142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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301320
Behaviorally Bisexual Women's Experiences of Perceived Discrimination from Heterosexual and Gay/Lesbian Individuals

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Jessamyn Bowling, MPH , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Vanessa Schick, PhD , Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Brian Dodge, PhD , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Aleta Baldwin, MA , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Caitlin Ryan, MPH , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Randolph D. Hubach, MPH , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Laina Bay-Cheng, Ph.D., MSW , State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NC
Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD, MPH , School of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
J. Dennis Fortenberry, MD, MS , Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Introduction: Researchers have recently documented unique prejudice, stigma and discrimination faced by bisexual individuals from both heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals. Empirical studies have not yet explored the experiences of perceived discrimination among behaviorally bisexual women, in particular. This study examined perceived discrimination among behaviorally bisexual women including the context of discrimination (i.e., whether it involved heterosexual or gay/lesbian individuals) and type of discrimination.

Methods: A sample of 80 women, ages 18-51, who had engaged in sexual behavior with at least one male and at least one female sexual partner in the past year were recruited using purposeful sampling in range of venues in one large city and one small city in the Midwestern United States. Participants completed a baseline online survey assessing a wide range of behavioral and psychosocial variables, including the Anti-Bisexual Experiences Survey (ABES) which explores experiences of perceived discrimination.

Results: Preliminary findings show discrepancies in discrimination from heterosexual individuals and from lesbians and gay men (including family, friends, etc.). Differences were also present in the types of perceived discrimination experienced including sexual irresponsibility, sexual orientation instability, and interpersonal hostility. Although participants reported higher levels of perceived discrimination from heterosexual individuals than gay/lesbian individuals, they were also more likely to report being “unsure” of experiencing discrimination from lesbians and gay men. 

Discussion: These results contribute further evidence of the unique “double discrimination” faced by bisexual women from their heterosexual and gay/lesbian counterparts. Opportunities for addressing and reducing bisexuality-related stigma and discrimination should be targeted toward both heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals and communities.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify trends of differences in individuals aware of bisexual behaviors and perceived discrimination for behaviorally bisexual women. Describe the most prevalent types of perceived discrimination for behaviorally bisexual women. Discuss the broader individual and public health implications of discrimination of behaviorally bisexual women by both heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals, as well as potential implications for intervention.

Keyword(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator of the study, funded by a career development award of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. Dr. Schick's research areas include bisexuality, women who have sex with women and men, sex between women, behavioral mechanisms of sexually transmitted infections, bacterial vaginosis, women’s sexual health and wellness, vulvovaginal learning and perceptions, sexual identity, LGBT health, event-level data collection (e.g., Daily Diaries), the SEQUENCE© calendar method.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3264.0: Sexual minority women’s health (including lesbians, bisexual women, and/or WSW/WSWM)