How Deep is the Cut? The Influence of Daily Microaggressions on Bisexual Women’s Health

Bisexual women experience disproportionately poorer health outcomes in comparison to lesbian and gay groups and the general population, including inequities related to mental and physical health. Although bisexual-specific health inequities are increasingly well-documented, research examining putative causes of such inequities, as well as research that accounts for differences within bisexual populations—particularly among racial minorities– remains limited. To address these gaps, this article reports findings from the Women’s Daily Experiences Study (WoDES), a multimethod study that explored the relationship between microaggressions and health outcomes among racially/ethnically diverse cisgender, bisexual women in Chicago. Data from 28 daily e-diaries (N = 2,104 observations; 99 participants, 57% women of color) were analyzed using multilevel modeling to (a) measure the frequency of microaggressions among bisexual women; (b) examine the influence of sexual orientation, racial, and gender microaggressions on mental and physical health; and (c) investigate how race influences relationships between microaggressions and health. Participants reported an average of 8.1 microaggressions in the previous 28 days, and at least one microaggression was reported for more than 42% of days (n = 802). Microaggressions of any type were associated with increased same-day negative affect and somatic complaints. Latina bisexual women experienced worse health outcomes in comparison to Black bisexual women. This study demonstrated the detrimental impact of microaggressions on the health of bisexual women and highlights the critical need for strategies on broader structural changes that could improve the health and well-being of bisexual women.