Straight people think bisexuals are "confused"
Many bisexual women have to put up with the age-old and nonsense stereotypes about their sexuality - from, "You're just indecisive" to, "You've got a boyfriend now, so you're not bi".
A new study from the Journal of Sex Research looking into heterosexual people's views of bisexuals has found that yes, the majority of straight folk still very much buy into these stereotypes.
Researcher Alon Zivony from Tel Aviv University and Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya’s Tamar Saguy asked participants to think about the "romantic potential" of straight, bi and lesbian women based on descriptions of them while on dates.
They found the straight participants were much more likely to view bisexual women as "confused, promiscuous, non-monogamous, neurotic, extraverted, and less agreeable" than straight or lesbian women.
Alon Zivony told PsyPost, "“On the one hand, society habitually ignores bisexuality. Whenever a person professes any bisexual tendencies, they are automatically categorised as ‘gay, straight, or lying’. On the other hand, bisexuality is associated with immaturity and inability to maintain a relationship. My hope is that shedding light on this prejudice can help reduce it and the heavy toll it takes on bisexual individuals."
He made it clear some of the participants weren't aware of the social stereotypes and attitudes towards bisexuality - stating that stereotypes about bisexuality aren't necessarily learned, and are often made by the person based on their assumptions about sexuality.
"Bisexual stereotypes seem to be deduced based on the idea that men and women are opposites: if one holds two opposing attractions, then it stand to reason that this person will be confused," he said. "However, it is becoming clearer and clearer that gender should not be viewed two dichotomous and opposing categories. Once we let go of the idea that gender is binary, it’s easier to see why bisexuality cannot determine a person’s personality."
Although the study has some limitations (it didn't look at how people's negative attitudes intersect with other stereotypes about race, for example), Zivony said his findings could be interpreted positively "to some degree".
"It means that educating the public about bisexuality can help reduce prejudice, and therefore improve the lives of bisexual individuals. As a society, we need to talk more about bisexuality."
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