Introduction: Gender and sexuality are complex social phenomena which have received great academic interest in relation to their discursive interactions. Bisexual erasure is common within the context of monosexism and homophobic masculinity, highlighting the significance of discourse in constructions of bisexuality. Bisexual men are an under-researched population, particularly in discursive research. Bisexual men experience a greater risk of mental distress and poor wellbeing. No research to date has investigated the complex ways in which bisexual men construct their mental distress and wellbeing in relation to their gender and sexuality. This thesis sought to answer how discourses of gender and sexuality were used to construct bisexual men’s experiences of mental distress and wellbeing.
Method: Sixteen bisexual men took part in semi-structured interviews, eight of them additionally took part in one of two focus groups. Interviews and focus groups explored participant constructions of sexuality, gender, mental distress, and mental wellbeing. Data was then analysed using a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA).
Results: Dichotomised Sexuality, associated with monosexism, dominated constructions of sexuality. Consuming Authenticity, associated with neoliberalism, dominated participant’s constructions of their sexuality, distress, and wellbeing. Gender as Hierarchical, associated with hegemonic masculinity, dominated participant constructions of gender and mental distress. Dichotomised Sexuality and Gender as Hierarchical constructed restrictions on sexuality and gender. Consuming Authenticity and Individual Responsibility, both discourses associated with neoliberalism, constructed personal freedom, authenticity, pride, and personal responsibility for distress and wellbeing. However, Strong Men Don’t Cry, also associated with hegemonic masculinity, was used to construct restrictions in mental distress. Subjugated discourses of Collective Nonconformity, Personal Fluidity, and Transcending Norms constructed greater fluidity for participants outside of heterosexist norms.
Discussion: Discourses associated with monosexism, hegemonic masculinity, and neoliberalism all interact to maintain patriarchal and capitalist structures which oppress bisexual men. Whilst constructions of personal authenticity and strength were present, hegemonic masculinity and monosexism contribute bisexual erasure. Discourses of mental distress and wellbeing which locate the problem as beyond the individual were considerably subjugated.
