Article

Bipositivity: Bisexual Persons’ Narratives of Acceptance and Support from Significant Others

Taylor & Francis
Journal of Homosexuality
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Abstract

Bisexual individuals often face binegativity in relationships with intimate partners and the health disparities associated with discrimination. The present study sought to explore the little known aspect of identity-based partner acceptance of bisexual individuals. Through the eyes of the bisexual person identified by a snow-ball sampling method of bisexual persons living in the United States, 197 participants completed an open-ended question on positive experiences with partners, with 96 of them emphasizing acceptance and understanding. Findings suggest there are multiple ways bisexual individuals encounter acceptance from their partner—some more neutral expressions and some more overt. Neutral messages were twice as likely to occur compared to overt forms of acceptance. Participants reported themes of: (1) didn’t try to change me, (2) ambivalence, (3) proud/rooting, (4) asked me about my experiences, and (5) feeling loved. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for reducing stigma and increasing acceptance by partners.

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... A mixed-method study on the experiences of bi/plurisexual and bi/multiracial persons found that most participants (74%) reported positive experiences related to their dual minoritized sexual and racial identities (Galupo et al., 2019); An analysis of the study's written, open-ended data identified four themes across descriptions of positive experiences, including (1) being beautifully unique from others, (2) having more identity-related experiences than others, (3) connecting to others across multiple communities, and (4) character strengths resulting from dual minoritized identities and the ability to impact others positively (Galupo et al., 2019). Finally, recent qualitative survey research with bisexual people on their positive experiences within romantic relationships finds that communicating understanding and support of their sexual identity is important to the wellbeing of bisexual people's romantic partnerships (Fuller & Hovland, 2022). While small, the existing research indicates bipositivity may be a powerful protective mechanism for plurisexual women. ...
... Research finding that partner acceptance is a key component of romantic relationship satisfaction among LGB people (Fuller & Rutter, 2018) suggests that such experiences may be important for plurisexual women's relationships. These findings also corroborate recent qualitative research on bisexual people's positive romantic relationship experiences, which found that about half of their participants discussed experiencing bipositivity from their partners communicating acceptance and understanding of their identity (Fuller & Hovland, 2022); However, a majority of these participants experienced neutral or ambivalent responses from their partners about their identity, with much less experiencing overt positivity. Taken together, these findings suggest that the overtly positivity participants described experiencing from their relationship partners (predominantly straight men) may be uncommon but particularly predictive of internalizing bipositivity, increasing relationship satisfaction, and greater engagement with their community. ...
... Specifically, Dyar and London (2018b) found decreases in internalized binegativity, sexual identity uncertainty, and rejection sensitivity following cisgender bisexual women's bipositive experiences, which was corroborated by the plurisexual women interviewed for this study who had binegative ideas (e.g., plurisexual women in relationships with cisgender heterosexual men are less validly Queer) corrected by others in bipositive exchanges, felt more confident in naming and claiming their sexuality, and worried less about rejection or prejudice from monosexual people-particularly monosexual Queer people. Further, participant descriptions of the bipositive support they received from romantic partners align with Fuller and Hovland's (2022) finding that communicating understanding and support of plurisexual partner's sexuality is important to overall relationship wellbeing. Our analysis found that partners don't necessarily need to enter into a relationship with a plurisexual woman understanding everything about plurisexuality and her identity label(s) for bipositivity to exist in romantic relationships-participants also experienced bipositivity when their monosexual partners were open to being educated about plurisexuality and responded to teaching moments in supportive ways. ...
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Disparities in physical and mental health have been well documented between plurisexual and monosexual women, but protective factors related to plurisexuality remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to provide an in-depth examination of the nature and perceived effects of plurisexual women’s bipositive experiences, to the extent that others may apply knowledge gained to intentionally foster bipositivity. We recruited 25 plurisexual women to complete a qualitative interview. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified 4 themes across participant descriptions of bipositive experiences, including (1) “Me too!” bonding, (2) Showing up: Acceptance and affirmation from monosexual allies, (3) “Ports in the storm”: The importance of queer spaces, and (4) Rosa is bi: Plurisexual representation in the media. Across themes, participants experienced positive social and psychological outcomes resulting from their bipositive experiences. Our findings have implications for developing interventions, supports, and consciousness-raising efforts to foster bipositivity.
... The results show a higher risk of physical and sexual violence for bisexuals compared to lesbian or gay Colombians. This finding is consistent with the broader literature on IPV that shows bisexual people are at higher risk than people identifying with other sexual orientations, including heterosexuals [16,[57][58][59][60][61]. Binegativity, which refers to the negative stereotypes and beliefs associated with bisexuality (e.g., promiscuity, attention-seeking, and perceived instability or confusion in their sexual orientation), is widespread in both heterosexual and sexual minority communities [16,61] and may heighten the risk of IPV and consequent health problems for bisexual people [16,[57][58][59][60]. Scholars have argued that negative stereotypes, such as promiscuity, may lead to partner jealousy, which has been connected to a higher risk of IPV among heterosexual people [57]. ...
... This finding is consistent with the broader literature on IPV that shows bisexual people are at higher risk than people identifying with other sexual orientations, including heterosexuals [16,[57][58][59][60][61]. Binegativity, which refers to the negative stereotypes and beliefs associated with bisexuality (e.g., promiscuity, attention-seeking, and perceived instability or confusion in their sexual orientation), is widespread in both heterosexual and sexual minority communities [16,61] and may heighten the risk of IPV and consequent health problems for bisexual people [16,[57][58][59][60]. Scholars have argued that negative stereotypes, such as promiscuity, may lead to partner jealousy, which has been connected to a higher risk of IPV among heterosexual people [57]. ...
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Colombia has extensive laws prohibiting discrimination against sexual minority people. However, violence and discrimination toward sexual minorities are still frequent. While a growing body of research shows that sexual minority people experience elevated rates of discrimination and domestic abuse globally, little research has been conducted on these issues affecting sexual minorities in Colombia specifically. Using minority stress theory as a conceptual framework, this paper aims to fill this gap by examining the prevalence of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and witnessed discrimination and the relationship of these stressors to self-reported health among a national sample of sexual minority Colombians. We found that bisexual individuals experienced higher rates of physical and sexual IPV, compared to lesbian and gay individuals. Additionally, sexual minority Colombians who experienced IPV and witnessed discrimination were more likely to report having poorer health, compared to those who had not. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and clinicians working with sexual minority clients.
... Since then, others have explored positive bisexual experiences in studies that have included bisexual women [44e46], including positive aspects of being both bisexual and biracial [47**]. Aspects that may bring a sense of positivity include freedom from social labels or constraints of sex/gender; feeling attracted to, dating, and having sex and relationships with others; authenticity; coming out; acceptance and social support from partners, friends, and family; community belonging; discussing bisexual issues; and social media interactions [43,44,45,46,47 ...
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This article is organised into sections that explore three key themes. The first is overarching and cuts across the literature, where within recent bisexuality research there has been increased inclusion of those whose identities are defined by attraction to multiple genders (e.g., pansexual, queer, and others). This has sometimes been in the form of an amalgamated bisexual+ category, but recent attention has also been given to definitions of bisexuality and pansexuality and how bisexual and pansexual identities might compare. The second theme explores mental health including substance use/abuse and sexual violence/victimisation. The third section notes that there has, to some extent, also been an interest in bipositivity and positive aspects of bisexual identification.
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Empirical studies on mixed-orientation marriage in social science journals from 1988 to 2008 were reviewed. Fifteen articles published in eight peer-reviewed journals were identified and discussed in terms of sampling, design, measures, rigor, theoretical framework, and literature review. An overview of each study is provided along with a summary of critical findings. Implications and recommendations for future research and education are offered.
Article
This study assessed the influence of gender on attitudes about bisexuals. A total of 164 heterosexual female and 89 heterosexual male undergraduates completed the Biphobia Scale (Mulick & Wright, 2002), rewritten to refer to bisexual men and bisexual women and thus re-named the Gender-Specific Binegativity Scale. A mixed-design ANOVA revealed an interaction between rater's sex and target's sex: women equally accepted bisexual men and bisexual women, but men were less accepting of bisexual men than bisexual women. A mediation analysis indicated the relationship between rater's sex and greater acceptance of bisexual women was partially explained by eroticization of female same-sex sexuality. Finally, participants also responded to two open-ended items, which provided additional information about the content of binegativity: participants described male bisexuals negatively, as gender-nonconforming, and labeled them "really gay," whereas participants described female bisexuals positively, as sexy, and labeled them "really heterosexual." These findings suggest multiple underlying beliefs about bisexuals that contribute to binegativity, particularly against bisexual men. Results also confirm the importance of considering gender (of both the target and the rater) when assessing sexual prejudice.
Article
Libro de metodología cualitativo para investigación en las ciencias sociales. La utilización de la computadora, el uso de datos y la recolección de los mismos. Se describen detalladamente numerosos métodos de datos y análisis.
Feminist bisexuality: A both/and option for an either/or world
  • K Bennett
Bi-negativity: The stigma facing bisexual men
  • M Eliason
What’s in a name? Why women embrace or resist bisexual identity
  • R Ochs