The Monosexual Priviege Checklist

[tenni]

While surfing the net, I came across a feminist bisexual website. The site seemed to have some academic chops for thought. Amongst the several pages of the stie was a reference to a Male Privilege List. Then there she was in all her glory. "A Monosexual Privilege List" created by the feminist bisexual author. A monosexual is the opposite of a bisexual. Monosexuals are sexually and or emotionally attracted to only one gender.(in other words heterosexual or homosexual)

I've misplaced the exact web page but here is the site of radical bi
http://radicalbi.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/snippet-4-the-bisexual-invisibility-report/

I don't agree with all of her thoughts but re examining long held beliefs as "well that is normal and why there is no such thing as a monosexual Privilege"...we are all the same.. etc. ramblings of some heteros, gays and even a vocal section of bisexuals who have posted on this site. Here take a look.

What do you think?

The monosexual privilege checklist


Society assures me that my sexual identity is real and that people like me exist.
When disclosing my sexual identity to others, they believe it without requiring me to prove it.
I can feel sure that upon disclosing my sexual identity, people accept that it’s my real/actual sexual identity (rather than anything other than I said).
I am never considered closeted when disclosing my sexual identity.
Perception/acceptance of my sexual identity is generally independent of my choices of relationships, partners and lifestyle.
It is unlikely that disclosing my sexual identity will be taken as a sexual offer or a sign of sexual consent.
I can be confident that people don’t misname my sexual identity or use different identities to describe my identity when speaking about me.
When seen with a partner I’m dating, I can be certain to be recognized as a member of my sexual identity group.
I never have to worry about successfully passing as a member of my sexual identity group or as a member of my community.
I do not have to choose between either invisibility (“passing”) or being consistently “othered” and/or tokenized based on my sexual identity.
I am never blamed for upholding heteropatriarchy** or cisgender privilege because of the word that I use to identify my sexuality.
My politics are not questioned based on the the word that I use to identify my sexuality.
I feel welcomed at appropriate services or events that are segregated by sexual identity (such as “general” i.e. straight clinics, gay community centers, lesbian-only events, etc.)
If I’m cisgender, I am accepted and celebrated as a part of “queer” space or movement. If I’m an ally, I am applauded for my support of the queer movement.
If I’m cisgender, queer or gay people will not try to exclude me from our movements in order to gain political legitimacy for themselves. I am never accused of “giving the movement a bad name” or of “exploiting” the movement.
I can feel sure that if I choose to enter a monogamous relationship, my friends, community or my partner will continue to accept my sexual identity, without expecting or pressuring me to change it.
I needn’t worry about potential partners shifting instantly from amorous to disdain, humiliation or verbal violence because of my sexual identity.
I can cheat on my partners or act badly in a relationship without having other people put this down to my sexual identity or have my behaviour reflect badly on all the people in my sexual identity group.
I can choose to be in a polyamorous relationship without being accused of reinforcing stereotypes against my sexual identity group.
I can fairly easily find representations of people of my sexual identity group and my lifestyle in the media and the arts. I encounter such representations without needing to look hard.
If I encounter a fictional, historical or famous figure of my sexual identity, I can be sure that s/he will be named as such in the text or by the media, reviewers and audience.
I often encounter the word I use to identify myself in the media and the arts. When I hear or read it, I am far less likely to find it in the context of its denial.
I can find, fairly easily, reading material, institutions, media representations, etc. which give attention specifically to people of my sexual identity.
I can feel certain that normal everyday language will include my sexual identity (“straight and gay alike”, “gay and lesbian”, etc.)
If I am cisgender, I am far less likely to suffer from intimate violence.
If I am cisgender, I am less likely to suffer from depression or to contemplate suicide.
If I am cisgender, I am far less likely to suffer from poverty.
I am more likely to feel comfortable being open about my sexual identity at work.
I have access to information about the prevalence of STI’s in my community as well as prevention methods that are suitable for me.
If I live in a city, I can expect to find medical care that will suit my own particular needs.
I am less likely to risk my health by avoiding medical treatment.
Wronging me on grounds of my sexual identity or sexual behaviour is taken seriously:



Those who wrong me are expected to know that it is hurtful, and are considered accountable whether or not they intended to wrong me.
I have easy access to people who understand that this wrong is unacceptable, and who will support me.
I have easy access to resources and people to educate someone who wronged me, if I am not feeling up to it.
If I am being wronged, I can expect that others who are around will notice



When I express my sexual identity in my daily life, I can reasonably expect not to be considered unstable, unreliable, indecisive, untrustworthy or in need of help.
I can worry about issues specific to people of my sexual identity group without being seen as self-interested, self-seeking or divisive.
I can remain oblivious of the language, culture, history and politics of bisexuality and bisexual people without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
I have the privilege of not being aware of my privileges.


Your thoughts?

[Annika L]

Very interesting, with some great points!

Not so sure about:
(3) I do think that the mere fact of a straight person *disclosing* their sexuality invites scrutiny and throws doubt on the veracity of their claim.
(9) A straight woman who teaches high school gym is immediately assumed to be a lesbian (and I'm sure that's not the only such profession...just the one that leaps to mind at the moment).
(21) Is confusing..."named as such" means what, exactly? Named as monosexual? As heterosexual/homosexual? *Maybe* homosexual...I've never seen *anyone* named specifically as heterosexual. Named as fictional, historical, or famous? If they weren't considered such, how would you have read about them?
(25-27) All say more about problems of being transgender than problems of not being monosexual...they just don't belong on the list...they belong in a list about cisgender privilege.
(29) Bisexuals have the same access to information about STI's as everyone else in the community in which they are *seen* to identify (i.e., if they move primarily in straight society, they have access to those resources; if they move primarily in LG society, they have access to those resources).
(31) I'd need to see a reference.

*Everything after* (31) is really brilliant...as are many of the other points.

[tenni]

Great points Annika!

In response to your post, I wonder if:?



"Is confusing..."named as such" means what, exactly? Named as monosexual? As heterosexual/homosexual? *Maybe* homosexual...I've never seen *anyone* named specifically as heterosexual. Named as fictional, historical, or famous? If they weren't considered such, how would you have read about them?


I suspect that point 21 refers to bi erasure in history.

If you are heterosexual monosexual it is by default considered that all historical figures (especially those with cross gender spouses) are heterosexual monosexual. A few historical figures are referred to as homosexual monosexual. You just have to look at contemporary disclosure of certain religious leaders who have protested homosexual acts and then found to have had public sex with the same gender. What are they referred to? Homosexual even if they have a wife. The automatic default is people are either homo monosexual or hetero monosexual. No option of bisexual.


“(25-27) All say more about problems of being transgender than problems of not being monosexual...they just don't belong on the list...they belong in a list about cisgender privilege.”

What you post about transgender is true but I read that point as if you are CSI gender then these points are true for monosexuals. That doesn’t exclude the issues impacting transgendered. Remember that she is referring to monosexuals and not gender issues.


Perhaps if she added more wording?
ie > 26 “If I am CSI gender" and a monosexual," I am less likely to suffer from depression or to contemplate suicide "than a bisexual.”

I think that I recall that this has been stated in the San Francisco Human Rights Commission report on Bi Invisibilty.

[Annika L]

Remember that she is referring to monosexuals and not gender issues.

Perhaps if she added more wording?
ie > 26 “If I am CSI gender" and a monosexual," I am less likely to suffer from depression or to contemplate suicide "than a bisexual.”

I think that I recall that this has been stated in the San Francisco Human Rights Commission report on Bi Invisibilty.


Awareness that she is talking about monosexuality rather than gender issues was precisely what made 25-27 so confusing for me...they seemed completely out of place.

The rewording you suggest for (26), though, completely clarifies the point, however:

"Among cisgender people, monosexuals are less likely to suffer from depression or to contemplate suicide than bisexuals." is certainly a clear statement. Although again, a reference would be nice...I'm sure the LG community may well dispute this, since LG people *have* to face scrutiny and judgment, whereas *many* (maybe even most) bi people "hide" behind a screen of straightness, so don't face those scrutinies and judgments.

Changing the language in 25 and 27 similarly would make those statements more clear as well. But I suspect that whereas 25 might be a true statement that way, 27 would not be: again, because so many bisexuals hide their sexuality, they don't face the same levels of discrimination that LG people face, and so probably are not *more* likely to suffer from poverty.

[tenni]

Annika
Well, I may be wrong and too lazy to go through the San Francisco Human Rights Commissions study on Bi Invisibility but I am fairly certain that not only this study but the predecessors stated that bisexuals did suffer more from depression and suicidal tendencies than G&L.


http://www.birequest.org/docstore/2011-SF_HRC-Bi_Iinvisibility_Report.pdf


This is the interesting point about Bi Invisibility. Organizations supposedly dealing with support are either not aware or refusing to place funds where they are needed based upon numbers (bisexual mental health being a big one). There is the position that bisexual mental health needs are not exactly the same as Gay/Lesbians. Expecting bisexuals to “fit” the programming for G&L has not worked well for bisexuals. There still is the chicken (hiding bisexuals) versus egg(those speaking up for change for bisexuals) scenario. What needs to come first?...support for bisexual mental health or proving the numbers? Well, Bi Invisibility and the British study recently seem to state that the numbers are there. Programming for depression and suicide fears are not there for bisexuals.


Here are some internet statements on bisexuality/depression & suicide


http://emptyclosets.com/forum/anonymous-discussions/45489-bisexuality-hard-homosexuality-years-ago.html


I think that the first set of percentages are for those who attempt suicide and the second for those who have considered suicide. I find it interesting that bisexual women have considered or tried suicide of all the groups? Yet, supposedly female bisexuality is more accepted than male bisexuality by society ..(ie maybe hetero men?)
I just noticed that the website is down but stating that it will be back up later Sunday.








34.8% bisexual men
25.8% gay men
45.4% bisexual women
29.5% lesbian


*******


65-75% bisexual men
61-63% gay men
79-83% bisexual women
74-80% lesbian women






Your point about bisexuals tending to hide their sexuality and discrimination may have some validity. Why then is she posting this? What does she know/believe that you and maybe I are unaware? Her site definitely has “position” but she does seem well researched and uses academic research on sexuality. On the site she refers to a book that is being released in May, 2013 (“Bi Notes for a Bisexual Revlolution” by the author Sheri Eisner). It references journal studies that I can only access the abstract on.

[cbb83]

Thanks, Tenni. That was a genuinely interesting link.

[The Young Pretender]

I want to go on record and say that I love everything about this thread.