Biphobia in the Family Context: Experiences and Perceptions of Bisexual Individuals

ABSTRACT

Although attitudes toward same-sex couples have progressed rapidly in the last decade the scholarly literature of the family consistently focuses on gay and lesbian-identified individuals and exclude those who identify within the bisexual spectrum. This lack of information creates and maintains antibisexual prejudice and allows stereotypes about those who identify as bisexual to flourish. Because family membership is lifelong and creates an opportunity to observe different relationships over time, individuals who identify under the bisexual umbrella face considerable antibisexual prejudice from members of their family. Accordingly, the authors sought to more fully understand participants' lived experiences of antibisexual prejudice from family members. The current analysis is a subset of a larger study addressing antibisexual prejudice from family. In this analysis, 156 self-identifying bisexual participants responded to open-ended questions about their family members via an online survey. Four categories of themes emerged across participant responses: (1) interpersonal hostility and invalidation from family, (2) family perceptions of sexual irresponsibility, (3) family perceptions of sexual orientation as instability, and (4) bi-invisibility. These findings indicate that individuals who identify as bisexual experience a range of hostile and invalidating behaviors and attitudes from their families. Encountering such feedback can lead bisexual individuals to remain closeted or even seek out relationships with other-sex individuals to avoid negativity from family members. The findings highlight the importance of increasing visibility of bisexuality in the extant literature and within the family itself.

KEYWORDS:

• family
• bisexuality
• antibisexual experiences
• biphobia

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maureen E. Todd

Maureen E. Todd, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Studies and Community Development at Towson University. Her research interests include family strengths, qualitative methods, and family dynamics related to sexual minority individuals.

Linda Oravecz

Linda Oravecz, PhD, is an associate professor in Department of Family Studies and Community Development at Towson University. Her research interests include community and family violence, ethnic families, low-income mothers, and family policy.

Cynthia Vejar

Cynthia Vejar, PhD, is a lecturer in Department of Family Studies and Community Development at Towson University. Her research interests include at-risk communities, conflict resolution, gang involvement, career counseling, and generational cohorts.