Psychology

Male-partnered bisexual women's perceptions of disclosing sexual orientation to family across the transition to parenthood: Intensifying heteronormativity or queering family?

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Drawing from queer and communication privacy management frameworks, this study examines the narratives of 22 bisexual, male-partnered women who were interviewed during the perinatal period and one year postnatally about their disclosures of sexual identity to family of origin. Most women rarely discussed their sexual identity with family; participants who had disclosed described such disclosures as provoking discomfort. Some women stated that their parental status seemed to invalidate the need to talk about their sexual history or identity with family, due its declining salience and increased concerns about judgment. This study reveals how partnership and parenthood statuses contribute to the intensification of heteronormative pressures in relation to family. Therapists should attend to the role of heteronormative values regarding partnering, family-building, and parenting.

Publication Title

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

Publication Date

2018

Volume

44

Issue

1

First Page

150

Last Page

164

ISSN

0194-472X

DOI

10.1111/jmft.12242

Keywords

queer, bisexuality, sexual orientation, social issues, family

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