Perceptions of Individuals Who Are Non-monosexuals held by Graduate Students: A Q Methodological Study. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Colton; Montgomery, Diane; Hammer, Tonya R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of bisexuality. Volume 17:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: nonmonosexuality -- Q methodology -- social justice; Bisexuality -- Periodicals; 306.765
• DOI: 10.1080/15299716.2016.1276502
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1529-9716

Abstract

ABSTRACT: "Non-monosexual" is an umbrella term for bisexual, pansexual, queer, and fluid+ identities, and it lacks visibility and acceptance in the larger LGBTQ+ community. Research has shown that non-monosexual experience more discrimination than their monosexual peers (. Q methodology was used to explore the perceptions that graduate students have of the non-monosexual community, with 19 participants sorting 40 statements addressing stereotypes of non-monosexuals. Using a principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation and a significance level of .50, two factors were interpreted as, "We're all Okay, " characterized by social acceptance and normalization of non-monosexuals and "You Might be Okay, " implying an individual acceptance of those who are non-monosexual, but lack of assurance on the place of non-monosexuals in society/communities. To further explain factor interpretation, two monologues are presented that represent theoretical findings for non-monosexuals for each factor. The discussion of these findings is framed from a social justice perspective oriented toward increasing acceptance of non-monosexual individuals.