Jennifer F. Chmielewski

Diplomas/Degrees

Diplomas/Degrees

PhD, Critical Social/Personality Psychology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (2023)

M.A., EdM., Psychological Counseling, Teacher's College, Columbia University (2012)

Professional Experience

Professional Experience

2017-2023 Teaching Fellow, Psychology Department, The City College of New York

Recent Courses

Recent Courses

Directed Individual Research Emerging Scholars Progam

Psychological Research I

Psychological Research II

Qualitative Methods In Clinical Psychology

Social Bases Of Behavior

Social Psychology

Research Interests

Research Interests

Broadly speaking, my work explores young people’s embodiment and lived experiences of gender, desire, and sexuality through an intersectional feminist and social justice framework. Specifically, my work examines young people’s intimate lives as they are shaped through and within social and relational contexts and systems of injustice. How do structural inequalities “live” in our relationships, bodies, and desires? And how do our intimate lives and desires provide a site for resistance against injustice?

I deploy a range of methods (experiments, surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory methods) to answer these questions. I am particularly invested in feminist narrative research methods and the development and use of “critical” methods to examine and attend to the hidden assumptions and inequalities embedded in psychological data and concepts.

My lab is currently working on three primary research studies:

Dimensions of Desire Study. What do young people mean when they rate their levels of sexual desire? This mixed-methods study examines the meanings of sexual desire for diverse young people to explore how experiences and conceptualizations of sexual desire are shaped by contexts of inequality. Students will have the opportunity to engage in both quantitative and qualitative analyses of survey data to examine definitions of desire, and whether these differ based on social identities and socio-relational contexts. Interested students will also be able to participate in study recruitment for a second phase of this project, as well as conduct and analyze individual narrative interviews with gender diverse participants. Sexual Imaginations Study. In this narrative study of diverse young people's  experiences with sexual fantasies, engagement with sexual media (e.g., porn, erotic novels), and their sexual experiences more generally, I explore questions about the role of fantasy in young people’s intimate lives and how sexual media shapes young people's expectations for their sexual lives, relationships, and safety at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual identity. Interested students will have the opportunity to learn and engage in narrative and thematic analyses of interview data. Sexual Subjectivities Post-Roe My lab will begin developing a multi-method and multi-site study of young people’s sexual subjectivities (how they navigate and make meaning of their sexual feelings and experiences) since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. What do sexual experiences look like on college campuses in states where abortion is illegal? How are these policies felt even in states where abortion protections are still in place? Interested students will have the opportunity to work on study recruitment and data collection for focus groups with young people in Long Island and New York City, as well as develop a national survey to examine how young people are navigating sexuality in precarious times.

Chapters

Chapters

Chmielewski, J. F., Tolman, D. L., & Fine, M. (In Press). Desire, girls’ (Discourses of desire). In E. Blair & S. Deckman (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Education and Gender. Sage.

Tolman, D. L., & Chmielewski, J. F. (2018). From tightrope to minefield: How the sexual double standard “lives” in adolescent girls’ and young women’s lives. In S. Lamb & J. Gilbert (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook on sexual development (pp. 198-220). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108116121.011

Belmonte, K., Chmielewski, J. F., & Stoudt, B. (2017). Heterosexuality. In K. L. Nadal, S. L.Mazzula, and D. P. Rivera (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender. Sage

Chmielewski, J. F., Belmonte, K., Stoudt, B., & Fine, M. (2016). Intersectional inquiries with LGBTQ and gender nonconforming youth of color: Participatory research on discipline  disparities at the race/gender/sexuality nexus. In R. Skiba, K. Mediratta, & M. K. Rausch (Eds.), Inequality in school discipline: Research and practice to reduce disparities (pp. 171-188). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51257-4_10

Tolman, D. L., Bowman, C. P., & Chmielewski, J. F. (2015). Anchoring sexualization: Contextualizing and explicating the contribution of psychological research on the sexualization of girls in the U.S. and beyond. In E. Renold & J. Ringrose (Eds.), Children, sexuality and sexualization (pp. 71-88). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137353399_5

Articles

Articles

Chmielewski, J. F., Bowman, C. P., & Tolman, D. L. (2020). Pathways to pleasure and protection: Exploring embodiment, desire, and entitlement to pleasure as predictors of Black and White young women’s sexual agency. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 44(3), 307-322. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684320917395

Tolman, D. L., & Chmielewski, J. F. (2019). Toward women wanting. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(6), 1709-1714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1342-0

Chmielewski, J. F., Tolman, D. L., & Kincaid, H. (2017). Constructing risk and responsibility: A gender, race, and class analysis of news representations of adolescent sexuality. Feminist Media Studies, 17(3), 412-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2017.1283348

Chmielewski, J. F. (2017). A Listening Guide analysis of lesbian and bisexual young Women of Color’s experiences of sexual objectification. Sex Roles, 77(7-8), 533-549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0740-4

Ambwani, S. & Chmielewski, J. F. (2013). Weighing the evidence: Social desirability, eating psychopathology, and accuracy of self-reported body weight in a nonclinical sample. Sex Roles, 68(7-8), 474-483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-012-0244-1

Yost, M. R., & Chmielewski, J. F. (2013). Blurring the lines between researcher and researched in interview studies: A feminist practice? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 37(2), 242-250. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684312464698

Chmielewski, J. F. & Yost, M. (2013). Psychosocial influences on bisexual women’s body image: Negotiating gender and sexuality. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 37(2), 224-241. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684311426126

Yost, M. R. & Chmielewski, J. F. (2011). Narrating rural lesbian lives: Body image and lesbian community in central Pennsylvania. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 15(2), 148-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/10894160.2011.521097

Park, C., Chmielewski, J., & Blank, T. (2010). Post-traumatic growth: Finding positive meaning in cancer survivorship moderates the impact of intrusive thoughts on adjustment in younger adults. Psycho-Oncology, 19(11), 1139-1147. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1680

Conference Presentations

Conference Presentations

Chmielewski, J. F. Portraits of wanting: A conceptual analysis of young women’s sexual desire using the listening guide. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Vancouver, BC.

Chmielewski, J. F., Woods, B., & Ozoguz, S. The Listening Guide: Narrative psychological perspectives on young women’s sexuality. Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology, Virtual Conference.

Chmielewski, J. F. Pathways to pleasure and protection: Exploring embodiment, desire, and entitlement to pleasure as predictors of Black and White young women’s sexual agency. Association of Women in Psychology, Chicago, IL.

Chmielewski, J. F., Tolman, D. L., & Ozoguz, S. Narrative psychological perspectives on women and girls' sexual desire. Association of Women in Psychology, Chicago, IL.

Chmielewski, J. F. Thick desire, young women and wanting. Symposium with Deborah L. Tolman and Sedef Ozoguz, “Tracing Women’s and girls' sexual desire, querying sexual empowerment: A narrative psychological perspective,” Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, San Juan, PR.

Chmielewski, J. F. What do you mean when you say you feel desire? A mixed- methods examination of the meaning of sexual desire for young women. Association for Women in Psychology, Virtual Conference.

Chmielewski, J. F., Tolman, D. L., & Bowman, C. Entitlement to sexual pleasure, desire, and sexual wellbeing among Black and White young women. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Virtual Conference.

Tolman, D. L., Chmielewski, J. F., Kincaid, H., Nguyen, K., & Belmonte, K. SexGenLab: Translating critical knowledge for critical times beyond the academy. Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Pittsburgh, PA.

Chmielewski, J. F., Tolman, D., & Kincaid, H. Revealing Young Women's Sexual Embodiments: Feminist Frames for Inquiry and Intervention,” Association for Women in Psychology, Philadelphia, PA.

Belmonte, K., Chmielewki, J. F., Stoudt, B., & Fine, M. Using mixed qualitative methods to understand LGBTQ students’ experience of school safety and surveillance in New York City. Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.

Chmielewski, J. F. Policed desires: An intersectional approach to understanding LGBQ girls of color’s experiences of sexual objectification. Symposium with Monique Ward and Deborah Tolman, “Girls' Sexual Identities, Agency and Health: Exploring Diverse Contexts of Sexualization,” Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.

Kincaid, H., & Chmielewski, J. F. Teen pregnancy rates: Online news media’s mixed messages. Symposium with Deborah Tolman and Christin Bowman, “Girls Gone Not So Wild: Disrupting Moral Panics About Female Sexual Empowerment,” Association for Women in Psychology, Pittsburgh, PA.

Chmielewski, J. F., & Belmonte, K. Troubling homophobia: An intersectional look at queer and trans* experiences with bullying, policing and social surveillance. Association for Women in Psychology, Pittsburgh, PA.

Belmonte, K., Chmielewski, J. F., Stoudt, B., Torre, M., & Fine, M. Que(e)rying school discipline research: Using mixed methods to understand queer students’ experience of surveillance. Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology, New York, NY.

Chmielewski, J. F., Stoudt, B., & Fine, M. Growing up policed and disciplined: Using participatory action research with youth to resist the zero tolerance policies employed by schools and police in NYC. National Women’s Studies Association, San Juan, PR.

Kincaid, H. & Chmielewski, J. F. Twerking and Teen Mom: An analysis of current discourses on adolescent sexuality in online news media. Symposium with Janet Hyde and Deborah Tolman, “Destabilizing Moral Panics: Leveraging Feminist Research on Adolescent Sexuality in Public Discourse,” American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.

Chmielewski, J. F., Belmonte, K., Fine, M., & Stoudt, B. Gender trouble: Gender (non)conforming LGBTQ youth’s experiences with school discipline. Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Portland, OR.

Belmonte, K., Chmielewski, J. F., & Holmes, T. R. What did you mean when you said you were a lesbian? Association for Women in Psychology, Salt Lake City, UT.

Baranowski, K., Chmielewski, J. F., Corrales, C., & Sanchez, L. Participatory Action Research: Challenging traditional “helping” roles in work with women from marginalized social groups. Association for Women in Psychology, Salt Lake City, UT.

Chmielewski, J.F., & Yost, M.R. (2010). Lesbian and bisexual women’s experiences of body image: Exploring intersections of identity. American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.

Ambwani, S., Hopwood, C.J., & Chmielewski, J.F. (2010). Less is more: The validity of the 5-item Restraint Scale. Society for Personality Assessment, San Jose, CA.

Chmielewski, J.F., Guy, A., Compeau, A., Buck, S., & Ambwani, S. (2010). Weighing the evidence: Accuracy of self-reported body weight. Society for Personality Assessment, San Jose, CA.

Ambwani, S., Compeau, A., Chmielewski, J.F., Guy, A., & Emery, L. (2009). Ecological momentary assessment of mood, interpersonal stress, and binge eating behavior. Association for the Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

Chmielewski, J.F., & Ambwani, S. (2009). Thin-ideal internalization, fear of fatness, and disordered eating: A cross-cultural study. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

Invited Presentations

Invited Presentations

Chmielewski. J. F. (2022). New questions and new data: Using feminist psychology to further our understandings. Association of Women in Psychology, Chicago, IL.

Chmielewski, J. F. (2019). A Listening Guide analysis of lesbian and bisexual young Women of Color’s experiences of sexual objectification. Association for Women in Psychology, Newport, RI.

Chmielewski, J. F., Tolman, D. L., & Bowman, C. B. (2018). Exploring embodiment and sexual subjectivity as pathways to women’s sexual agency. Beyond Consent: A Practical Symposium for Researchers, Advocates and Educators, The New School for Social Research.

Chmielewski, J. F., & Belmonte, K. (2016). Using Participatory Action Research in social justice community-based work. Westchester County Senior Youth Leadership Council (WCSYLC), White Plains, NY.

Chmielewski, J. F., & Belmonte, K. (2016). LGBTQ Youth, Public Schools, and Public Space in New York City. Montclaire State University Anthropology Department.

Chmielewski, J. F., Belmonte, K., & Torre, M. (2014). A closer look at school discipline disparities for LGBTQ youth in NYC. The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, New York, NY.

Chmielewski, J. F., & Belmonte, K. (2014). School discipline disparities for LGBTQ youth in NYC. LAMBDA Legal, New York, NY.

Smith, L., Bernstein, E., Chmielewski, J., Donoho, R., Kohler, L., Ozer, G., & Turner, C. (2011). Poverty and PAR: Unpacking the meaning of help. 20th Annual Albany Diversity Conference, Albany, NY.

Grants

Grants

2020-2021: Principal Investigator, Small Grant for Graduate Student Research, Society for Qualitative Inquiry, “Meanings of desire: A conceptual analysis of young women’s sexual desire”

2020-2021: Co-Investigator (with Deborah Tolman, EdD), PSC-CUNY Grant, City University of New York, “Hunter College students’ perceptions about rape culture”

2017: Co-Investigator (with Deborah Tolman, EdD), Adolescence Challenge Grant, Experiments.com, “Sexual objectification in the lives of girls: A participatory project”

2016: Principal Investigator, Unrestricted Travel Grant, Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, “Policed desires: An intersectional investigation of LGBTQ girls of color’s experiences of surveillance and policing”

2015-2016:  Principal Investigator, Clara Mayo Grant, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, “Policed desires: An intersectional investigation of LGBTQ girls of color’s experiences of surveillance and policing”

2014-2015: Co-Investigator (with Deborah Tolman, EdD), PSC-CUNY Grant, City University of New York, “Sexualization, self-objectification and sexual well being among Black and White emerging adult women”

2013-2014: Co-Investigator (PIs: Michelle Fine, PhD, & Brett Stoudt, PhD),  Discipline Disparities Research-to-Practice Collaborative, Indiana University, “Quer(y)ing discipline: Disproportionate school discipline for LGBTQ youth”

2009-2010: Principal Investigator, Stephen D Benson ’56 Research Grant, Dickinson College, “Lesbian and Bisexual women’s body image: Psychosocial perspectives”

2009: Co-Investigator (with Crystal Park, PhD), Summer Research Grant, Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, “Post-traumatic growth: Finding positive meaning in cancer survivorship moderates the impact of intrusive thoughts on adjustment in younger adults”

2008: Principal Investigator, Engage the World Grant, Dickinson College, “After escaping violence: Women’s experiences in a domestic violence shelter”

Honors and Accomplishments

Honors and Accomplishments

2022 Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Award, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

2022 Janet Hyde Graduate Student Research Award Honorable Mention, APA Division 35

2021 Annual Student Prize for Psychological Research on Women and Gender, Association for Women in Psychology, APA Division 35

2018 Lesbian Psychologies Unpublished Manuscript Award, Association for Women in Psychology

2018 Psychology Travel Award, CUNY Graduate Center

2018 Featured Feminist Science Symposia Series Award, Association for Women in Psychology

2017-2023 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, The City College of New York

2016 Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies Student Travel Award, CUNY Graduate Center

2015 Advanced Research Collaborative Research Praxis Award, CUNY Graduate Center

2014 Graduate Student Travel Award, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

2012-2014 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, CUNY Graduate Center

2009 Wilbur Harrington and Helen Burns Norcrosse Prize for Excellence in Psychology, Dickinson College