Associate professor, psychology, Trent University, Canada

“Fundamentally, I’m driven by a curiosity to better understand how humans tick and, in particular, what makes romantic relationships falter or thrive. While there has been nearly a century of research on heterosexual relationships, research on same-sex and gender-diverse relationships is still playing catch-up, and there is still so much more to learn. The same goes for research on women. Female health and women’s sexuality has rarely received the direct attention that it deserves, so working with Flo offers a great opportunity to contribute to filling this gap.”

Areas of expertise

Same-sex relationships
Orgasm
Women’s sexuality
Social support for relationships
Public displays of affection
LGBTQ+ psychology
Femininity
Femmephobia

“When I began my graduate studies, LGBTQ+ psychology was still an emerging area of research. Most studies focused on mixed-sex, heterosexual couples, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of same-sex relationships. I chose to pursue this area to help bridge that gap by developing LGBTQ+-inclusive research methods in relationship and sexual science, as well as in broader fields of health and social psychology. One of the things I enjoy most about this area of research is that it often leads to insights that are relevant about ALL individuals, regardless of their sexual or gender identity.”

— Karen L. Blair, PhD

Areas of expertise

Same-sex relationships
Orgasm
Women’s sexuality
Social support for relationships
Public displays of affection
LGBTQ+ psychology
Femininity
Femmephobia

— Karen L. Blair, PhD

Career

Trent University – Associate professor of psychology, since 2023
LGBTQ Psychology Canada – President, since 2019
Journal of Femininities – Editor-in-chief
Trent University – Assistant professor, 2020–2023
St. Francis Xavier University – Associate professor of psychology, 2020–2021
St. Francis Xavier University – Assistant professor of social, health, and LGBTQ psychology, 2015–2020
University of Utah – Postdoctoral fellow, 2012–2015

Education

Queen’s University – PhD in social psychology, 2012
Acadia University – MSc in psychology, 2007
University of Guelph – BA (Hon) in psychology, criminal justice, public policy, 2003

Academic memberships

Archives of Sexual Behavior – Associate editor
Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality – Associate editor
Journal of Sex Research, Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, Personal Relationships – Editorial board member

Awards and achievements

Canadian Psychological Association – John C. Service Member of the Year
Trent University – Early Career Researcher Award
St. Francis Xavier University – Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
Research funding from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the American Institute of Bisexuality, and the Lesbian Health Fund of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association

Appearances and publications in other media

“What Is Femmephobia?” Mind Full: The CPA Podcast, 8 Aug. 2022.
“What Is a Marriage? The Rise of More Diverse Unions.” Modern Relationships: Romance, Friendship, and Family in the 21st Century, edited by M. Hojjat and A. Moyer. Oxford University Press, Jan. 2024, pp. 106-23.
“Who Do We Love? Shifts in Attitudes about Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Same-Sex Close Relationships.” Modern Relationships: Romance, Friendship, and Family in the 21st Century, edited by M. Hojjat and A. Moyer. Oxford University Press, Jan. 2024, pp. 178–96.
“Sex, Gender, and Sexuality.” The Cambridge Handbook of the International Psychology of Women, edited by Fanny M. Cheung and Diane F. Halpern. Cambridge University Press, 20 July 2020.
“A Critique of Heteronormativity in Sex Therapy.” New Directions in Sex Therapy, Innovations and Alternatives, third edition, edited by Peggy J. Kleinplatz. Routledge, 9 Oct. 2024.
Critical Femininities. Routledge, 2023.
The Femmephobia 101 Workbook. Lulu Press, 2023.