6 Binegativity: Attitudes Toward and Stereotypes About Bisexual Individuals

Dyar, Christina; Feinstein, Brian A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71535-3_6

Cited by 37 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Scholars have ascribed this pattern to the specific stigmatization and marginalization experienced by bisexuals (Brewster et al, 2013;Feinstein et al, 2019;Friedman et al, 2014;Katz-Wise, Mereish et al, 2017). Negative attitudes toward bisexuality have a long history in both mainstream society and the larger lesbian/gay community (Mulick & Wright, 2002;Weiss, 2003;Welzer-Lang & Tomolillo, 2008;Yost & Thomas, 2012), manifested in stereotypes of bisexuals as confused, questioning, experimental, promiscuous, irresponsible, and unfaithful (Brewster & Moradi, 2010;Dyar & Feinstein, 2018). As a result, bisexual individuals often experience marginalization from both heterosexual and lesbian/gay communities, restricting their access to social support and validation (Friedman et al, 2019).…”

Section: The Most Controversial Group: Mostly-heterosexualsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The New Genetic Evidence on Same-Gender Sexuality: Implications for Sexual Fluidity and Multiple Forms of Sexual Diversity

Diamond

2021

The Journal of Sex Research

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In September of 2019, the largest-ever (N = 477,522) genome-wide-association study of same-gender sexuality was published in Science. The primary finding was that multiple genes are significantly associated with ever engaging in same-gender sexual behavior, accounting for between 8-25% of variance in this outcome. Yet an additional finding of this study, which received less attention, has more potential to transform our current understanding of same-gender sexuality: Specifically, the genes associated with ever engaging in same-gender sexual behavior differed from the genes associated with one's relative proportion of same-gender to other-gender behavior. I review recent research on sexual orientation and sexual fluidity to illustrate how these findings speak to longstanding questions regarding distinctions among subtypes of same-gender sexuality (such as mostly-heterosexuality, bisexuality, and exclusive same-gender experience). I conclude by outlining directions for future research on the multiple causes and correlates of same-gender expression.

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Section: The Most Controversial Group: Mostly-heterosexualsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The New Genetic Evidence on Same-Gender Sexuality: Implications for Sexual Fluidity and Multiple Forms of Sexual Diversity

Diamond

2021

The Journal of Sex Research

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“…Whereas straight people often contribute to this erasure by suggesting bisexuality is a "phase", gay and lesbian people often contribute to this erasure by suggesting bisexuals are "closeted" gays holding onto "heterosexual privilege" (Erickson-Schroth and Mitchell, 2009: 301-302). Not only is bisexuality often "erased" in popular culture, but research suggests that people feel more negatively toward bisexuals than other sexuality groups (Dodge et al, 2016;Dyar and Feinstein, 2018). According to Dyar and Feinstein (2018), "Binegativity is comprised of stereotypes that bisexuality is an illegitimate and unstable sexual orientation, stereotypes that portray bisexual individuals as sexually irresponsible, and hostility toward bisexual people" (108).…”

Section: Prior Empirical Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Not only is bisexuality often "erased" in popular culture, but research suggests that people feel more negatively toward bisexuals than other sexuality groups (Dodge et al, 2016;Dyar and Feinstein, 2018). According to Dyar and Feinstein (2018), "Binegativity is comprised of stereotypes that bisexuality is an illegitimate and unstable sexual orientation, stereotypes that portray bisexual individuals as sexually irresponsible, and hostility toward bisexual people" (108). This negativity is expressed by straight and gay people, although research suggests that heterosexual men are more binegative than other groups (Dyar and Feinstein, 2018).…”

Section: Prior Empirical Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given that bisexual men in different-gender relationships typically appear straight, they have more to lose than other sexual minorities when it comes to being perceived as less masculine (Connell, 1987). Bisexual men, regardless of relationship status, may also be less inclined to come out or promote allyship because male bisexuality is generally perceived less positively than female bisexuality (Dodge et al, 2016;Dyar and Feinstein, 2018). Thus, men's tendency to be less engaged in social justice behavior, along with the impacts of hegemonic masculinity and binegativity, may explain why men were less likely to discuss allyship in their answers (Connell, 1987;Dyar and Feinstein, 2018;Perrin et al, 2013).…”

Section: Encouraging Allyshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Making visible the invisible: Bisexual parents ponder coming out to their kids

Berghaus

2020

Sexualities

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Unlike straight or gay parents whose sexuality is often made obvious to their children based on the gender composition of their relationships, bisexual and other non-monosexual parents are regularly and inaccurately assumed to be straight or gay. As a result, bisexuals in both same-gender and mixed-gender relationships must choose whether or not to come out to their children. This article uses data from an online survey of 767 US parents and explores reasons that bisexual parents offered when discussing their plans to come out or not come out to their children. Using a qualitative, thematic analysis of the open-ended question “Do you plan to tell your children about your sexual orientation? Why or why not?”, this article demonstrates that bisexuals planned to come out in order to educate their children on diversity, to encourage their children to be allies, to combat bisexual erasure, to promote honest communication, to convey solidarity to their LGBTQ+ children, and for necessary logistical reasons. Some parents did not plan to come out to their children, explaining that their sexuality was private, shameful, or confusing. Others said they would come out if asked, or if their children were also queer. These motivations relate to bisexual parents’ unique experiences with binegativity and erasure.

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“…[24][25][26] Negative stereotypes about bisexuality and ''double discrimination'' from both heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals may contribute to these disparities. 27,28 For instance, the stereotype that bisexuality is an unstable and illegitimate sexual orientation is a unique stressor that bisexual individuals face. More so than homosexual individuals, bisexual individuals may also be perceived as sexually irresponsible and unfaithful in relationships.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyber Behaviors Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth: Subgroup Differences and Associations with Health Indicators

Luk

Gilman

Sita

et al. 2019

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

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To examine the associations of adolescent sexual orientation with cyber behaviors and health indicators 5 years later during young adulthood and test whether cyber behaviors contribute to sexual orientation health disparities. Data were drawn from Waves 2 and 7 from the NEXT Generational Health Study, a nationally representative cohort of U.S. adolescents (n = 2012). Multiple linear regressions were used to examine differences between sexual orientation subgroups (defined based on sexual attraction) in five cyber behaviors and five health indicators. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether cyber behaviors mediated the associations between bisexual attraction and health indicators. Relative to heterosexual peers, bisexual youth spent more time engaging in cyber behaviors and social media, and reported more psychosomatic symptoms and poorer general health. Gay and questioning males spent less time playing video games than heterosexual males. Bisexual females reported more depressive symptoms and less optimism and happiness than heterosexual females. Time spent on cyber behaviors and social media was a significant mediator of adolescent bisexual attraction and worse health outcomes in young adulthood. Frequency of cyber behaviors differed between sexual minority subgroups. Bisexual youth in particular had more psychosomatic symptoms and poorer general health. Engagement in cyber behaviors and social media use contributed to increased health disparities among bisexual youth.

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6 Binegativity: Attitudes Toward and Stereotypes About Bisexual Individuals

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

The New Genetic Evidence on Same-Gender Sexuality: Implications for Sexual Fluidity and Multiple Forms of Sexual Diversity

The New Genetic Evidence on Same-Gender Sexuality: Implications for Sexual Fluidity and Multiple Forms of Sexual Diversity

Making visible the invisible: Bisexual parents ponder coming out to their kids

Cyber Behaviors Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth: Subgroup Differences and Associations with Health Indicators

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