Graduation Date
Spring 2021
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Psychology, option Academic Research
Committee Chair Name
Christopher Aberson
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Amber Gaffney
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Ben Skillman
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Subject Categories
Psychology
Abstract
Bisexual erasure is a phenomenon in which the existence of bisexuality is broadly omitted from history, media, and research. Bisexual erasure contributes to stereotypes that bisexuality is a strictly transitional identity, only used in the process of sexually-experimenting or coming out as gay. Although well-documented in qualitative research on bisexuality, the negative effects of bisexual erasure on bisexual women’s mental health and ability to access LGBT+ resources have not been shown in an experimental context. In a vignette study, participants (N= 276) were asked to review application materials for a potential recipient of an LGBT+ exclusive scholarship award. Regardless of whether applicants were highly or ambiguously qualified for the scholarship, bisexual women received the award at lower rates than lesbian women. Additionally, bisexual women in current opposite-sex relationships received the award at substantially lower rates than bisexual women in current same-sex relationships. These results suggest that common perceptions of bisexuality may bar bisexual women from accessing LGBT+ resources.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Siegel, Danielle, "The effect of partner gender on bisexual’s percieved LGBT+ belonging" (2021). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 465.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/465