Bisexual-Identifying Women’s Relationship Expectations of Female- and Male-Identifying Partners

Cheryl Kwok; Sharon S. Rostosky; Ellen D.B. Riggle

doi:10.1080/15299716.2020.1755406

Bisexual-Identifying Women’s Relationship Expectations of Female- and Male-Identifying Partners

Cheryl Kwok, Sharon S. Rostosky, Ellen D.B. Riggle

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gender role socialization influences women’s expectations in intimate relationships. For bisexual-identifying women, expectations may differ by the gender of their partner. We interviewed a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 12 bisexual-identifying cis-gender women (M = 32 years old) about their relationship expectations of female- and male-identifying partners. Using a grounded theory approach to thematic analysis(Charmaz, 2014), we identified five themes that described bisexual-identifying women’s relationship expectations: (a) Communication, (b) Safety and security, (c) Gender expression, (d) Division of labor, and (e) Allies and advocates. Within each theme, women expressed insights into their tendencies to recreate and/or resist traditional gender roles. Regardless of gender, women expected their partners to acknowledge and advocate for their bisexual identity in public and in private. Findings illustrate the continuing influence of traditional gender role norms, bi-invisibility, and bi-negativity, and the intensified challenges that multiple marginalization creates for bisexual women of color.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	141-165
Number of pages	25
Journal	Journal of Bisexuality
Volume	20
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2020.1755406
State	Published - Apr 2 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was partially supported by grants from the American Institute of Bisexuality and the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. Cheryl Kwok, Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky; Sharon S. Rostosky, Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky; Ellen D. B. Riggle, Department of Political Science and Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, University of Kentucky. We thank Hailey E. Lawson, B.S., Robbie M. Luten, B.A., Katherine C. Jensen, M.S., and Keisha R. Morgan, B.A. for their assistance with data analysis.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

Bisexual
expectations
partner
relationships
women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gender Studies
Cultural Studies

Access to Document

10.1080/15299716.2020.1755406

Cite this

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abstract = "Gender role socialization influences women{\textquoteright}s expectations in intimate relationships. For bisexual-identifying women, expectations may differ by the gender of their partner. We interviewed a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 12 bisexual-identifying cis-gender women (M = 32 years old) about their relationship expectations of female- and male-identifying partners. Using a grounded theory approach to thematic analysis(Charmaz, 2014), we identified five themes that described bisexual-identifying women{\textquoteright}s relationship expectations: (a) Communication, (b) Safety and security, (c) Gender expression, (d) Division of labor, and (e) Allies and advocates. Within each theme, women expressed insights into their tendencies to recreate and/or resist traditional gender roles. Regardless of gender, women expected their partners to acknowledge and advocate for their bisexual identity in public and in private. Findings illustrate the continuing influence of traditional gender role norms, bi-invisibility, and bi-negativity, and the intensified challenges that multiple marginalization creates for bisexual women of color.",

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Bisexual-Identifying Women’s Relationship Expectations of Female- and Male-Identifying Partners

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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