“This is mind expanding”: Reactions to an online survey using sexual configurations theory.

Abstract

Eliciting direct feedback on theories and measures, particularly when they attempt to represent marginalized populations, is an important part of refining research methods and conducting culturally sensitive research. In this study, we collected reactions to and perceptions of a novel survey method using sexual configurations theory (SCT; van Anders, 2015). SCT is a theory and measure of gender/sex and sexual diversity that allows for greater nuance, flexibility, and specificity than most existing measures of gender/sex. After they had filled out SCT’s gender/sex, gender, and sex diagrams, we asked participants (N = 242) of diverse gender/sexes to report on their prior engagement with these concepts, their understanding of SCT, the ease/difficulty of the diagrams, and their perception of the utility of SCT. Participants reported generally understanding the concepts, and although some found the diagrams unnecessarily complicated, many saw their utility, either for describing their own gender/sex or as a tool for understanding gender/sex diversity in general. Gender/sex majorities and minorities differed in their level of prior engagement with gender/sex concepts, and accordingly, minorities found it more useful in describing themselves, whereas majorities were more likely to indicate that the study shifted their thinking around gender/sex. These findings indicate that SCT provides both challenges and opportunities for deeply engaging with gender/sex diversity and demonstrates the utility of direct feedback from community members. This article is Part 2 of a two-part report, and Part 1 contains visualizations of the ways people used SCT’s diagrams (Beischel, Schudson, & van Anders, 2021). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Public Significance Statement—In this online survey, participants gave direct feedback about sexual configurations theory (SCT): their perception of its concepts and their reactions to its gender, sex, and gender/sex diagrams. The results indicated that using the diagrams is a challenging but productive process, with gender/sex majorities especially finding it educational and gender/sex minorities especially appreciating the nuance and flexibility SCT affords. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)