BBW Seeks FWB: an Exploration of Risk among Women-Seeking-Women via Craigslist

In the face of a national discourse aimed at bridging gaps in healthcare and related services, the importance of illuminating areas of disparity for under-researched, marginalized populations is key to making significant strides in healthcare reform. A disproportionate focus on male risk, especially in terms of men who have sex with men (MSM), has overshadowed the need for Women-Seeking-Women (WSW) specific (Women-Seeking-Women) investigation and the development of strategies that target this specific population. Within the context of research about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the prevalence rates of STIs for mixed-orientation women – women who have sex with both men and women – are estimated to be higher at 45-74% than the 29-45% rate of heterosexual women, yet estimates represent a wide range based on the intricacies of the population and the paucity of population-specific research (Mojola & Everett, 2012). Initially, the development of a conceptual framework that addresses the unique needs of WSW is invaluable to increasing dialogue about under-researched populations and to the eventual development of modalities of care that are tailor-made for WSW. The subsequent formation and pilot testing of a survey aimed at exploring risk within WSW via online modalities is a vital link between uncovering the distinction between labels, behavior and the ensuing provision of preventive practices. Ultimately, the expansion of research to a population hidden within the current dialogue of STI education about is invaluable and will be a catalyst for future research, impacting the understanding of individual identity, behavioral motivations, health outcomes, and the normalization of hidden populations within the greater context of society.