{"id":29584,"date":"2015-10-12T16:53:32","date_gmt":"2015-10-12T23:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=29584"},"modified":"2016-03-24T11:03:06","modified_gmt":"2016-03-24T18:03:06","slug":"bisexuality","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/bisexuality\/","title":{"rendered":"Bisexuality"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheBisexuality\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>is a term\u00c2\u00a0used to describe a\u00c2\u00a0sexual orientation<\/a> in which people are emotionally and sexually attracted to individuals of more than one gender<\/a>. The “bi” (meaning both) in bisexual does not describe attraction to only two genders (male and female), as some may believe, but describes a state of attraction to both those of one’s own gender and those of another\u00c2\u00a0or multiple gender(s).<\/p>\n

Attraction toward individuals of any gender may sometimes be\u00c2\u00a0referred to\u00c2\u00a0as pansexuality<\/a>, but whether an individual chooses to identify as bisexual or pansexual is generally\u00c2\u00a0a matter of personal preference.<\/p>\n

Understanding Bisexuality<\/h2>\n

Sexual orientation can be described as\u00c2\u00a0the pattern of\u00c2\u00a0one’s romantic or sexual attraction to others\u00e2\u20ac\u201dof the same gender, more than one gender, or none at all.\u00c2\u00a0Some people who identify as bisexual may be attracted to those who are\u00c2\u00a0male or female,\u00c2\u00a0while others may be attracted to any person, no matter that person’s gender.<\/p>\n

The term pansexual\u00c2\u00a0is often used as\u00c2\u00a0by those who wish to describe their sexual orientation as being unhampered by limitations of gender. A person who identifies as bisexual may still experience attraction that is similarly unlimited, but some may experience limits\u00c2\u00a0to their attraction. In either case, a person may choose to identify as bisexual as a matter of preference, and some may use the terms bisexual and pansexual interchangeably.\u00c2\u00a0A person who is attracted to individuals of more than one gender or who engages in sexual behavior that may appear to indicate bisexuality will not necessarily identify as bisexual or pansexual and may instead prefer\u00c2\u00a0some other identifier or none at all.<\/p>\n

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Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAdvanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>Individuals who identify as bisexual are not necessarily attracted to men and women equally and will generally experience sexual attraction in a wide variety of ways. A woman who is bisexual, for example, may be predominantly attracted to women and pursue women as romantic partners but still\u00c2\u00a0experience attraction and sexual desire for men. A man who identifies as bisexual may experience attraction for individuals of all genders\u00c2\u00a0but\u00c2\u00a0choose to marry a woman and remain in that monogamous relationship<\/a> throughout his life.<\/p>\n

Some people who identify as bisexual may wish to pursue non-monogamous<\/a> relationships with a variety of individuals, but simply identifying as bisexual does not indicate that a person is non-monogamous. \u00c2\u00a0The complexities of romantic, sexual, and emotional attraction are difficult to define and no one example can sum up what it means to be bisexual.<\/span><\/p>\n

The above examples\u00c2\u00a0are only a few hypothetical descriptions\u00c2\u00a0of some possible experiences, and they are not meant to simplify bisexuality.\u00c2\u00a0The complexities of romantic, sexual, and emotional attraction are difficult to define, and no one example can sum up what it means to be bisexual. In general, the main distinction between bisexuality and other sexual orientations is that bisexual individuals have the potential for sexual attraction toward more than one gender, and though individuals who are bisexual may be attracted to all genders, some may experience limits to their attraction.<\/p>\n

How Common Is Bisexuality?<\/h2>\n

According to a study conducted by The Williams Institute in 2011, approximately 3.5% of the population of the United States identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender<\/a>. When those who engage in homosexual sexual\u00c2\u00a0behavior but do not identify as LGB are included in this number, the percentage increases\u00c2\u00a0to 8.2% of the population. Just over half of the study’s LGBT population (3.5%) described themselves as\u00c2\u00a0bisexual (1.8%), and women made up the majority of those who identified as bisexual.<\/p>\n

A Historical Look at Bisexuality<\/h2>\n

The existence of bisexuality has been documented since ancient times. Bisexuality is\u00c2\u00a0a recurring theme in Greek mythology, and\u00c2\u00a0historic records\u00c2\u00a0show that it was common for young men to have sexual relationships with older men. These relationships were believed to both prepare men for marriage and lead to improved performance in battle; thus, these relationships were often encouraged.<\/p>\n

In ancient Rome, sexuality<\/a> was not necessarily divided into heterosexuality and homosexuality. It was common for men to have sexual relationships with both men and women, but sex was often used to communicate power<\/a> and status, rather than love<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although it is evident that bisexuality is a natural aspect of human sexuality, much of history has seemingly whitewashed its existence, it\u00c2\u00a0was not until modern times that the term was defined and discussed. In 1892, neurologist Charles Gilbert Chaddock coined the term bisexual in his translation of Psychopathia Sexualis. <\/em>For nearly a century afterward, however,\u00c2\u00a0bisexuality was still seen as a mental health issue, and many laws prohibited bisexual relations. It was 1973 before\u00c2\u00a0bisexuality was declassified as a disorder in the mental health field. Prior to that, people identifying as bisexual\u00c2\u00a0were often \u00e2\u20ac\u0153treated\u00e2\u20ac\u009d with things like electroshock therapy<\/a>, medication, and even castration, in an attempt to convert them to heterosexuality.<\/p>\n

The shift truly began in 1948 when behavioral scientist Alfred Kinsey<\/a> presented his research along with the Kinsey\u00c2\u00a0Scale. Kinsey proposed that sexuality and sexual attraction were not housed neatly in two polarized, binary boxes. Instead, he found that sexual orientation fell along a spectrum or continuum, with 0 denoting complete heterosexuality and 6 indicating homosexuality. In his study, most people fell somewhere in the middle of the continuum.<\/p>\n

This discovery, which served to give\u00c2\u00a0those identifying as bisexual a\u00c2\u00a0new voice, was met with scandal, outrage, and fear. Over the next few decades, a growing community of LGBTQIA<\/a> activists began to work to achieve recognition, fair treatment, and equal rights. Today, federal legislation exists to protect the rights of these often-marginalized groups, and in general, the United States\u00c2\u00a0has come a long way from the early days of intolerance, maltreatment, and persecution of the LGBTQIA population. However, discrimination<\/a> and prejudice\u00c2\u00a0is still experienced by many who belong to this community, sometimes\u00c2\u00a0from within the community itself.<\/p>\n

Discrimination and Prejudice Against Bisexuality<\/h2>\n

Individuals identifying as bisexual have historically experienced a great deal of prejudice and discrimination. Although many issues affecting the\u00c2\u00a0bisexual community have seen some level of improvement, a good deal of discrimination still occurs\u00c2\u00a0today. Sexual behavior that aligns with bisexuality\u00c2\u00a0is fairly common, yet many individuals who are\u00c2\u00a0attracted to more than one gender do not describe their identity\u00c2\u00a0as bisexual, for a variety of reasons.<\/p>\n

There are several reasons why people may\u00c2\u00a0not\u00c2\u00a0come out as bisexual. One reason is likely stigma<\/a>: Those who identify as bisexual may be stigmatized by\u00c2\u00a0mainstream society, but they may also\u00c2\u00a0experience discrimination from\u00c2\u00a0within the community they identify with or belong to.<\/p>\n

Some\u00c2\u00a0prejudicial misconceptions about bisexuality:<\/p>\n