Bisexual Women: Experiencing and Coping with Objectification, Prejudice, and Erasure

Abstract

Fredrickson and Roberts’ sexual objectification theory has been successfully tested across sexually diverse groups (e.g., heterosexual, lesbian). However, objectification theory research has rarely been extended to a uniquely bisexual population. In this study, we qualitatively examined the sexual objectification experiences of 12 bisexual women. The findings revealed that whereas bisexual women reported traditional sexual objectification experiences, they also described these experiences embedded within fetishization of identity, erasure, and antibisexual discrimination. Such findings informed the discriminatory experiences of bisexual women and their coping strategies. This study offers an important addition to the canon and expansion of sexual objectification literature to bisexual adults and suggests the need for greater visibility and understanding of this historically under-represented population.

Keywords:

• Bisexuality
• objectification
• discrimination
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants in this project who generously volunteered their time and emotional energy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Participants were asked to fill out open-ended demographic forms. The language used by participants to describe their racial, gender, and bisexual identities are reflected here and has not been modified.

2 “Gold star” status is a term used by some members in the lesbian community to denote never having had sexual relations with a cisgender male/man.

3 Unicorn status (e.g., “the hot bi babe”) is typically assigned to an bisexual women whom is perceived to be sexually available and interested in having sex with and/or dating both members of a heterosexual couple. This terminology can be found in the poly communities, but is also found among dating web sites for couples seeking out single bisexual women to participate in threesomes/sexual acts with multiple partners. The term unicorn is used to denote the elusive and rare nature of this woman.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the University of Missouri – Kansas City’s Women’s Council for providing generous financial assistance which made this project possible.

Notes on contributors

Christine Serpe

Christine Serpe, Ph.D., is a clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow in the trauma and PTSD track with the VA Boston

Healthcare System. Her research interests focus on the oppression, objectification, and discrimination experiences of among the gender and sexually diverse.

Chris Brown

Chris Brown, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair in the Division of Counseling and Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is also a licensed psychologist in Missouri and Kansas providing psychotherapy to culturally diverse populations.

Shawnalee Criss

Shawnalee M. Criss, M.A., is the Evaluation and Information Resource Specialist at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Kelly Lamkins

Kelly Lamkins, M.A., is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor working with survivors of sexual violence in Kansas City, Missouri.

Laurel Watson

Laurel Watson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Counseling & Counseling Psychology division at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.