BJ Rye

B.J. Rye is a Full Professor of Psychology at St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo. A social psychologist by training, her scholarship focuses on how individuals understand, evaluate, and respond to diverse sexuality and gender groups. She has published research on attitudes toward sexual minorities, transgender and transmasculine youth, consensual non‑monogamy, BDSM, abortion, and people who offend sexually. 

Her work also includes psychometric development of sexuality‑related measures, investigations of sexual self‑concept and identity development, and applied research on domestic violence, coercive control, and police responses to intimate partner violence. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with community agencies and justice‑focused organizations, and her scholarship frequently engages with applied implications for policy, practice, and community well‑being. 

She teaches a wide range of sexuality‑focused courses and contributes extensively to scholarly peer review and professional service.

Rye B.J. & D’Gama Rose, A.S. (2026). Sexual self-concept and sexual identity development of a sample of transmasculine teens. Adolescents, 6(4), 60.

Hovey, A., Rye, B.J., Scott, S., & Chambers, L. (2026). Women’s fear and risk factors: Predicting coercive control from police domestic violence supplementary form. Violence Against Women. Published online 23 June 2026

Rye, B.J., Tuer, A., & Hertz, S. (2026). Psychometric properties of the Perception of Sex Offenders scale: A confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 35(5), 641-663.

Rye, B.J., & Tuer, A. (2025). Perception of Sex Offenders Scale. Encyclopedia, 5(4), 168.

Rye, B.J., & D’Gama Rose, A.S. (2025). Gender identity health within a sample of transmasculine youth. Sexes, 6(4), 53.

Rye, B.J., & Goldszmidt, R. (2025).  A comparative analysis of attitudes towards sexuality and gender minority people.  Social Sciences, 14(3), 145. DOI 10.3390/socsci14030145

Rye, B.J., & D'Gama Rose, A. (2025). Beyond transitioning: Committing to, exploring, and reconsidering transmasculine identity.  Psychology and Sexuality. DOI 10.1080/19419899.2024.2446761

Rye, B.J. & Goldszmidt, R. (2024). Individual difference predictors of attitudes toward polyamorous targets and likelihood to date a polyamorous partner in a student sample. Sexes, 5, 351-370, DOI 10.3390/sexes5030026

Rye, B.J. (2024).  Review and critique of the current quantitative literature on attitudes toward Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM).  Sexes, 5, 120–147. DOI 10.3390/sexes5020010

Rye, B.J. & Goldszmidt, R. (2023). Do attitude functions and perceiver demographics predict attitudes toward asexuality? Psychology & Sexuality, 14(3), 572-592 DOI 10.1080/19419899.2023.2185534

Rye, B.J. (2023). The sexual self as a function of relationship status in an emerging adult sample. Behavioral Sciences, 13(6), 505 DOI 10.3390/bs13060505

Hovey, A., Scott, S., Chambers, L., & Rye, B.J. (2023). Repeated Domestic Violence Police Calls: A Closer Look at Three Case Situations. Partner Abuse, 14(1), 1-18 DOI 10.1891/PA-2022-0011

Rye, B.J., Merritt, O. (2023). Transnegativity based on defensiveness: Attitude functions as predictors of trans attitudes. Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality and Culture, 8(2), 68-82 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7503229

Hovey, A., Rye, B.J., George, E., Scott, S., & Chambers, L. (2023).  Impact of children’s presence on police responses to intimate partner violence calls.  Journal of Child Maltreatment, 28(3), 476-487 DOI: 10.1177/10775595221147315

Rye, B.J., & Hertz, S. (2022). University students' sexual identity development as a determinant of sexual self-hood.  Sexes, 3(3), 477-491.  DOI: 10.3390/sexes3030035

Hovey, A., Rye, B.J., & McCarney, C. (2020).  Exploring amenability of a restorative justice approach to address sexual offences. International Journal of Restorative Justice, 3(2), 262-281. DOI: 10.5553/IJRJ.000035     

Rye, B.J., Serafini, T., & Bramberger, T.R. (2015).  Erotophobic or erotophilic: What are young women's attitudes toward BDSM? Psychology & Sexuality, 6(4), 340-356.

Rye, B.J., Mashingter, C., Meaney, G.J., Wood, E., & Gentile, S. (2015). Satisfaction with previous sexual health education as a predictor of intentions to pursue further sexual health education. Sex Education, 15(1), 93-107.

Hovey, A., Stalker, C., & Rye, BJ (2014). Asking women survivors about thoughts or actions involving sex with children: An issue requiring therapist sensitivity. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 23, 442-461.

Lappin-Fortin, K., & Rye, B.J.  (2014). The use of pre-/post-test and self-assessment tools in a French pronunciation course. Foreign Language Annals, 47(2), 300-320.

Fullerton, T., Rye, B.J., Meaney, G.J., & Loomis, C. (2013). Condom and hormonal contraceptive use by young women: An Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills assessment. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 45(3), 196-209.

Hovey, A., Rye, B.J., & Stalker, C. (2013). Do therapists' beliefs about sexual offending affect counselling practices with women? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 22(5), 572-592.

Serafini, T., Rye, B.J., & Drysdale, M.T.B.  (Eds.; 2013). Taking sides: Clashing views in adolescence (3 edition). rd Dubuque, IO: McGraw-Hill.

Rye, B.J., Meaney, G.J., Yessis, J., & McKay, A.  (2012). Uses of the "Comfort with Sexual Matters for Young Adolescents" scale: A measure of erotophobia-erotophilia for youth. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 21(2), 91-100