Neither snobs nor opportunists: An analysis of bisexuality through the experiences of young bisexual women

Abstract

Despite societies becoming increasingly open to identities that do not fall under the cisnormative umbrella, individuals who identify themselves as bisexual continue to confront the prejudices and negative stereotypes associated with bisexuality. Thus far, relatively few studies have been conducted on the degree of discrimination imposed on this community and their resulting invisibility. This exploratory study, based on the experiences of 10 young bisexual women, delves into the extent to which bisexuality surfaced throughout their lives. Their stories help expose an identity and orientation that breaks the stereotypes that link bisexuality to a whimsical or fleeting sexual drive. The results showed that women who described themselves as bisexual developed their identity through a sporadic process characterized by their family members’ lack of understanding, who considered them to be snobbish or opportunistic. The major actors that impacted their identity acceptance were the estrangement from their family circle and the discovery of new places through social networks that provided them with positive experiences. This study represents a further step toward the notion of bisexuality becoming even more visible and consequently normalized as just another identity within the LGBTIQ + community in Spain.