The Nature and Perceived Effects of Bipositivity Among Plurisexual Women

Abstract

Disparities in physical and mental health have been well documented between plurisexual and monosexual women, but protective factors related to plurisexual identity 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.

Keywords:

• Plurisexual
• bisexual
• queer
• bipositivity
• women

Acknowledgements

We thank the women who participated in this study. The first author would like to thank the second author and her graduate student colleagues at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for their part in co-creating bipositivity with her since the study data were collected in 2019.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The interview transcripts are not publicly accessible to protect participants’ confidentiality, but a copy of the codebook is accessible from Allison E. Cipriano.

Notes

1 While the term Queer has historically been used derogatorily toward folks with minoritized sexual and/or gender identities, the term has been reclaimed by the LGBTQIA + community as an affirming, inclusive umbrella term to refer to people with minoritized sexual and/or gender identities. This is particularly the case among plurisexual persons (Coker et al., 2010). The term Queer is used throughout, rather than LGBTQIA+, as the acronym is not equally inclusive of all plurisexual identities (e.g., pansexual). When capitalized, Queer refers to the broader community of sexual and gender minoritized persons, and when not capitalized, queer, refers to a participant’s personal identity label.

2 Verbatim means that research assistants were instructed to record everything that could be heard in an interview recording, which goes beyond words spoken, including laughter, stuttering/stammering, pauses, enthusiasm, scoffs, coughs, crying, and mumbling. Research assistants were also explicitly directed not to use word-to-text software for privacy reasons, and were directed to correct the grammar of participants when transcribing and to write each word as it was spoken into the transcript. Research assistants who checked their colleagues’ transcripts for accuracy added any non-verbal utterances and tone indicators missed during initial transcription and checked the punctuation of transcripts to ensure accuracy. When research assistants were unable to make out words spoken by participants, the first author reviewed the audio files and corrected the transcripts as necessary.

3 “Free mom hugs” shirts and signs have been used by straight allies, often those who are parents to Queer people, as a public display that they are safe to approach and are willing to demonstrate an embracing of Queer people who do not have supportive family members. In this way, Queer folks who are unable to receive hugs and other forms of affection from their own parents are able to receive them from someone else’s parents—typically mothers.

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Psychology WARDEN funds for graduate student research.

Notes on contributors

Allison E. Cipriano

Allison E. Cipriano (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies. Allison received her B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College in 2015 and her M.A. in Social Psychology from Ball State University in 2018. Her research is informed by social psychological and feminist theories and her research interests include sexual identity, sexual violence, and sexual health with an emphasis on the experiences of plurisexual women.

Kathryn J. Holland

Kathryn Holland (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan, and her B.A. in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.