Associations Between Gender and Sexuality Characteristics of Cisgender Bisexual Women and Risk of Sexual Assault.

Abstract

Objective: Research consistently documents disproportionately high rates of sexual assault among bisexual women, one of the fastest growing sexual minority demographic groups in the United States. This study seeks to better understand how bisexual women's position as both women and sexual minority people may heighten their risk for sexual assault.

Method: Using data from 165 bisexual women in the Chicago Health and Life Experience of Women (CHLEW) study, we examine associations between the gender and sexuality characteristics of self-identifying cisgender bisexual women and sexual assault.

Results: We found that the risk of experiencing sexual assault, including rape, is associated with past experiences of bi-stigma, earlier age of recognizing bisexual identity, gender discrimination, and a less masculine gender presentation.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that bisexual women are targeted in specific overlapping sexist, bi-phobic and stereotypical ways that may leave them particularly vulnerable to sexual assault. This study highlights the need for more research that investigates how bisexual women's high rates of sexual assault are shaped by oppressive systems and social forces related to their gender and sexuality.