“Pwede Both?”: A Phenomenological Study on the Visibility of Filipino Bisexuals within Interpersonal Relationships

• Main Authors: Macam, Ram Paulo A., Pagay, Louela Camille G., Pelaez, Jessie L.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: bisexual visibility; bisexual invisibility; interpersonal relationships; Filipino bisexuals; monosexual normativity
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2024/paper_ghi/8; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/2433/viewcontent/PP_GHI_Macam_Pagay_Pelaez___Louela_Camille_Pagay.docx.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

An important facet of being queer is the recognition of oneself with regard to their sexuality, and for bisexual individuals, it is bisexual visibility. Interpersonal relationships play an important role in rendering recognition for bisexual identities. This paper aims to uncover the visibility or invisibility of Filipino bisexuals through their experiences with their interpersonal relationships and contribute to bisexual studies in the Philippines. The researchers interviewed twelve (12) Filipino adults self-identifying as bisexuals through a phenomenological approach combined with thematic analysis to extract significant themes and recurring patterns from the experiences and perspectives of bisexuals. This article explored the patterns expressed by bisexuals, delving into their experiences with their interpersonal relationships and emphasizing recurring themes on acceptance, rejection, existing perspectives, and the prevalence of monosexual normativity. Moreover, the impact on their sexual identity is explored, uncovering themes of concealment, the pressures to prove their sexuality, and the manifestation of openness in expression. Themes regarding the representation were also explored, unveiling misrepresentations and monosexual representation. Lastly, the participants expressed their perspective on the state of visibility of bisexuality, deeming bisexuality as visible under certain conditions and largely invisible for varying factors.