Views on bisexuality...need help for research paper please help!?

Question

I'm doing a research paper, and I'm interested in hearing some candid opinions regarding bisexuality. I initially tried to do this survery with some specific questions, but I think it would be better if I could get just some candid open ended responses. I'm interested in knowing peoples opinions on many different aspects of bisexuality. Do you think bisexuals behave differently from heterosexuals or homosexuals? Do you think people are born bisexual? Do you think bisexuality even exists?...and so on

If you are bisexual, what stereotypes do you think come along with being bisexual? Are any of these stereotypes at all valid? How do you think bisexuals are viewed/treated by the gay community?.. and so on.

These questions are just guides. Please feel free to discuss whatever you wish.

I'm interested in everyone's opinion, no matter what it may be.

Also, if you could indicate your sex and sexual preference, I would be appreciative. Thank you!

Answer 1

I think people are born bisexual, just as people are born gay or straight.

I think that not everyone is bisexual, but that a lot more people are than would care to admit it.

I don't think bisexuals behave differently from heterosexuals or homosexuals. I think action varies from person to person.

I am bisexual- there are many stereotypes that come along with being bisexual.

People think that virgins can't know if they are bisexual, but being bisexual isn't all about sex, it's about love, too, and one can tell who they are attracted to and who they get crushes on, fall in love with, etc. (After all, how often do you hear people ask straight virgins how do they know if they haven't been with someone of the same sex?)

Likewise, people think bisexuals have to test both sides, try relationships with both genders to know for sure. Not true.

People sometimes think bisexuals are more promiscuous or sexually free. Not true. Individuals might be, and if you are open about your sexuality and are a sexual person, being bisexual might give you more options, but plenty of bisexuals are not that kind of person. Bisexuals can be long-time virgins, as I've mentioned, and can be completely monogamous. Also, they don't have to "shop around."

Another myth is that bisexuals are never satisfied. That if they are in a relationship with someone of the same sex, they will seek out sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex, and vice versa. No. I'm in a committed relationship, and I don't feel the need to cheat on my partner to fulfill some need for a man. Of course I am still attracted to men, just as I am still attracted to women, but I am in a relationship, so I don't see how I would be any more likely to cheat than a gay or straight person would. I don't feel like I am missing some great sexual need.

Based off that one is the myth that while I am with a woman, I am a lesbian, and while I am with a man, I am straight. Not true. I am always a bisexual. I will always be attracted to both genders. That's just how it is. People are people.

Some people don't believe that bisexuals exist. Of course we do! Some people don't believe that true 50/50 bisexuals exist. I like guys and girls equally, and I know of many others who feel the same. There does not need to be a preference. (although it is common to have a preference, too)

Some people believe that bisexuals are confused, and that they will become gay or straight, or that they are trying to decide which gender they prefer. Not so. I have no control over what gender the person will be that I fall in love with. You love who you love, you don't decide on a gender and choose from there.

Some people think that bisexuals are just girls who want attention from guys. Oy. I would often rather guys never knew about my relationship with a girl, just to avoid the looks and the questions. I'm not doing this for attention, I'm doing it for love. There may be posers out there who do want attention, but it is unfair to say all bisexuals are like that.

Some people think guys can't be bisexual. Not true. There are plenty of bisexual guys out there. Some people say that more girls are bisexual than guys- this I am not sure about. It may be true, it may not. Girls may exist in a culture where it is more ok to show attraction to the same sex, and cultural expectations and ideas of masculinity may cause some guys to repress any interest in the same sex. But I'm not sure.

Some people think all bisexuals want threesomes. Most people I know of are just looking for loving monogamous relationships, like anyone else. Not for liaisons. (I know sexually free bisexuals exist, but they should not represent the entire group!)

Some people think that people become bisexual (or gay for that matter) because of abusive family situations, or some emotional trauma when they are younger. I had one of the best childhoods I know of, and I have a very happy family. My parents were never abusive, and they are still happily married. The idea that this -has to- come out of some trauma is all wrong. Also, I don't hate men. (of course not, I'm a bisexual!) And lesbians don't hate men either. (some might, but as a group, they don't.) Also, there does not aways need to be a "man and a woman" or a "top and a bottom" in same sex relationships. There does not always need to be a butch paired with a femme. The diversity of relationships is endless.

(sorry! didn't intend to go on so long! There are apparently quite a few stereotypes, I believe!)



I think bisexuals are generally embraced by the gay community (both are ostracized by some people) but sometimes bisexuals are forgotten about or separated from that group too. I think some people think that bisexuals are not as persecuted, or can choose to be with the gender that is culturally accepted. But that is a small number- I think most gay people are very accepting of bisexuals.

Also.... bisexuals are highly under represented in the media. Homosexuality is starting to be seen more commonly (yay!) but bisexuality hardly ever exists within the media, and generally in an exploitive, bisexuals-are-all-sluts kind of way when they do. Hopefully that will start to change.

I am female, and bisexual. Thanks! Sorry to carry on.

Answer 2

I am female and I'm bisexual. I'm not sure if people are born with their orientation or if it has something to do with your personality or what, but I do believe bisexuality exists. (Of course I do, haha.)

The biggest stereotype I've come across is that many people seem to think bisexual people just want to get some from everybody. I've been accidentally called a wh**e by people who didn't know I was bi. I don't think that's a valid stereotype at all. Just because I'm attracted to both sexes doesn't mean I just want sex from both sexes all the time. That's unfair to assume.

I've never been treated badly for my orientation by gays and lesbians, but some straight people have had a huge problem with it and argued that it doesn't exist. If it didn't exist, there wouldn't be any bisexuals.

Answer 3

If you are doing research the following two books might be useful:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Therapy-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transgender-Clients/dp/0335203310/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b?ie=UTF8&qid=1195171541&sr=1-3
However the bi aspect is only a minor part of the focus, as is common in lots of books on sexuality.

I think people are born with their sexuality, but the environment shapes the degree to which you can express it. Kinsey put sexuality on a continuum rather than in disceet caterogries, and this probably reflects reality. The problem with defining bisexuality as categorically different from hetero or homosexuality is that context plays a role in the expression of whatever sexual orientation we have e.g. a straight man can be 'prison gay' while in jail, but totally straight outside prison. It could be that 'bisexuality' is just behaviour rather than a specific orientation, just as 'happiness' is not a permanent emotional state. People who are predominantly straight or gay might - as in the prison gay example - be drawn to the other side every now and then.

There is no doubt that bisexuals are 'shot by both sides' i.e. experience discrimination by straights and gays. This is weird if you believe the views of Freud, who thought that basically we are all born bisexual, but that this is modified by our early upbringing.

Good luck with your research.

Answer 4

i think most everyone is bisexual to some extent; the need for sex is greater than the need for a given gender; which is why people will 'turn' gay in prison then their natural preferences will just come back when they get out and have access to opposite sex.

most of us are somewhere on the slider bar.

i think that many straight people think bisexuals will just have sex with anyone which is of course not true.

there is the idea that people switch back and forth from gay to straight as they change partners, which i also believe is a silly idea.

i think that the existence of bisexuals has been somewhat difficult for the gay community in the past trying to make the case that people are born totally gay with no choices.

no more time to answer now.

i am currently a straight female with a lot of background in sexual orientation issues.

Answer 5

no one is born gay or bi.
its not something you're born with.
it's something you choose to be.
something you feel.
there is such a thing as biphobic meaning people that hve hatred towards bi people and that believe the term doesn't exist.
i honestly don't like to lable my feelings but i do like the same sex.
and i believe that i dont fall in love with gender.
i think the stereotypes people put on bisexuals are that all of them are polyamourous meaning they like to be with both sexes at the same time when it's not all true. as i said, i dont really lable my feelings, but i am able to fall in love with the same sex. i believe i already have...im still in the process of forgetting about her...= , ( that's another story though...

Answer 6

there's no such thing as bisexual dudes- only gay dudes, and straight dudes that get talked into blowing crafty gay dudes

m, st

Answer 7

i found that many bi people are actually strait but just want to annoy their hardcore conservative or christian parents.