Assessing Lesbians' Beliefs About and Attitudes Toward Bisexual Women: Does Valuing Monogamy Relate?

Author

Ryan Anne Cheperka, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

1-1-2009

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Fischer, Ann

Abstract

Until recently, there has been a lack of understanding or of inclusion regarding bisexuality in research regarding sexual orientation. Thus, stereotypes, such as bisexual individuals being nonmonogamous, are formed, as are attitudes regarding bisexuals. It was hypothesized that this particular stereotype would moderate the relationship between valuing monogamy and attitudes regarding bisexual women. It was also hypothesized that less of a value of monogamy would directly relate to more positive attitudes about bisexual women. Therefore, 199 lesbians were recruited for this study. Two factors from the Relationship Issues Scale (RIS) were used to assess values of monogamy. A revised version of the Biphobia Scale was used to assess attitudes towards bisexual women. Three single-items were averaged to assess the belief that bisexual women are nonmonogamous. Results did not support either hypothesis. However, overall attitudes towards and experiences with bisexual women were quite positive, and some notable correlations were observed among variables including attitudes about bisexual women and willingness to date bisexual women. Further, about one-quarter of the variance in attitudes toward bisexual women was accounted for by the combination of personal experience with bisexual women, belief that bisexuality is a step in the coming out process, and belief that bisexual women are nonmonogamous. Slightly over one-quarter of the variance in willingness to date a bisexual woman was accounted for by the combination of the belief that bisexual women are nonmonogamous, the belief that bisexuality is a step in the coming out process, attitudes about bisexual women, attitudes regarding monogamy, and age.