Bisexuality Awareness
in recognition of #biweek september 16 - 23
Bisexuality is when a person is attracted to, or sexually oriented to both or more than one gender. Bisexuals are the largest sexual minority population, and are gradually increasing.
Bisexuals vary from other sexual minority subgroups in their unique experience of discrimination including biphobia. This makes them at greater risk of being diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse compared to their heterosexual and homosexual counterparts.
Discrimination
Research found that heterosexual people carry the following stereotypical beliefs about bisexual people:
That they are untrustworthy, and more likely to cheat
That they are ‘confused’ about their sexuality
That they are more promiscuous because there is ‘more to choose from’
And that they’re unable to maintain long term monogamous relationships.
Bisexual men are stigmatised as the ‘bridge population’ for HIV transmission from homosexual men to heterosexual women, despite research indicating heterosexual men have more anal sex than non-heterosexual men.
Stereotypes surround bisexuals are further exacerbated by the lack of bisexual visibility.
Image sourced from The Trevor Project
Biphobia
The binary notion of sexual orientation as being either heterosexual, or homosexual has generated a phenomenon of ‘double-discrimination’, unique to the bisexual sub-group. Binary perceptions of sexual orientation result in bisexuals being viewed as indecisive or questioning, invalidating and illegitimatising their sexual orientation.
Bisexuals experience discrimination from both heterosexual and homosexual populations for opposing heteronormative and monosexual expectations, making this ‘double discrimination’ different to homophobia.
Internalised Biphobia
Bisexuals may internalised the messages received from society about their sexual orientation appearing illegitimate, and begin to invalidate their own identities.
This might look and sound like;
“I’m not bi, I just turn a little gay when I’m drunk”
“I’m not bi because I only date people of the opposite gender”
“I’m not bi because I’ve never had sex with someone of the same gender”
“I’m not bi, I’m just going through a phase”
“I’m a lipstick lesbian”
“I only hook up with men if it’s a threesome with a woman”
Etc, etc, etc.
Notice here how the binary concept of gender is used to defend a cis-gendered, heterosexual identity. I would argue for a lot of bisexuals, internalised gender binary also plays into their internalised biphobia.
For anyone who is reading this and thinking “fuck”, you’re not alone, I was there once too! These are broader social messages you have received to condition you into “fitting into” the “right” identity determined by society. You are allowed to question it if it doesn’t sit right with your authentic identity.
Mental Health
Biphobia directly affects the mental health of bisexuals, in particular bisexual women, who report higher rates of psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and diagnosed anxiety and depression compared to heterosexuals. This was attributed to biphobic microaggressions like dismissal, mistrust and social exclusion.
Positive impacts on bisexuals mental health included the individuals access to social support from friends and partners.
Barriers to Healthcare
A study in 2018 found that only 14% of patients were asked about their sexual orientation by their healthcare providers, which made the topic easier to avoid.
Healthcare workers report not prompting discussions around sexuality because they lack managerial support, and training. And are hesitant to work with sexual minority individuals due to discomfort, lack of resources/knowledge, counselling tools, and fear of making a mistake.
References:
Björkenstam et al., 2017
Bostwick & Dodge, 2019
Boyer & Lorenz, 2020
Dodge et al., 2016
Dyer & das Nair, 2013
Flanders & Robinson, 2019
Friedman et al., 2014
Nam et al., 2019
Owen-Pugh & Baines, 2014
Percat & Elmerstig, 2017
Ruben & Fullerton, 2018
Star and Pachankis, 2019
Zivony & Saguy, 2018
