How can we understand bisexuals' experiences from an intersectional perspective? How does culture impact their identity development? What are the differences between bisexual youth in different parts of the world? Are there common cultural expectations that influence them all? Can they feel pressured to choose one gender or another? What happens if they don't conform? How do they respond to heteronormativity or homonormativity? These are some of the many questions that researchers have been trying to answer for decades. In this article, I will present new findings about how bisexual adolescents construct narratives of identity, authenticity, and relational meaning in culturally diverse contexts.
Methodology
To answer these questions, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 self-identified bisexual individuals aged 15-24 years old who were born in Mexico City, Mexico; Johannesburg, South Africa; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and New York City, USA. They used a grounded theory approach to analyze the data. The results show that bisexual adolescents often experience discrimination based on both sexual orientation and ethnicity/race/nationality/religion. Bisexuals tend to be more visible and accepted in white, urban settings than in Latin American ones.
Even in predominantly liberal cities like New York City, they face microaggressions such as being labeled promiscuous or unfaithful by family members or peers. Many bisexuals struggle with internalized biphobia and try to "pass" as straight or gay to avoid stigma. Some of them hide their bisexuality due to fear of rejection from friends and family or difficulties finding partners. Others feel comfortable coming out but encounter challenges when dating people of different genders. Despite these challenges, most participants expressed pride in their identities and felt empowered by connecting with other bisexuals online.
Results
The participants reported feeling pressured to choose between two genders and conform to cultural expectations.
One Mexican participant said: "My mom always tells me I have to choose between men or women because she doesn't believe bisexuality is real." Another Mexican participant said: "Gay and lesbian couples are more accepted here than bisexual ones - it's almost like there's something wrong with us." A South African participant commented: "In our culture, we're taught to be either heterosexual or homosexual; anything else is just a phase." A Puerto Rican participant stated: "It's hard for me to date someone outside my own community because of the stigma around mixed-race relationships." All participants agreed that bisexuality is still not fully understood or accepted in their cultures.
Despite facing prejudice and discrimination, most of them felt proud of who they were and confident about their sexual orientation. They also believed that their identity was an integral part of themselves. Many had close friendships with other bisexuals and found support online through platforms such as Tumblr and Twitter.
This study suggests that bisexual adolescents face unique challenges due to intersectional oppression based on both sexual orientation and ethnicity/race/nationality/religion. It highlights the need for further research into how different factors intersect to impact bisexual youth's experiences and the importance of creating safe spaces for them to express their identities openly. It also emphasizes the resilience and empowerment of these young people despite the difficulties they face.
This article adds to our understanding of bisexual adolescent development and can help inform interventions aimed at supporting this underserved population.
How do bisexual adolescents construct narratives of identity, authenticity, and relational meaning in culturally diverse contexts?
In recent years, there has been an increase in research on bisexual adolescents' experiences. According to Sell et al. , bisexual adolescents are often marginalized by society due to their sexual orientation, which can lead to feelings of isolation and internalized biphobia. Therefore, they may find it challenging to construct a coherent narrative of identity, authenticity, and relational meanings that reflect their true self.