Parallels and Alliances

The Lived Experiences of Young, Disabled Bisexual People

Bibliographic Data

ID12759266
AuthorsA Toft (0000-0003-3734-2242, Nottingham Trent University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume20
Issue2
Pages183-201
Publication date2020-04-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Bisexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1529-9716 • E-ISSN: 1529-9724
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15299716.2020.1774460
OpenAlexW3035883764
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited62

Young people (16–25) who identify as bisexual and disabled have to work against dominant forces of homo/heteronormativity and ableism which regulate sexuality and normalcy. Their lives demonstrate the complex negotiations that must be enacted in order to reside within such restrictive confines. This article uses the lived experience of 15 young (16–25 years) disabled and bisexual identified persons to understand how such identities intersect. Throughout, the voices of young people are centered in order to ensure that their experiences guide the article. Exploration of such life-stories highlights parallels between bisexual and disabled experiences, particularly in terms of misconceptions, erasure/invisibility and how dominant forces are resisted. The article suggests that a bisexual/disabled alliance is potentially fruitful for gaining a more nuanced and detailed understanding of sexuality and disability

Ableism · Alliance · Disability studies · Heteronormativity · Human sexuality · Invisibility · Life course approach · Lived experience · Negotiation · Parallels · Political science · Psychoanalysis · Queer · Social science · Sociology · Disability Rights and Representation · Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies · Gender Studies · Law · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Social Psychology

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