Bisexuality
In human sexuality, a bisexual or bi person (also pansexual or omnisexual) is capable of sexual attraction for, sexual activity with, and/or falling in love with people of either gender. Note that bisexuals often have a preference for one gender or the other.
Other sexual orientations include homosexuality and heterosexuality.
Terminology
Pansexual and omnisexual are neologisms that express essentially the same concept as "bisexual." The words can also, however, refer to someone who is attracted to "all" genders, rather than both genders, and are used mainly by those who wish to express their understanding and acceptance of transsexuals and intersexed people. Pansexuality sometimes includes an attraction for less mainstream sexual activities, such as BDSM.
Trysexual (sometimes "trisexual") is a neologism and a pun on bisexual. It is used as a humorous term for someone who will try any sexual experience at least once.
The opposite of bisexual is monosexual.
Prevalence of bisexuality
Some studies, notably Alfred Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953), have found that the majority of people appear to be at least somewhat bisexual. Most people have some attraction to either sex, although usually one sex is preferred. According to Kinsey, only about 5-10% of the population can be considered to be fully heterosexual or homosexual. An even smaller minority can be considered truly bisexual, that is, having no distinct preference for one gender or the other.
Because bisexuals sometimes do not feel like they fit into either the gay community or the heterosexual world, and because bisexuals have a tendency to become invisible in public (fitting in rather seamlessly into both homosexual and heterosexual society), some bisexual people are committed to forming their own communities and movement. In an effort to create both more visibility, and a symbol for the bisexual community to gather behind, Michael Page created the bisexual pride flag.
Biphobia is a neologism that describes either the view that people are either heterosexual or homosexual, or expresses disapproval of bisexuals. Bisexuals may also be the target of homophobia.
History of bisexuality
Bisexuality has a universal history. People in most known societies have exhibited varying degrees of bisexuality, and most of what is called homosexuality in previous cultures is in effect bisexuality (it should be noted, however, that the terms heterosexuality and bisexuality, and particularly homosexuality, may not be appropriate in the historical context. In most ancient societies, behaviour was considered homosexual while people were not. Similarly, heterosexuality and bisexuality are also relatively modern concepts).
For example, in Ancient Greece men often engaged in homosexual relationships, yet most also had wives. Ancient Rome, Arab countries up to and including the present, China and Japan, all exhibit patterns of bisexual behaviour. Perhaps the most famous and militaristic example is Alexander the Great who had many wives, but also a sexual relationship with his close friend Hephaestion, but the same could be said of almost all the Roman emperors, the shoguns of Japan, the Chinese emperor, and others in every country and every age.
Ancient Sparta also encouraged homosexual relationships among their troops so long as the men also had wives and produced children. The Spartans thought that physical relationships between older and younger soldiers would solidify combat loyalty and encourage heroic tactics as men vied to impress their lovers.
Bisexuality in Western Culture
Gay and lesbian people have sometimes perceived (and adopted) the bisexual label as a way of holding on to heterosexual privilege. This often leads to the misperception that anyone who identifies as bisexual is really gay or lesbian but afraid to admit it. This misperception is often evident in popular culture, in film, television and in music and in the popular saying in gay culture 'bi now gay later'. The television show "Friends" sported a short song about the topic that expresses a common (if misinformed) opinion on the subject:
- "Sometimes men love women,
- Sometimes men love men,
- Then there are bisexuals
- Though some people say they're kidding themselves"
The bisexual flag
The bisexual flag, which has a pink or red stripe at the top for homosexuality, a blue one on the bottom for heterosexuality and a purple one in the middle to represent bisexuality, as purple is from the combination of red and blue.
See also
External links
Referenced By
Alternative lifestyles | Gay-related topics | Human sexuality | List of alternative lifestyles | List of gay-related topics | List of lifestyles | Love triangle | Menage a trois | Menage à trois | Ménage à trois | Sexuality | Transvestic | Transvestitism | Troilism
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