Topic > Bisexuality Phobia and Its Consequences

Even with the increased awareness of the LGBTQ community, bisexuals are still seen as “confused,” “experimenting,” or even not real. Many even see their sexuality as a threat to their sexuality and identity. This, unfortunately, is a problem both within the community and outside. This unfortunately causes what is known as “double discrimination” for this set of already discriminated against minorities. As mentioned, bisexuals face the same discrimination from their own community: the LGTBQ community. One of the problems that occurs due to biphobia in the community is that bisexual people are forced into the label of “straight” or “gay,” and if they don't accept those labels they may be labeled as “deceiving the other side.” or “attention seeking.” This was especially forced when they were in a relationship with someone. If a bisexual man is with a man, he is gay. If he's with a woman, then he's straight. This almost erases their true sexuality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Many people do not accept bisexuality as real. It's a shame, but it's true. They also see him as a threat: he could “trick” them into becoming gay. A study conducted developed a grid to determine the attitudes people have towards bisexual men and women. The data was based on a rating of agree or disagree statements. The results showed that in all cases being bisexual as a woman was seen to be more acceptable than being bisexual as a man (Dodge), as bisexual women are often oversexualized and seen more as if they were going through a phase (Allen). It also showed that men were less accepting of bisexuality than women, as it was seen as a threat to their masculinity. Many of these men thought that bisexual men were trying to “make them gay,” or that bisexual women might not be as attracted to them as they were to other women. Often, bisexuals aren't even seen as valid. They must “choose a side”. A study of self-identified bisexual men showed that many men were described as “confused,” “unsure,” “undecided,” and “a gay man not ready to come out.” This is unfortunately a common reaction to these men coming out. Many of these men feel frustrated by these statements because they have been told that all women are “a little bisexual,” but that men are straight or gay and that's it. There can be no middle ground for a man. Cultural studies physician Dr. H. Sharif “Herukhuti” Williams has suggested that this prejudice toward bisexuality stems from the gay liberation movement. When the movement occurred, gays and lesbians appealed to the straight community by saying that they were just like them, but only they were attracted to the different sex. As liberation gained momentum, many straights, gays and lesbians began to believe that was the only difference. This, however, leads to bisexuals being left in the middle and being called “confused.” Dr. H. Sharif “Herukhuti” Williams believes that bisexual men are viewed as gay in the same way that the “one drop rule” applies to African Americans who are black. The “one drop rule” stipulated that if a person had a drop of African blood in their body, they would be considered black for legal purposes. Many bisexual men feel that this is the same way their sexuality is viewed; if they are attracted to men, then they are automatically gay (Allen). The stereotypical idea of ​​a bisexual man is often that of a “gay man in denial,” but the perceptionstereotype of a bisexual woman is that of a “heterosexual in disguise”. Another problem they face is that bisexuals are often seen as “sluttier” because they have “more dating options.” As mentioned at the beginning, bisexuals are often discriminated against in their community and consequently excluded. One study used a “biphobia scale” to show this more thoroughly. They used the scale to assess the negative connotations of bisexuality. This scale showed that biphobia was prevalent in both heterosexual and homosexual communities. In another study, 60 bisexual men and women were asked about their perceptions of their sexuality within the LGBTQ community and how this affected their participation in the community. Those who were active in the community said they often kept their sexuality hidden for fear of rejection, torment, or isolation. Other participants in the study said they did not feel active in the community for fear of not being welcomed (McLean). Another study looked at two groups of lesbians and gays. In one group, they asked participants what their attitudes were toward bisexuals. They reported that bisexuals were more unstable, irresponsible in their sexual endeavors, and had greater interpersonal hostility. The other group was asked what participants thought about bisexuals' attraction to others. They found that they thought they were more attracted to men than women, which may be why lesbians have more negative attitudes than bisexuals. One study showed that lesbians think of bisexuals more negatively than gay men, because they think bisexuality is about sleeping with men. There is a term, “androcentric desire hypothesis”: the hypothesis that bisexuals are seen as more attracted to men than women. Unfortunately, bisexual women have a much harder time than bisexual men in this regard, because many lesbians see them as liars, untrustworthy, and sleeping with the other party. Many researchers speculate that this is why bisexuality is seen less within the community. They think bisexuality isn't "gay enough." One could hypothesize that some of the biphobia within the community stems from a desire to be accepted by the heterosexual community and in doing so they will shun people in their own community to gain stature. . One study showed that bisexuals actually make up 52% ​​of the LGBTQ population, but are still seen as one of the minorities within the community. This may be because they don't feel able, empowered, or comfortable coming out. Or that the prevalence of “it's just a phase” or “you're just gay” culture means that many of them don't have the opportunity to explore or question their sexuality, making them think they're simply attracted to the gender.” opposite". Biphobia plays a role in one's relationships. As mentioned above, if a bisexual man is in a relationship with a man, he “must be” gay. However, if he is with a woman, then he “must be” straight or in denial. This pushes those labels even further into this group. Another problem in relationships is that bisexuals are often accused of cheating to a greater extent. Another problem is that they are even accused of being more attracted to the other gender than their partner. An example of this would be a bisexual man dating a woman and she tells him: "but you're actually gay", "I know you like boys more", etc... Finally, it is believed that they also convey..