Even though women worldwide have made great progress in asserting their rights, many still encounter sexism on a daily basis. For bisexual women, these challenges are compounded—not only do they experience gender-based discrimination, but they also face prejudice from both heterosexual and homosexual communities. This “double discrimination” often leaves bisexual women feeling unseen, invalidated, and vulnerable.
The Burden of Sexism and Prejudice
Research shows that women experience significantly higher stress and emotional toll from discrimination compared to men (Brinkman & Rickard, 2009). In many cases, men in positions of authority reinforce traditional gender roles, further limiting women’s freedom of self-expression. For bisexual women, this experience is intensified as they often feel judged not only for being female by gender but also for their sexual orientation.
In societies where homosexuality is still stigmatized, bisexual women may be subjected to cruel practices such as “corrective rape.” A study in Southern Africa found that nearly one-third of lesbian and bisexual women had experienced forced sex, often under the false belief that this would “convert” them into heterosexual women (Sandfort et al., 2015).Such violations leave deep psychological scars, including trauma, depression, and mistrust.
The “Double Closet”: Facing Criticism from All Sides
Bisexual women often find themselves in a painful paradox:
If they date men, they are criticized by the homosexual community for being “too straight.”
If they date women, they are shamed by heterosexual communities for rejecting traditional gender roles.
This constant invalidation fosters feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and “binegativity”—the unique stigma directed at bisexual individuals (Arriaga & Parent, 2019). Many bisexual women report being accused of being unfaithful, indecisive, or simply “going through a phase.” These misconceptions create barriers to forming healthy relationships and can contribute to mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and substance use (Molina et al., 2015).
Voices of Experience
Interviews with bisexual women reveal the emotional toll of these pressures:
Families may reject or shame them, often citing cultural or religious beliefs.
Dating can feel more difficult due to stereotypes about infidelity.
Many feel they must “tame” their true selves in professional or family settings to avoid judgment.
Despite this, many bisexual women also express resilience—finding support in friendships, community, and self-acceptance.
Counselling Insights: Supporting Bisexual Women
Counsellors can play a vital role in supporting bisexual women by:
Validating their identity: Affirming that bisexuality is real, valid, and not a “phase.”
Addressing minority stress: Exploring how external prejudice impacts self-esteem and relationships.
Creating safe spaces: Allowing bisexual women to share experiences without fear of judgment.
Promoting resilience: Encouraging self-care, positive peer support, and boundary setting with unsupportive family or communities.
Providing trauma-informed care: For survivors of sexual violence or corrective rape, therapy should be sensitive, non-judgmental, and safety-focused.
Bisexual women face some of the harshest forms of prejudice—often experiencing sexism, homophobia, and bi-negativity simultaneously. Recognizing these unique challenges is essential for building awareness, fostering acceptance, and providing effective counselling. Healing begins when bisexual women are seen, validated, and empowered to embrace their identity without fear.
Written by Prabhjot Mehndi
References & Resources
Arriaga, A. S., & Parent, M. C. (2019). Partners and prejudice: Bisexual partner gender and experiences of binegativity from heterosexual, lesbian, and gay people. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 6(3), 382–391. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000337
Brinkman, B., & Rickard, K. (2009). College students’ descriptions of everyday gender prejudice. Sex Roles, 61(7–8), 461–475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9643-3
Chmielewski, J. (2017). A listening guide analysis of lesbian and bisexual young women of color’s experiences of sexual objectification. Sex Roles, 77(7–8), 533–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0740-4
Molina, Y., Marquez, J., Logan, D., Leeson, C., Balsam, K., & Kaysen, D. (2015). Current intimate relationship status, depression, and alcohol use among bisexual women: The mediating roles of bisexual-specific minority stressors. Sex Roles, 73(1–2), 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-015-0483-z
Sandfort, T., Frazer, M. S., Matebeni, Z., Reddy, V., & Southey-Swartz, I. (2015). Histories of forced sex and health outcomes among Southern African lesbian and bisexual women: A cross-sectional study. BMC Women’s Health, 15(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-015-0181-6