There is a lot of confusion looming around what bisexuality is, exactly; many people are unable to comprehend that sexual orientation is a spectrum, and some are hostile towards bisexual individuals because they don’t understand it. Bi means two, which means that bisexuals are attracted to two genders only, Cis men, or Cis women. However, bisexuality is much more than this, and the concept has evolved. There are a lot of myths and stereotypes that surround bisexuality, which are mostly false and harmful.
The Understanding of Gender Evolved,
and So Did Bisexuality
The gender revolution as described, is the understanding that gender is nothing but constructed ideas by the society of what constitutes a woman or a man. However, over the last decade or so, these ideas were challenged and changed completely for failing to include all people.
Pansexuality was a term created by people who fall in love with people regardless of their gender identity. On the other hand, contrary to popular belief that bisexuality is only attracted to two genders only, I believe bisexuals are attracted to all genders on the spectrum. It’s just when the term bisexual was first used, peoples’ understanding of gender was very basic and limited, gender was either black or white, man or woman. The progress we have witnessed in the past decade changed how people see themselves, and the term bisexual evolved with it.
Whatever the Type of Relationship You Are In,
It Doesn’t Make You Less Bisexual
Bisexuals in heterosexual relationships are often undermined as not being part of the queer community, or not being queer enough, because they are in a traditional-looking relationship, or they are told that they are just using people for sex. The same happens when someone is in a same-sex relationship, they are often called out and considered cowardly because they don’t want to accept themselves as fully homosexual. This is influenced by the belief that bisexuality is just a stepping stone to gay town. For instance, as a bisexual identifying person who has dated women more than men, I was often undermined when I showed interest in a man, and my attraction to men was always downplayed, which made me feel isolated.
Just Because Someone Is Bisexual,
They Aren’t More Likely to Cheat
This stereotype is an awful one that just adds to the loneliness and isolation; cheating has to do with ethics and has nothing to do with orientation. That means, if a person is ethically flawed they will cheat, whether they are bisexual, homosexual, or heterosexual. Bisexual people are more likely to get shunned by their own queer community just because of their identity; I was often called out for being bisexual and rejected because of my identity, which led me to suppress it for so long, because I was seeking acceptance. However, I decided to change peoples’ minds about bisexuality and chose visibility in order to remove any misunderstandings and stereotypes associated with this identity.
Bisexualsity is Confusing to Bisexuals Themselves
Bisexuality isn’t understood much, I had a hard time understanding myself and accepting the fact that I was attracted to people no matter what. At first, I considered my same-sex attraction as a phase that I will soon overcome, but when I came to accept my same-sex attractions I started suppressing my attraction to the opposite sex, and I made a great deal of effort trying to suppress myself. It’s only when I fully understood that I can be attracted to everyone, and I don’t have to be exclusively into one gender, is when I fully embraced my attraction to all genders.
Bisexuals Are Often Slut Shamed
Unfortunately, many people are slut-shamed and called names because of their bisexuality. They are considered hypersexual and promiscuous and only identify as bisexuals to have sex with different people; this adds to the social stigma and ostracism that many bisexuals go through. Bisexuals reportedly have worse health than their queer counterparts due to not receiving adequate health care, mainly because of their identity.
Bisexuals are legitimate despite what anyone could say to try to paint them as going through a phase. Although a lot of people refuse to categorize bisexuality as a valid sexual orientation, many people have come to accept that sexual orientation is a spectrum, which validates bisexuality as a sexual orientation.
