Project Description
Hello. My name is Brooke Higginbottom.
I’m Sociology Master’s student at the University of Victoria (UVic), in British Columbia, Canada. Currently, I am working on my Master’s thesis and am looking for participants for my research study.
I am looking for anyone who has been diagnosed with a sexual disorder/dysfunction or who identifies as having difficulties with sexual functioning (such as perceived low desire, arousal, organism frequency or intensity, and/or the presence of sexual pain) to take a 10–15-minute survey focusing on their experiences and perspectives towards sexual difficulties and healthcare. Survey responses are anonymous and will not be public. Only I and my supervisors will be able to see any responses. If you’d like to participate, here is the link to the survey:
Please read the consent form at the beginning of the page before starting the survey. Note that you must be over 19 to participate in the study! In addition, if you are interested in participating in an interview, you can provide an email at the end of the survey. Potential interviewees will be selected at random. This project focuses on those with sexual disorders/sexual difficulties and their experiences within the healthcare systems.
Additionally, I will be looking into the ways asexual people experience healthcare systems. As someone who identifies as asexual, I have struggled with accepting and embracing my lack of sexual desire. Before learning about asexuality, I spoke to a doctor about my situation, but the experience wasn’t fulfilling. Now, I am curious as to the experiences of others in similar situations.
This research will promote healthier viewpoints of sexual arousal, address potential stigma within the healthcare system and society, further improve understandings of asexuality, and combat bigoted assumptions. It is my hope that my research will add further depth and legitimacy to both the experiences of asexuals and those with sexual difficulties. I hope that from this project, a healthier distinction between these two identities will be drawn and that we will move towards normalizing lower sexual desire/attraction.
If you want to know more about me, my study, my reasoning for this research topic, or have any further questions, please contact me at brookehigginbottom@uvic.ca. or my supervisors, Dr. Thea Cacchioni at tcacchio@uvic.ca or Dr. Steve Garlick at sgarlick@uvic.ca.
