TY - JOUR
T1 - Bisexual desire and familism
T2 - Latino/a bisexual young men and women in New York city
AU - Muñoz-Laboy, Miguel
AU - Leau, Carmen Juana Yon
AU - Sriram, Veena
AU - Weinstein, Hannah Jean
AU - del Aquila, Ernesto Vasquez
AU - Parker, Richard
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Families are of critical importance for Latino communities in the USA. Familism - or the cultural value that weighs on interdependence between nuclear and extended family members for support, emotional connectedness, familial honour, loyalty and solidarity - has been demonstrated to reduce sexual health risks among heterosexual youth, yet this relationship has not been examined among Latino bisexual teenagers. In this study, we examined how familism shapes sexual-decision making regarding behaviour and expressions of bisexuality among Latino youth. To accomplish this, we conducted 25 in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations among bisexual male and female youth (15-19 years of age) for nine months in New York City. We carried out a recurrent theme analysis together with the selection of case studies to illustrate key themes regarding familism and Latino teenage bisexuality. Findings suggest that bisexual Latino youth valued closeness to their families by maintaining family ties and seeking their emotional and material support. The negative consequence for those who wanted to keep their bisexuality private is the constant surveillance of the family network. Familism is a complex construct that has a strong potential for providing insights into sexual health practices of bisexual Latino youth.
AB - Families are of critical importance for Latino communities in the USA. Familism - or the cultural value that weighs on interdependence between nuclear and extended family members for support, emotional connectedness, familial honour, loyalty and solidarity - has been demonstrated to reduce sexual health risks among heterosexual youth, yet this relationship has not been examined among Latino bisexual teenagers. In this study, we examined how familism shapes sexual-decision making regarding behaviour and expressions of bisexuality among Latino youth. To accomplish this, we conducted 25 in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations among bisexual male and female youth (15-19 years of age) for nine months in New York City. We carried out a recurrent theme analysis together with the selection of case studies to illustrate key themes regarding familism and Latino teenage bisexuality. Findings suggest that bisexual Latino youth valued closeness to their families by maintaining family ties and seeking their emotional and material support. The negative consequence for those who wanted to keep their bisexuality private is the constant surveillance of the family network. Familism is a complex construct that has a strong potential for providing insights into sexual health practices of bisexual Latino youth.
KW - Bisexual
KW - Familism
KW - Family
KW - USA
KW - Young people
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649988407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67649988407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13691050802710634
DO - 10.1080/13691050802710634
M3 - Article
C2 - 19296310
AN - SCOPUS:67649988407
SN - 1369-1058
VL - 11
SP - 331
EP - 344
JO - Culture, Health and Sexuality
JF - Culture, Health and Sexuality
IS - 3 SPEC. ISS.
ER -