Bisexual Women: Experiencing and Coping with Objectification, Prejudice, and Erasure. Issue 4 (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Serpe, Christine; Brown, Chris; Criss, Shawnalee; Lamkins, Kelly; Watson, Laurel
• Is Part Of: Journal of bisexuality. Volume 20:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 456
• Page End: 492
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Bisexuality -- objectification -- discrimination -- qualitative research; Bisexuality -- Periodicals; 306.765
• DOI: 10.1080/15299716.2020.1820421
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1529-9716

Abstract

Abstract: Fredrickson and Roberts' sexual objectification theory has been successfully tested across sexually diverse groups (e.g., heterosexual, lesbian). However, objectification theory research has rarely been extended to a uniquely bisexual population. In this study, we qualitatively examined the sexual objectification experiences of 12 bisexual women. The findings revealed that whereas bisexual women reported traditional sexual objectification experiences, they also described these experiences embedded within fetishization of identity, erasure, and antibisexual discrimination. Such findings informed the discriminatory experiences of bisexual women and their coping strategies. This study offers an important addition to the canon and expansion of sexual objectification literature to bisexual adults and suggests the need for greater visibility and understanding of this historically under-represented population.