leizy
May 30, 2006, 12:25 PM
Intro - I'm in the process of doing some writing about alternative sexualities, what society believes about them, versus what the research shows. I'll post sections of the chapter about bisexuality, and am looking for all kinds of feedback.
Cheers.
David
Prejudice against bisexuality:
Fear and prejudice towards bisexuals as a defined group, independent of homosexuals is remarkably easy to document and illustrate. When was the last time you saw a bisexual character in a movie? Okay, got one? Now, what was that character like? Chances are pretty good that that bisexual character was portrayed as a psychopath, as crazy, homicidal, deceitful and pretty darn scary. Sexy, but scary. One of the best examples of this portrayal is in the movie Basic Instinct, where Sharon Stone's character has sex with both men and women, while lying and probably killing her way through the script. Single White Female, The Hunger, Trois, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Wild Things and even the first Lethal Weapon movie all present bisexuals as murderous, deceptive and disturbed individuals. Movies made during the Eighties are particularly prone to this, probably at least in response to the backlash against bisexuals that emerged with the AIDS crisis, but the prejudice persists. In many films, the most positive presentation of bisexuals is when a bisexual woman is presented as a mere sexual object, fulfilling the male fantasy of a threesome with two women.
In studies conducted in both the United States and Europe, prejudice against bisexuals is exceptionally strong. Using a research method called the "feeling thermometer," assessing the degree of positive or negative feelings expressed by respondents towards different groups of individuals, researchers have consistently found that bisexuals rank as far towards the bottom as any group of individuals could. Unbelievably, most respondents rank bisexuals below even lawyers and IRS agents! In fact, the only group consistently ranked below bisexuals are intravenous drug users, a hint that it might still be the specter of AIDS driving these feelings. Most of these studies show that male respondents rank male bisexuals and homosexuals more negatively than female bisexuals, with much more positive and accepting attitudes towards bisexual females. A similar pattern was not present among females towards male bisexuals, possibly reflecting the prevalence of female bisexuality in mainstream erotica and pornography, while male bisexuality exists only in bisexual genre media. With regards to male bisexuals, the "more gay" an individual is predicts more negative responses, particularly by heterosexual males. White female respondents were the most positively oriented group of respondents, expressing the warmest and most open feelings towards all groups, including bisexuals. However, if those heterosexual women admit to strong feelings of attraction towards their own gender, as in a study in Germany, they may actually report very unfavorable attitudes towards bisexuals. Is this about their own discomfort with their own feelings of bisexual attraction?
Studies of sexual prejudice consistently show that older, more conservative and more authoritarian respondents express the most negative feelings towards bisexuals. One of the few groups that express positive feelings about bisexuals are those with highly liberal, anti-authority values, who praise bisexuals for “doing their own thing.” Those with less education express more negative attitudes towards bisexuality. Studies of attitudes towards alternative sexualities consistently show dramatic differences between age groups, with younger generations reporting much more positive attitudes and feelings towards bisexuals and other sexual minorities. Some researchers speculate that as these generations grow in power and influence, society will simultaneously move towards more open and accepting sexual attitudes. However, this remains to be seen, as it is likely that as with political attitudes, age and status may bring these libertarian sexual attitudes closer to the middle, leading to incremental changes, rather than revolutionary leaps.
One proposed explanation for the fears and prejudices towards bisexuals has been related to the invisibility that masks bisexuality. Like alien bodysnatchers, bisexuals can "walk among us, undetected." A married bisexual man "looks" heterosexual when with his wife, and homosexual if he is seen or discovered with another man. He would experience consequences for the "sins" of infidelity and homosexuality, NOT for being bisexual. Likewise, a bisexual woman appears lesbian when involved with a woman, heterosexual when with a man. Both heterosexuals and homosexuals may see the bisexual as a "double agent," able to move without detection within both camps. Thus, some homosexuals express anger towards bisexuals for their ability to engage in homosexual behavior, while still living undetected in the heterosexual world. It is perhaps because of this invisibility that bisexuals have struggled to define their needs and interests as a group, and have experienced difficulty in counteracting the negative attitudes towards bisexuals, with some studies showing that much of the prejudice towards bisexuals is driven by ignorance of bisexuals' true behaviors, practices and needs. Several editors have compiled autobiographical descriptions by bisexuals, which show an enormous diversity in their lives and practices. Many of these narratives suggest that bisexuals often live multiple sexual identities, "acting gay" when seeking same-sex relationships, and "acting straight" when pursuing other-sex relationships. Several researchers have shown that bisexuals are far less likely than homosexuals to disclose their orientation, even to physicians and friends.
Many studies regarding attitudes towards sexual minorities such as homosexuals have demonstrated that interactions with "real" individuals dramatically modify and counteract negative attitudes. Those survey respondents who report knowing homosexuals report much more positive, open attitudes than do those whose attitudes are developed and maintained in a vacuum of contact with "real live" homosexuals. The same might be true with bisexuals, but this effect is hindered by the covert invisibility of bisexuals, such that most of those who interact with bisexuals are unaware, thus inhibiting the development of a conflict between one's beliefs about bisexuals and one's experience of a real bisexual.
Evidence of negative attitudes towards bisexuals by homosexuals is largely anecdotal, in the experiences of bisexuals, who describe having their sexual orientation discounted in interactions with homosexuals. Some limited research with gays and lesbians suggest that bisexuality is perceived as more transitional than homosexuality, and that bisexuals are more apt to pass covertly as heterosexuals. As many as one-third of self-identified homosexuals report that they do not believe in bisexuality, and as many as 40% of homosexuals report that they identified as bisexual at some point during their development of their sexual identity. Lesbian respondents believe they can trust bisexuals less than other lesbians, as they are more likely to betray females, with very large percentages of lesbians indicating that they would not intentionally date or befriend a bisexual woman. One interesting finding suggested that homosexuals have somewhat more positive views of bisexuals of the opposite gender; that is, lesbians express somewhat more acceptance of male bisexuals, and gay males report more positive attitudes towards female bisexuals. This may be due to the decreased likelihood of potential betrayal or emotional harm that a homosexual may experience from a bisexual of the opposite gender, given that a male gay is unlikely to enter into an intimate relationship with a female, even if she is bisexual, and vice versa.
Data regarding discrimination experienced by bisexuals suggests that it generally similar and somewhat indistinguishable from discrimination against homosexuals. Bisexuals report somewhat less job-related discrimination than homosexuals, though this may well be due to the relative invisibility of bisexuals. Bisexuals reporting negative events such as assault or rape usually report these incidents in conjunction with homosexual behaviors, such as leaving gay bars or when engaging in public homosexual behaviors. Thus the negative consequences experienced by bisexuals generally seem to result from public perception and responses to their homosexual behaviors, rather than their less-detectable bisexual behaviors.
Cheers.
David
Prejudice against bisexuality:
Fear and prejudice towards bisexuals as a defined group, independent of homosexuals is remarkably easy to document and illustrate. When was the last time you saw a bisexual character in a movie? Okay, got one? Now, what was that character like? Chances are pretty good that that bisexual character was portrayed as a psychopath, as crazy, homicidal, deceitful and pretty darn scary. Sexy, but scary. One of the best examples of this portrayal is in the movie Basic Instinct, where Sharon Stone's character has sex with both men and women, while lying and probably killing her way through the script. Single White Female, The Hunger, Trois, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Wild Things and even the first Lethal Weapon movie all present bisexuals as murderous, deceptive and disturbed individuals. Movies made during the Eighties are particularly prone to this, probably at least in response to the backlash against bisexuals that emerged with the AIDS crisis, but the prejudice persists. In many films, the most positive presentation of bisexuals is when a bisexual woman is presented as a mere sexual object, fulfilling the male fantasy of a threesome with two women.
In studies conducted in both the United States and Europe, prejudice against bisexuals is exceptionally strong. Using a research method called the "feeling thermometer," assessing the degree of positive or negative feelings expressed by respondents towards different groups of individuals, researchers have consistently found that bisexuals rank as far towards the bottom as any group of individuals could. Unbelievably, most respondents rank bisexuals below even lawyers and IRS agents! In fact, the only group consistently ranked below bisexuals are intravenous drug users, a hint that it might still be the specter of AIDS driving these feelings. Most of these studies show that male respondents rank male bisexuals and homosexuals more negatively than female bisexuals, with much more positive and accepting attitudes towards bisexual females. A similar pattern was not present among females towards male bisexuals, possibly reflecting the prevalence of female bisexuality in mainstream erotica and pornography, while male bisexuality exists only in bisexual genre media. With regards to male bisexuals, the "more gay" an individual is predicts more negative responses, particularly by heterosexual males. White female respondents were the most positively oriented group of respondents, expressing the warmest and most open feelings towards all groups, including bisexuals. However, if those heterosexual women admit to strong feelings of attraction towards their own gender, as in a study in Germany, they may actually report very unfavorable attitudes towards bisexuals. Is this about their own discomfort with their own feelings of bisexual attraction?
Studies of sexual prejudice consistently show that older, more conservative and more authoritarian respondents express the most negative feelings towards bisexuals. One of the few groups that express positive feelings about bisexuals are those with highly liberal, anti-authority values, who praise bisexuals for “doing their own thing.” Those with less education express more negative attitudes towards bisexuality. Studies of attitudes towards alternative sexualities consistently show dramatic differences between age groups, with younger generations reporting much more positive attitudes and feelings towards bisexuals and other sexual minorities. Some researchers speculate that as these generations grow in power and influence, society will simultaneously move towards more open and accepting sexual attitudes. However, this remains to be seen, as it is likely that as with political attitudes, age and status may bring these libertarian sexual attitudes closer to the middle, leading to incremental changes, rather than revolutionary leaps.
One proposed explanation for the fears and prejudices towards bisexuals has been related to the invisibility that masks bisexuality. Like alien bodysnatchers, bisexuals can "walk among us, undetected." A married bisexual man "looks" heterosexual when with his wife, and homosexual if he is seen or discovered with another man. He would experience consequences for the "sins" of infidelity and homosexuality, NOT for being bisexual. Likewise, a bisexual woman appears lesbian when involved with a woman, heterosexual when with a man. Both heterosexuals and homosexuals may see the bisexual as a "double agent," able to move without detection within both camps. Thus, some homosexuals express anger towards bisexuals for their ability to engage in homosexual behavior, while still living undetected in the heterosexual world. It is perhaps because of this invisibility that bisexuals have struggled to define their needs and interests as a group, and have experienced difficulty in counteracting the negative attitudes towards bisexuals, with some studies showing that much of the prejudice towards bisexuals is driven by ignorance of bisexuals' true behaviors, practices and needs. Several editors have compiled autobiographical descriptions by bisexuals, which show an enormous diversity in their lives and practices. Many of these narratives suggest that bisexuals often live multiple sexual identities, "acting gay" when seeking same-sex relationships, and "acting straight" when pursuing other-sex relationships. Several researchers have shown that bisexuals are far less likely than homosexuals to disclose their orientation, even to physicians and friends.
Many studies regarding attitudes towards sexual minorities such as homosexuals have demonstrated that interactions with "real" individuals dramatically modify and counteract negative attitudes. Those survey respondents who report knowing homosexuals report much more positive, open attitudes than do those whose attitudes are developed and maintained in a vacuum of contact with "real live" homosexuals. The same might be true with bisexuals, but this effect is hindered by the covert invisibility of bisexuals, such that most of those who interact with bisexuals are unaware, thus inhibiting the development of a conflict between one's beliefs about bisexuals and one's experience of a real bisexual.
Evidence of negative attitudes towards bisexuals by homosexuals is largely anecdotal, in the experiences of bisexuals, who describe having their sexual orientation discounted in interactions with homosexuals. Some limited research with gays and lesbians suggest that bisexuality is perceived as more transitional than homosexuality, and that bisexuals are more apt to pass covertly as heterosexuals. As many as one-third of self-identified homosexuals report that they do not believe in bisexuality, and as many as 40% of homosexuals report that they identified as bisexual at some point during their development of their sexual identity. Lesbian respondents believe they can trust bisexuals less than other lesbians, as they are more likely to betray females, with very large percentages of lesbians indicating that they would not intentionally date or befriend a bisexual woman. One interesting finding suggested that homosexuals have somewhat more positive views of bisexuals of the opposite gender; that is, lesbians express somewhat more acceptance of male bisexuals, and gay males report more positive attitudes towards female bisexuals. This may be due to the decreased likelihood of potential betrayal or emotional harm that a homosexual may experience from a bisexual of the opposite gender, given that a male gay is unlikely to enter into an intimate relationship with a female, even if she is bisexual, and vice versa.
Data regarding discrimination experienced by bisexuals suggests that it generally similar and somewhat indistinguishable from discrimination against homosexuals. Bisexuals report somewhat less job-related discrimination than homosexuals, though this may well be due to the relative invisibility of bisexuals. Bisexuals reporting negative events such as assault or rape usually report these incidents in conjunction with homosexual behaviors, such as leaving gay bars or when engaging in public homosexual behaviors. Thus the negative consequences experienced by bisexuals generally seem to result from public perception and responses to their homosexual behaviors, rather than their less-detectable bisexual behaviors.