Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 23 Issue 3

communities, partners not understanding multiple identities). Stereotypes about hypersexuality regarding women of color and bisexuality may make bisexual women of color hesitant to come out to others for fear of being typecast as oversexed and sexually promiscuous (Chmielewski, 2017). Life at the intersection of minoritized identity is not solely negative, however. Some LGBTQ+ BIPOC felt that societal acceptance of one marginalized identity may lead to the acceptance of another (Ghabrial, 2017). Additionally, Bowleg (2012) described the ways in which gay and bisexual men of color discussed the positives in identifying as LGBTQ+, men, and Black. They felt these identities allowed them opportunities for psychological growth and to explore new experiences. and felt freedom from traditional expectations regarding masculinity (Bowleg, 2012). As discussed, previous research has highlighted the challenges faced by bisexual BIPOC specifically. However, recent research has begun to explore the strengths and positives perceived by members of this intersectional community. Bisexual women and gender diverse individuals in Ghabrial’s (2019) study discussed invisibility, and how at times, this invisibility allowed them to occupy different aspects of and spaces related to their identities, that the ability to pass can also be seen as a form of safety, and that they felt able to advocate for others. Other research highlights positives including feeling unique because of minoritized identities, having varied and multiple experiences and community connections, freedom of expression and from labels, and being able to understand privilege and oppression (Galupo et al., 2019; Rostosky et al., 2010). Ultimately, the reality for individuals from multiple marginalized groups is the experience of both challenges and positives related to the intersection of those identities – especially for those with an often-misunderstood bisexual identity. c) The Current Study Rationale In doing the work to understand more about the lived experience of bisexual people at the intersection of identity, it is important that researchers carefully delimit and define samples. While many studies discussed previously include bisexual women of color in their sample, not many solely explore the experiences of individuals who self-identity as such (see Brooks et al., 2008 as an exception). Brooks and colleagues found that several factors influenced identity development (e.g., self-concept, disclosure decisions, romantic and family relationship issues). They also identified challenges in how these women negotiated their multiple identity development (e.g., oppression of religious and racial/ethnic identities, lack of acceptance of bisexuality from racial/ethnic communities, partners not understanding multiple identities). This 2008 study provided important information about identity development and related experiences but did not address how bisexual women of color experience and enact their day-to-day lives, nor was there an examination of both the challenges and positives of being. It was likely not the purpose of this study to address those particular aspects of being. Not doing so is not a shortcoming of the study but is instead an inspiration to build upon. This current study builds upon previous research on bisexual women of color by focusing on the day-to-day lived experiences of both challenges and positives experienced by this population, given the lack of research in this area. d) Theoretical Frameworks Intersectionality frameworks (Adames et al., 2018; Crenshaw, 1989), Minority Stress Theory (Meyer, 2003), and Resiliency Theory (Greene, 2002) offer lenses to view the lived experiences of bisexual women of color. Intersectionality is the multiplicative connections among identities in the life and social context of an individual and the understanding of how those connections affect the individual, especially considering the impact of power and marginalization (Davis, 2008). One of the benefits to using an intersectional approach is that it allows for an in-depth exploration of the ways in which people enact their relationships among family and others and within societal systems and institutions (Few-Demo, 2014). For this study, intersectionality is considered within the context of the multiple identities of bisexual women of color. Utilizing an intersectional approach allows for the examination of how these women’s three minoritized identities may be interconnected and how those emmeshed identities are related to their intentions, experiences, and contexts. How are the ways that being a woman of color differ from being a “woman” or a “person of color” with other non- marginalized identities, for example? Crenshaw (1989) argued that understanding the experiences of individuals with multiple identities would not be possible if researchers failed to consider the unique influence of the intersection of identities; this was especially true for marginalized populations. Others’ reactions to bisexual women of color are likely to be influenced by the women’s multiple identities - how do those reactions impact women’s experiences and decisions to share information? We understand that an intersectionality- focused examination of intentions and experiences of a population cannot be complete without an understanding of the societal and cultural expectations and reactions to that population. In our examination of participant perceptions and experiences, we do not intend to weakly utilize intersectionality (see Adames et al., 2018). We understand that the examination of the societal context of participants experiences will allow for a more in-depth understanding of the larger influence on participants’ experiences. We also acknowledge that © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue III Version I 15 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 C “The In-Between Spaces of Those Labels”: Exploring the Challenges and Positives of Being a Bisexual Woman of Color