Back again – and from the broad topic of ‘sexuality and family care’ comes a more narrow focus for the remainder of this project; looking specifically at non-monosexuality and family care.
What exactly is ‘non-monosexuality‘? Well, it’s a broad label for someone who is sexually or romantically attracted to more than one gender. Traditionally known as ‘bisexuality’, it essentially was being attracted to both men and women. Now, as our understanding of gender has expanded, and more people find themselves identifying in different gendered ways, this definition has widened, and includes common labels and self-identification using terms like bisexuality, pansexuality, sexually fluid and others.
Even as there is relatively little research and understanding within the health & social care sector regarding the experiences and support needs of sexual minorities in gender, what research as taken place typically focusses on lesbian and gay family carers, with bisexual or other sexualities only briefly mentioned, if at all.
Likewise, in the first phase of my research project, a significant number of responses came from non-mono sexual individuals, many of whom had a different caring profile than one typically might expect from sexual minority carers, and that have been written about before this. Many are in heterosexual relationships, caring for a child with additional needs or disabilities. The topic of biphobia both from the health & social care sector and the LGBTQ+ community came up many times. Experiences of bi-erasure, particularly within family and health & social care was a big issue for respondents, and how that changes the care experiences.
So, in order to investigate that further, I plan to conduct some interviews with non-monosexual family carers (both current and former), living in Ireland, regardless of current relationship status, gender, etc. I want to find out what their experiences are like of accessing supports, their experiences of biphobia or bi-erasure within their communities of family care and the LGBTQ+ community.
I will soon be recruiting for these interviews – if you are interested to take part when I have received ethical approval from my University, you can get in touch here.
Queer Caring 