Biphobia, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Victim Blame for Bisexual Survivors of Sexual Assault

SMSU Event Center BC

Although grouped with other sexual minorities (e.g. gay), bisexual individuals experience unique sexual minority stressors such as loneliness and double discrimination from heterosexual and LGBTQ communities (e.g. Mereish, Katz-Wise, & Woulfe, 2017). Additionally, bisexual women are sexually assaulted at higher rates than their lesbian and heterosexual counterparts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Research demonstrates that gay victims are more likely than heterosexual victims to be blamed for their sexual assault (e.g. White & Yamawaki, 2009). However, no researchers to date have examined victim blame regarding bisexual individuals. In a university sample (n = 300) and community sample (n = 300), we will investigate multiple correlational relationships between biphobia, rape myth acceptance, and victim blame towards bisexual victims using structural equation modeling. We hypothesize the participants’ gender and the victims’ gender and sexuality will influence participants’ degrees of biphobia, rape myth acceptance, and victim blame. We also hypothesize bisexual victims will be blamed more for their rape than heterosexual victims, with biphobia serving as a mediating variable. We will investigate differences between heterosexual and LGBTQ communities as their degrees of biphobia may vary. We expect to find significant relationships between biphobia, rape myth acceptance, and degrees of victim blame with the bisexual male victim receiving the most blame compared to other victims. To measure blame towards bisexual individuals, participants will be randomly assigned to a stranger-rape vignette featuring either a heterosexual or a bisexual victim. Data collection and analyses are ongoing.