Woodbury Psychology Program Chair, Dr. Joye Swan, Wins Diverse Sexualities Research and Education Institute鈥檚 2020 Book Award
Dr. Joye Swan, Chair of 麻豆传媒集团鈥檚 Psychology Program, has been recognized for her book, 聽聽The book, co-authored with her former student and Woodbury alumna,聽Dr. Shaghayegh Habibi, was unanimously selected as the winner of the聽聽2020 Book Award.
The pathbreaking volume brings together a diverse body of sexual, behavioral, and social science research on bisexuality. Arguing for a clear, evidence-based definition of bisexuality and standardized measures for assessing sexual orientation, it spotlights challenges that need to be addressed toward attaining these goals.
鈥淚t is an exceptional book which illuminates a much-neglected topic in our field. When others refer to the LGBTQ+ communities, the bisexual community tends to remain invisible,鈥� stated Peggy J. Kleinplatz, Chair of the DSREI book award committee. 鈥淭hank you for your excellent, scholarly contribution to the literature! As the first book to win the DSREI Book Award, it sets the barre for the study of diversity in sexuality.鈥�
The book鈥檚 deep trove of findings illuminates the experiences of bisexual men and women in key aspects of life, as well as common mental health issues in the face of stigma, prejudice, and outright denial from the heterosexual and homosexual communities.
It also examines the paradoxical invisibility of bisexuality even as society and science have become more inclusive of lesbian women and gay men, and emphasizes the critical role of thoughtful, respectful support across societal and mental health domains.
鈥淭he award is extra meaningful as it substantiates my life鈥檚 work in two ways,鈥� said Dr. Swan.聽鈥淚t validates my contributions to the study of sexuality and demonstrates the impact I鈥檝e had on my students鈥� life trajectories. I鈥檓 especially pleased to share this award with my former student, Woodbury graduate, and now research partner, Dr. Habibi.鈥�
Dr. Swan has been studying sexual behavior for over twenty years. The common feature in all of her research is using social psychological theory to understand and change stigma and prejudice in relation to sexual minorities beginning with her research on aversive discrimination against homosexual males to her most recent research on defining, labeling, and understanding the origins and impact of biphobia.