). Further, many contexts thought to be facilitative of sexual identity development and sexual fluidity-such as close same-sex friendships and college attendance-play a more salient role in the same-sex experiences of women than men (e.g., Glover, Galliher & Crowell, 2015;Rupp & Taylor, 2010;Thompson, 2006). Yet this is not to suggest that women are free of heteronormative expectations.…”

Relationship course theory: An interdisciplinary integrative proposition to address the complexification of interpersonal relationships

“…These works have shed light on the co‐evolution and differentiation of these domains as social constructs throughout Western history. Third, while sexuality, friendship, and love are conceptually different, they have been found to co‐occur in various types of relationships, manifesting in varying forms and degrees of importance (see Bidart, 1997; Gabb & Fink, 2015; Glover et al., 2015; Jamieson, 1998; Mongeau et al., 2013; VanderDrift et al., 2013). More crucially, these domains seem to minimally serve as frames of reference to define what relationships are and what they are not.…”

“…Terms used to refer to these non‐couple sexual relationships 2 vary and may be used to describe episodic sexual encounters (e.g., hookup, one‐night stand, booty call; Wentland & Reissing, 2011), varying levels of sexual and friendship involvement (e.g., fuck buddy, friend with benefits; Wentland & Reissing, 2011), a history as a couple (i.e., ex‐couple partners; Rodrigue, 2020), or sexual and love involvement without the intention of becoming a couple (e.g., solo polyamory; Sheff & Tesene, 2015). As for friendships, various categories have been coined to describe “special” types of friends that deviate from the traditional platonic model, such as friend with benefits relationships, which involve sexuality (Wentland & Reissing, 2011), and passionate friendships which involve romantic love without sexuality (Glover et al., 2015). Also, some coparenting relationships involve friends who decide to have children together without becoming a couple (Shrage, 2018).…”

“…complexity, friendship, interdisciplinarity, interpersonal relationships, love, sexuality partners; Rodrigue, 2020), or sexual and love involvement without the intention of becoming a couple (e.g., solo polyamory; Sheff & Tesene, 2015). As for friendships, various categories have been coined to describe "special" types of friends that deviate from the traditional platonic model, such as friend with benefits relationships, which involve sexuality (Wentland & Reissing, 2011), and passionate friendships which involve romantic love without sexuality (Glover et al, 2015). Also, some coparenting relationships involve friends who decide to have children together without becoming a couple (Shrage, 2018).…”

Unraveling the Mystery of “The Specificity of Women’s Sexual Response and Its Relationship with Sexual Orientations”: The Social Construction of Sex and Sexual Identities

“…There is evidence that an increasing number of Western women access pornography (Attwood, 2005 ; Rissel et al, 2017 ), including the eroticized images of lesbian sex that appear within heterosexual porn (Ussher, 1997 ). Prepubescent and pubescent girls commonly engage in same-gender sexual exploration (Lamb, 2004 ), adult women in “passionate friendships” (Glover, Galliher, & Crowell, 2015 ), and a high proportion of college age women in North America have experienced same-gender kissing or “making out” (Fahs, 2009 ; Meyer, 2005 ).…”