We're Here and We're Queer: Sexual Orientation and Sexual Fluidity Differences Between Bisexual and Queer Women

ABSTRACT

Theorists and researchers have noted an overlap between individuals who are bisexually-identified and queer-identified. Although early definitions of bisexuality may have been predominantly binary (i.e., attracted to women and men), in recent years there has been a move toward a more “queer” understanding of bisexuality (e.g., attraction to more than one gender beyond women and men). The purpose of this study was to examine similarities and differences between adult women who were bisexually-identified and those who were queer-identified, ages 18 to 66 years, on sociodemographic characteristics, two dimensions of sexual orientation (sexual behaviors and attractions), fluidity in attractions and sexual orientation identity, and identity centrality and affirmation in an online sample (N = 489), which was mostly from the United States (73.5%). Results indicated that women who are bisexual and queer were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, with the exception of education; women identifying as queer were more educated than women identifying as bisexual. Women identifying as queer were also more likely than women identifying as bisexual to report variability in their sexual behaviors and attractions and more fluidity in their sexual orientation identity. Additionally, women identifying as queer reported higher levels of identity centrality and affirmation than women identifying as bisexual. Considerations for sexual minority women's health research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• bisexual
• queer
• women
• sexual behavior
• sexual attraction
• identity fluidity
• identity centrality
• identity affirmation

Funding

Dr. Mereish was supported in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32DA016184) and Dr. Katz-Wise was supported by a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K99HD082340).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ethan H. Mereish

Ethan H. Mereish, PhD, was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University, and is now an assistant professor in the Department of Health Studies at American University.

Sabra L. Katz-Wise

Sabra L. Katz-Wise, PhD, is a research scientist at the Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, and an Instructor at the Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School.

Julie Woulfe

Julie Woulfe, MS, is a clinical fellow at the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a doctoral candidate at the Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology at Boston College.