ERIC Number: EJ1334337
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Apr
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1938-8926
EISSN: N/A
"I Can't Quite Be Myself": Bisexual-Specific Minority Stress within LGBTQ Campus Spaces
Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, v15 n2 p167-177 Apr 2022
Studies on queer/trans-spectrum students' campus experiences show that colleges and universities continue to be hostile and unwelcoming for them despite the implementation of programs and initiatives to improve campus climate. Bisexual students, however, face a unique type of marginalization within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, with research on their experiences in higher education suggesting they are not safe from marginalization even in what should be safe LGBTQ campus spaces. This study examines the experiences of 9 bisexual students engaged in LGBTQ campus spaces to address the following research questions: First, to what degree did bisexual students experience bisexual-specific stress within LGBTQ campus spaces? Second, how, if at all, did bisexual-specific stress impact their participation in these LGBTQ campus spaces? The findings of this study revealed that all participants experienced bisexual-specific stress within LGBTQ campus spaces, and as a result of bisexual-specific stress and lack of support in addressing these issues, participants shared negative impacts on their participation within LGBTQ campus spaces. Understanding the challenges bisexual students experience within LGBTQ campus spaces can help student affairs professionals and others working with queer/trans-spectrum students work toward creating more bisexual-inclusive LGBTQ campus spaces.
Descriptors: LGBTQ People, College Students, College Environment, Student Experience, Stress Variables, Student Participation, Sexual Orientation, Social Bias, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Social Support Groups
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A