A Mixed-Method Inquiry of Bisexual Identity Centrality Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Women

Abstract

There is a dearth of research on racially and ethnically diverse bisexual women. Samples routinely over-represent White women, and studies often combine women of Color into a single analytic category, obscuring potential differences that could shed light on unique strengths or stressors. Identity characteristics such as centrality, or the importance of an identity to one’s sense of self, have been linked to psychological well-being and reports of discrimination. However, it is unclear how bisexual centrality operates for women of Color specifically, limiting understanding of mental health risk and protective factors within bisexual populations. As part of a larger mixed-methods study, we conducted qualitative interviews with 25 bisexual women of Color. Thematic analysis of responses to a question about bisexual identity importance identified two major themes: unambiguous importance, with subthemes “high centrality” and “low centrality”; and it’s just a part of me, with subthemes “qualities not identities”, and “questioning importance.” Bisexual identity centrality was also assessed quantitatively. Findings revealed complex narratives about the importance of bisexual identity to participants. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Bisexual
• identity centrality
• bisexual women of color
• qualitative research

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Special Issue Coeditors, Kirsten Gonzalez and Della Mosley, for their guidance throughout the editorial process, as well as their commitment to making bisexual people of Color and indigenous peoples visible in the bisexual literature. We wish also to thank blinded peer reviewers who provided helpful suggestions for strengthening the manuscript. Finally, we are grateful to all of the bisexual women who participated in this study, making our work possible.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21MD009585).

Notes on contributors

Wendy Bostwick

Wendy Bostwick, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor in the Health Systems Science Department, College of Nursing, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received her MPH and PhD in Community Health Sciences from UIC and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Michigan. Wendy conducts research related to health disparities among sexual and gender minority populations, with a focus on mental health and substance use among bisexual persons. Her work has been supported by, among others, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the American Institute of Bisexuality. Wendy would like you to know she's a lot more fun than this bio otherwise suggests. ([email protected])

Bria M. Berger

Bria M. Berger, AM, LSCW, is a Research Specialist in the Health Systems Science Department, College of Nursing, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she has overseen both the Women’s Daily Experiences and the Men’s Daily Experiences studies. She received her AM from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. Previously, she worked as case manager with adults and families affected by HIV and homelessness, and has worked on projects regarding unstably housed LGBTQ youth, HIV prevention, and transgender employment. ([email protected])

Amy Hequembourg

Amy L. Hequembourg, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Dr. Hequembourg received her PhD in Sociology from the University at Buffalo and completed a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship in alcohol etiology, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, at the University at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions. Her research focuses on health disparities among sexual and gender minorities with an emphasis on interpersonal violence (e.g., lifetime sexual victimization, intimate partner violence) and sources of minority stress (e.g., microaggressions) among these populations. She has extensive experience using quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Her work has been funded by the National Institute of Justice and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. ([email protected])