Abstract
Previous social and behavioral research on identity among bisexual men, when not subsumed within the category of men who have sex with men (MSM), has primarily focused on samples of self-identified bisexual men. Little is known about sexual self-identification among men who are behaviorally bisexual, regardless of sexual identity. Using qualitative data from 77 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of behaviorally bisexual men (i.e., men who have had sex with at least one woman and at least one man in the past six months) from a large city in the Midwestern United States, we analyzed responses from a domain focusing on sexual self-identity and related issues. Overall, participants’ sexual self-identification was exceptionally diverse. Three primary themes emerged: (1) a resistance to, or rejection of, using sexual self-identity labels; (2) concurrent use of multiple identity categories and the strategic deployment of multiple sexual identity labels; and (3) a variety of trajectories to current sexual self-identification. Based on our findings, we offer insights into the unique lived experiences of behaviorally bisexual men, as well as broader considerations for the study of men’s sexuality. We also explore identity-related information useful for the design of HIV/STI prevention and other sexual health programs directed toward behaviorally bisexual men, which will ideally be variable and flexible in accordance with the wide range of diversity found in this population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2015-2026 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Archives of Sexual Behavior |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 7 Oct 2015 |
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Keywords
- Bisexual men
- Bisexuality
- Identities
- Men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW)
- Sexual identity
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}
Sexual Self-Identification Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States. / Baldwin, Aleta; Dodge, Brian; Schick, Vanessa; Hubach, Randolph; Bowling, Jessamyn; Malebranche, David; Goncalves, Gabriel; Schnarrs, Phillip W.; Reece, Michael; Fortenberry, J. Dennis.
In: Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 44, No. 7, 07.10.2015, p. 2015-2026.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual Self-Identification Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States
AU - Baldwin, Aleta
AU - Dodge, Brian
AU - Schick, Vanessa
AU - Hubach, Randolph
AU - Bowling, Jessamyn
AU - Malebranche, David
AU - Goncalves, Gabriel
AU - Schnarrs, Phillip W.
AU - Reece, Michael
AU - Fortenberry, J. Dennis
PY - 2015/10/7
Y1 - 2015/10/7
N2 - Previous social and behavioral research on identity among bisexual men, when not subsumed within the category of men who have sex with men (MSM), has primarily focused on samples of self-identified bisexual men. Little is known about sexual self-identification among men who are behaviorally bisexual, regardless of sexual identity. Using qualitative data from 77 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of behaviorally bisexual men (i.e., men who have had sex with at least one woman and at least one man in the past six months) from a large city in the Midwestern United States, we analyzed responses from a domain focusing on sexual self-identity and related issues. Overall, participants’ sexual self-identification was exceptionally diverse. Three primary themes emerged: (1) a resistance to, or rejection of, using sexual self-identity labels; (2) concurrent use of multiple identity categories and the strategic deployment of multiple sexual identity labels; and (3) a variety of trajectories to current sexual self-identification. Based on our findings, we offer insights into the unique lived experiences of behaviorally bisexual men, as well as broader considerations for the study of men’s sexuality. We also explore identity-related information useful for the design of HIV/STI prevention and other sexual health programs directed toward behaviorally bisexual men, which will ideally be variable and flexible in accordance with the wide range of diversity found in this population.
AB - Previous social and behavioral research on identity among bisexual men, when not subsumed within the category of men who have sex with men (MSM), has primarily focused on samples of self-identified bisexual men. Little is known about sexual self-identification among men who are behaviorally bisexual, regardless of sexual identity. Using qualitative data from 77 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of behaviorally bisexual men (i.e., men who have had sex with at least one woman and at least one man in the past six months) from a large city in the Midwestern United States, we analyzed responses from a domain focusing on sexual self-identity and related issues. Overall, participants’ sexual self-identification was exceptionally diverse. Three primary themes emerged: (1) a resistance to, or rejection of, using sexual self-identity labels; (2) concurrent use of multiple identity categories and the strategic deployment of multiple sexual identity labels; and (3) a variety of trajectories to current sexual self-identification. Based on our findings, we offer insights into the unique lived experiences of behaviorally bisexual men, as well as broader considerations for the study of men’s sexuality. We also explore identity-related information useful for the design of HIV/STI prevention and other sexual health programs directed toward behaviorally bisexual men, which will ideally be variable and flexible in accordance with the wide range of diversity found in this population.
KW - Bisexual men
KW - Bisexuality
KW - Identities
KW - Men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW)
KW - Sexual identity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940962488&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10508-014-0376-1
DO - 10.1007/s10508-014-0376-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 25344028
AN - SCOPUS:84940962488
VL - 44
SP - 2015
EP - 2026
JO - Archives of Sexual Behavior
JF - Archives of Sexual Behavior
SN - 0004-0002
IS - 7
ER -