Kathleen Källström-Schreckengost, Psy.D.
Incoming Class of 2008
Internship: Fordham University Counseling and Psychological Services
September 2013 Conferral
How Bisexual Women Develop Romantic Relationships
Chair: Bob Keisner, Ph.D.
Research has illustrated a complex relationship among bisexual women’s sexual attractions, behaviors, and identities. Furthermore, the lack of bisexual-identified communities and the dichotomy of gay and straight communities place bisexual women in a unique position in terms of finding potential romantic relationships. This qualitative study explores in depth the personal (i.e. personality traits, interests, beliefs, etc.) and environmental factors (i.e. social circles, culture, region, living situation, affiliation with institutions, developmental histories, etc.) that affect bisexual women’s sexual and romantic relationships. A qualitative method developed by Auerbach and Silverstein (2003) was used to collect, code, and interpret data. Eighteen bisexual-identified women were recruited to participate in five focus groups. Transcriptions of the focus group were coded, and four broad theoretical constructs were developed: Much of relationship development supersedes gender differences, The gender/sexuality binary affects how bisexual women develop relationships, Bisexual women develop preferences in the context of the gender/sexuality binary, and Relationship development interacts with the gender/sexuality binary. The implications of these findings are discussed, along with limitations and directions for future research. By increasing the understanding of the factors that guide bisexual women’s sexual and romantic behaviors, this study provides a broader foundation of knowledge regarding bisexual women’s motivations, relationships, and identities for clinicians who serve this population.