The overall focus of this study is the wellbeing of African descent bisexual women (ABW), within three interrelated main areas of inquiry: social support, health care, and resources for resilience. Due to the history of the dispersal of African people, compounded by marginalization of African descent bisexual women, this united cross-national research strategy was intended to transcend historical divides and bring more attention to these women's concerns. The cross-national design was also intended to highlight similarities and contrast differences in countries with different health care systems, toward increasing understandings of the women's experiences. The qualitative research method of grounded analysis guided this study. The researcher completed individual face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews with six self-identified ABW in the US in 2013, and with eight women in the UK in 2014. The researcher's original intention was to implement a study inclusive of women living with HIV (WLWHA). However, without WLWHA participants, information on their life experiences was not able to be gathered during this study. The researcher gathered and analyzed information about ABW life experiences related to resources and quality of social support and health care when bisexual identity is and is not disclosed. The women were also asked about resources that sustain them and support resiliency. Eleven subthemes emerged from the data, related to four main themes. The participants spoke of their intersectional identities, and needs for affirming social support and culturally competent health care. The participants made recommendations toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for delivery of health and social care. The women's needs include: Access to quality physical and mental health care; Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) inclusive nondiscrimination policies posted in agency settings; more LGBTQI-identified providers; universal HIV and STD screening; information about healthy relationships, especially on how to communicate assertively about sexual health with a female partner; and inclusive social services that acknowledge the families of sexual minority women. Participants also shared about activities of resilience, including their writing and activism for socioeconomic justice. The findings are intended to increase diversity awareness and sensitivity among health and social care providers. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Social Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2015. / April 20, 2015. / African, bisexual, Black, queer, woman, women / Includes bibliographical references. / Neil Abell, Professor Directing Dissertation; Koji Ueno, University Representative; Jean Munn, Committee Member; James Whyte, IV, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_253203 |
| Contributors | Brown, Kristin M. (authoraut), Abell, Neil (professor directing dissertation), Ueno, Koji (university representative), Munn, Jean C. (committee member), Whyte, James (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Social Work (degree granting college), College of Social Work (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (259 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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