“I Had Already Reconciled With Being a Slut When I Came out as Bisexual”: Experiences of Binormativity, Prototypicality, and Marginalization Within the Bisexual Community

Abstract

Bisexual people encounter pervasive stigmatization resulting in significant negative health outcomes. To avoid stigmatization, bisexual people may attempt to resist stereotyping by acting in ways counter to common bisexual stereotypes (i.e., rejecting binormativity). The current mixed-methods study investigated the effects of binormativity through an online survey (N = 68, M_age = 31.56) completed by self-identifying bisexual individuals. Our quantitative findings indicated that conformity to binormative standards predicted feelings of identity illegitimacy, but also predicted lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. These findings were supported by qualitative data indicating many participants reported experiencing pressure to act either less or more stereotypically bisexual, and some participants reported experiencing shame or social identity threat due to their engagement in “stereotypically bisexual” behaviors (e.g., promiscuity). Furthermore, participants were generally reluctant to engage with binormative standards by labeling any behaviors as “bad” representations of bisexuality, instead endorsing the notion that all bisexual people are valid. Our quantitative and qualitative data collectively indicate that bisexual people navigate binormativity in their everyday lives and may experience negative identity outcomes related to binormative standards (e.g., identity illegitimacy), yet generally maintain a positive sense of identity and pursue an inclusive definition and community of bisexuality.

Keywords:

• Bisexual stereotypes
• conformity
• mixed-methods
• stigmatization
• within-group heterogeneity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Flora Oswald

Flora Oswald graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2018 with an honors degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. In 2020, she earned her M.S. in Psychology & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Penn State and is currently completing a dual title PhD. Flora has received awards for her outstanding academics as well as for her support and advocacy for the LGBTQ + community. Flora is a feminist psychologist, and her research interests relate primarily to stereotyping, stigma, and person perception.

Kari A. Walton

Kari A. Walton completed her BA honors degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Counseling Psychology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2020. Her honors thesis investigated heterosexual men’s motivations for engaging in a form of street harassment known as ‘catcalling’ and won the 2020 Canadian Psychological Association award of Academic Excellence. Kari is currently applying for graduate study.

Lena Orlova

Aidan Hooper completed his BSc honors degree in Applied Psychology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2022. Aidan has a strong interest in research involving cognitive and clinical psychology and how gender and/or sexuality influences person perception.

Julie Ayad

Julie Ayad is an undergraduate student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University completing her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Counseling. Julie is passionate about attachment theory, culture and intersectionality, and close relationships. She is hoping to pursue a career as a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in close relationships.

Aidan Hooper

Lena Orlova holds a BSc in Applied Psychology (with Distinction) from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Lena’s research interests include stigma, human sexuality, and multidisciplinary approaches to mental health. She is particularly interested in systemic changes that break the cycle of institutional and cultural trauma

Cory L. Pedersen

Cory L. Pedersen earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of British Columbia in 2004 and is a full-time Faculty member and Director of the Observations and Research in Gender and Sexuality Matters Lab in the Department of Psychology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.