Sensitive sexualities: dichotomised discourse in the erasure of bisexuality

ABSTARCT

A combination of Q methodology and a Think Aloud task explored how cultural knowledge about bisexuality is constructed and maintained. Q methodology revealed positive interpretations of bisexuality. Critical Discourse Analysis of the Think Aloud task, however, exposed the maintenance of dualistic categories of sex, gender and sexuality acting as ‘operating systems’ and strategically guiding the social representation of bisexuality as ‘non-existent’, ‘deviant’, ‘abnormal’ and/or ‘promiscuous’. The findings of this study suggest that overt heterosexism is not becoming extinct; instead, it has found rather subtle ways of incorporating itself into ‘liberal’ discourses.

KEYWORDS:

• Bisexuality
• discourse
• 
  Q methodology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sandra Souto Pereira

Sandra Souto Pereira has completed her BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling and an MSc in Health Psychology at Teesside University. For her MSc final project, Sandra investigated how cultural construction of gender and sexuality influence the sexual health of lesbians and women who have sex with women. Her research interests fall within the fields of sexuality, political, cultural, ethnic, and gender inequalities. She hopes that by communicating her ideas to a wider community she can provide a meaningful contribution to real-world changes.

Sue Becker

Dr Sue Becker is a Social Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at Teesside University. She specialises in qualitative methodologies and particular interests in Action Research and the discursive construction of sexuality.

Glynis Gardiner

Dr Glynis Gardiner is Social Psychologist and Q Methodology specialist. Although retired from teaching Glynis remains interested in methodological developments in Q Methodology and qualitative research in general.