Ethnic Minority Bisexual Women: Understanding the Invisible Population

Lesbian and gay identity development has received increased attention while bisexual identity has received limited consideration. Theory suggests that women's sexuality is contextually based. Thus, the understudied intersection of bisexuality and other cultural identities becomes important to examine. Interviews with 14 ethnic minority bisexual women were conducted to investigate factors influencing bisexual identity development and its intersections with cultural identities. Consensual qualitative research revealed that a bisexual self-concept, managing bisexual identity, community identity, partner relationship challenges, pressures from family and social contexts, and the challenges of and strategies for managing multiple identities were salient factors. Theoretical, counseling, and research implications are explored.