Community, clarity, and the closet: Bisexuals' strategies for resisting marginalization

Abstract

Bisexual individuals face a marginalization unique among sexual minorities. While they encounter heterosexism as do all LGBTQ community members, they also face biphobia, erasure, and a host of stereotypes specifically aimed at their unique orientation. In this pilot study, I ask what strategies bisexuals use to combat, resist, and minimize the marginalization they face. I use a thematic analysis approach to analyze data gathered from online sources, including blog entries from three bisexual bloggers and multiple threads from three discussion forums addressing bisexual concerns. I also include one interview. The findings reveal a variety of strategies used by bisexuals to respond to their oppression. While some find empowerment by visibly identifying as bisexual, others avert prejudice by staying in the closet. For many bisexuals, finding a community of support is an important tactic. Others combat harmful myths by refuting stereotypes and creating clarity around what it means to be bisexual.