The term "bisexual" refers to someone who is attracted both to men and women. Bisexuals have been marginalized and discriminated against for many years. One form of discrimination that they face is called microaggression. This means small comments or actions that insult or demean another person's race, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, appearance, culture, identity, etc. Microaggressions can be subtle or direct but are always unintentional. Microaggressions are common in professional spaces where bisexuals work.
Many bisexuals have developed cognitive strategies to cope with these attacks. These include recognizing when a microaggression has occurred, considering whether it was intentional or unintentional, thinking about how it made them feel, assessing their responses, and deciding if they want to confront the perpetrator or ignore it. Some bisexuals may also use emotional coping strategies such as talking to friends, seeking support groups, writing down their feelings, taking deep breaths, exercising, meditating, journaling, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in self-care activities.
Other cognitive strategies include educating others about what microaggressions are and why they matter, speaking up when they see others being mistreated, using humor to diffuse tension, challenging assumptions, asking questions to clarify misunderstandings, and advocating for policies and practices that promote inclusion. Emotional strategies can involve avoidance, minimization, reframing, acceptance, distraction, or problem-solving. Avoidance might mean ignoring a microaggression or leaving a conversation. Minimization could involve saying "It's not a big deal" or laughing it off. Reframing involves changing the way one thinks about an event or situation. Acceptance means acknowledging that microaggressions exist without necessarily accepting them. Distraction is diverting attention away from negative thoughts or feelings by focusing on something else. Problem-solving involves identifying solutions to address systemic issues that create microaggressions.
There are many ways that bisexual individuals cope with microaggressions in professional spaces. They should be aware of these strategies and choose those that best fit their needs.
What cognitive and emotional strategies do bisexual individuals use to cope with microaggressions in professional spaces?
Research has found that bisexual individuals face various forms of discrimination and negative stereotypes in workplace settings, including being perceived as indecisive, promiscuous, and confused about their sexual orientation (Ng et al. , 2018). To cope with these microaggressions, some bisexual individuals may employ different cognitive and emotional strategies such as self-affirmation, reappraisal, and avoidance.