Sexual Relationships
+1 y

Bisexual Stereotypes and Common Misconceptions

Bisexual Stereotypes and Common Misconceptions

Being an openly bisexual female has exposed me to some frustratingly common stereotypes and misconceptions about my sexuality. For years I never labeled myself as a certain sexual orientation because I didn't feel I needed it and people didn't take me seriously until I came out as bisexual. After that the next five things were common as "hello" to my ears. So my goal with this is to try and shut down some of the things I hear almost on a weekly basis and a lot more online.

1. Bisexual people are all greedy sluts

Just because we have "more" options does not mean we are automatically more promiscuous. Stop assuming that a sexual orientation has an effect over how promiscuous a person is because there's simply no reason to do so. There are plenty of promiscious people who would never dream of sleeping with someone of the same sex. By thinking this way you're limiting your options when it comes to your sexual partners which is what people seem to complain about in the first place.

2. Being with a bisexual person automatically means threesomes

Not all bisexual people want a MMF or FFM threesome. Don't assume we do, it can feel quite degrading. I cannot count the amount of times people have said things like "Oh sweet, that means we can have another girl in the bedroom". No it does not. Just because someone is bisexual does not automatically mean they are open to threesomes whenever regardless of relationship status. I'm sure some are, but so are some straight people, gay people and all kinds of people from all different sexual orientations. Don't assume it means three in the bed.

Bisexual Stereotypes and Common Misconceptions

3. Bisexual people aren't good with commitment or will never be happy in a monogomous relationship

Being bisexual doesn't make any difference when it comes to cheating. Straight people cheat all the damn time. It also doesn't mean that they will be unhappy without an variety of genitalia for them to use and abuse whenever. Just like any other relationship between two people whether it be a hetero or homosexual relationship cheating is a possibility, being bisexual has nothing to do with how much respect a person has for their partner. Speaking only from my experience, I have never and would never cheat and usually am pretty happy in a relationship and if I'm not it's never because of the lack of penises or vaginas at my disposal. I have been cheated on before by two straight guys and I don't assume all straight guys are cheaters. (Look up Dr. Diamonds study on this topic)

4. Bisexual women do it to get attention from men

There are the typical girls at a party that will have a few too many and start making out with their bestfriend giggling and laughing. I refer to these people as "beersexuals" and they definitely exist however I'm betting most of them are not bisexual and would be uninterested in having sex with a woman if the chance came around. However, bisexuality is more than just kissing your friend for a dare, it's a sexual orientation and needs to be viewed as such. Most bisexual people I know tend to keep their sex lives pretty private so there's really no use in just pretending to be bisexual to get the attention of men.

Bisexual Stereotypes and Common Misconceptions

5. Men cannot be bisexual

I know many people who believe that men who identify as bisexual are just closetted gays. Just because you're only attracted to one gender doesn't mean that others can't be attracted to both. It's so normal these days for females to experiement with other females, but still remains controversial when a male does the same. Girls who experiment with other girls is often looked at as being sexy without being branded as a lesbian, whereas males who do the same get the label of gay.

There are many more that I can think of, but these are the ones I experience most often and am tired of hearing. Stop stereotyping people and stop caring who people choose to bump uglies with and your life will be much easier. There could be much more added to this but I'm not a novelist so I will end it here. Thank you for reading through and please refrain from leaving nasty comments, they will be reported.

4 1

Most Helpful Girl

  • Glad you shared this take. I'm not really bisexual myself, but the stupid shit I hear about it from family and random internet people is just astounding. The more people contradicting those misconceptions, the better!

Most Helpful Guy

  • i am bi-sexual, and never really cared for what people thought of me. Or the judgments they frequently made

Scroll Down to Read Other Opinions

What's Your Opinion? Sign Up Now!

What Girls & Guys Said

19 27

  • As someone who is Demisexual this definitely applies. It surprises me how many people don't believe that we exist which baffles me. What sometimes angers me is people who don't believe me.

    I date people not sexes.

    • what is demisexual?

    • @Eric644 I best describe it as in order for a sexual attraction to exist there must be an existing deep emotional connection with said person. It is a mix between asexual and pansexual. A strong emotional connection is a prerequisite, if you will. Personally, I have only ever dated 3 people 2 of which were/are still my best friends the other turned out to be an ass. For me its has never been about gender, sexual attraction, or having sex, but my emotional connection with that person. I go after relationship for the emotional connection. But it is also way more difficult, as I am always all in emotionally, I leave myself more open to being hurt.

    • Actually it has nothing to do with pansexual. Pan means all. Pansexuals are attracted to all genders, including non-bianary ones like gender-queer. Demisexual is half way between sexual and asexual. A demisexual person can be straight, gay, bi, pan, poly or any other orientation.

  • Well said!

  • Now THIS was an interesting and informative myTake. Very cool. You're going to help and enlighten a lot of people with this. Brava.

  • An amazing take! as a bisexual women, I deal with these stereotypes all the time. I think they're the reason my best friend (who's also bi) has kept in the closet to everyone but our main group of friends. He's really shy, and I can totally understand why he would not admit it.
    It's so sad to hear, "oh it's just a phase" when you know it's not, because you have been attracted to both genders all you're life, an you're finally choosing to tell others. Luckily most o the people who know about me, are very supportive of me, or just very chill with it. They're like "okay cool, you like to bring home the boys, and the girls"
    I think the only stereotype on this list that doesn't bug me in particular (though I can understand why it would to other bisexual people) is the "Oh so you'll do threesomes right". my boyfriend (well ex) commented this in a joking manner once and I'm like "sure, why the heck not?". we laughed about it, and i don't mind the comment being made toward me, but I can understand why it is offensive.

    • I don't mind it but it always happens to me on like a first date or something and they just assume and it really shows someones character that threesomes are the only thing on their minds. Thanks for the feedback! x

    • Oh yeah, i totally understand where you're coming from there. I think i should have mentioned like i'm cool with i if it's my friends in a joking matter, or if it's a guy (or girl) i've been dating for a while) Like my ex said it when we were dating for over a year, so I was chill with it, and it was joking. Yeah i can see why it would be like "don't say this to me on the first date".

    • Yeah exactly! I never care if it's friend or whatever but on a first date really...

  • I am bisexual and very out and proud. I'm not going to let negative lies and stereotypes take away from pride of my identity or shame me from calling myself what I am. There's a price to be paid for anyone who takes a stand, but it's worth it to be true to yourself. You also have the ability to be a bridge that helps other people understand. The stereotypes don't apply to me. I am monogamous, not into threesomes, not trying to impress guys, and am not promiscuous.

    • I should add that these stereotypes don't apply to me. I am not greedy. I don't sleep around, the number of people I've slept with is very low. I don't sleep with people I don't develop feelings for. I have never had a threesome. I am a monogamist. I have never made out with a woman for a man's attention.

  • Great points, thanks for sharing-- serious kudos! :)

  • I am closet bi.

    • I hope one day you'll feel comfortable enough to be open about it :)

    • i won't come out to my mother. she won't really accept it that much.

  • I agree with all except a certain discrepancy. A bisexual person has more people to cheat with being attracted to both sexes than a straight person. So it MIGHT be more tempting for that individual. Who knows.

  • I think you may have read my mind when you wrote this... so, thanks!

  • I <3 this my take! I have also come across these stereotypes in my lifetime... Good job!

  • Not bisexual. However, certainly open minded enough to try Mmf and maybe experiment. Can appreciate some guys as impressive, but never had the desire to mess with a guy one on one. However, anytime I've said as much, and I'd expect now to be the same, I've had people say, "just admit it you're gay." So, I fully agree with that aspect. Oddly more women then men seem to say it, but not by a large majority.

    Great read. I think you can basically say, "people are generally ignorant" which supports these assumptions and a few million others made on other topics.

    • *than men* doh

    • Actually it is widely accepted among physiologist that woman can be sexually fluid, while it is quite rare for men to be so.

  • My ex fit a lot of these stereotypes. Surrendering one's self in body and mind to that deathstyle will always be wrong, no matter how many of these stereotypes someone manages to avoid.

    • You're entitled to your own opinion and that's okay. However like I said, because I was cheated on by two white males doesn't mean all white males are the same. Don't judge a whole group by a few individuals.

    • religious extremist much

    • If you feel that way why do do searches of "bisexual", then post here? Perhaps to re-enforce your denial?

    • Show All

  • This is an amazing take. Thank you. Many people do look at us bisexuals are greedy, slutty, confused individuals. However, we aren't.

  • Bisexuals wants both man and woman, and the only why they can get is by threesomes and/or cheating, so there are very good reasons for those beliefs, even if they are not true about all bisexuals, a man if far more likely to have an FFM threesome with an bisexual girlfriend, then he is with an heterosexual girlfriend. Threesomes is the main reason that some men would prefer to date an bisexual, while men that don't want an threesomes, is likely to prefer an heterosexual woman.

    • While it is obvious that a man wanting a FFM may seek a bisexual woman because he thinks it will increase his chances, everything else you said was bullshit. While not in a relationship I enjoy a little 3 way fun, I would love to find the right person to be in a committed relationship with.

  • Well, it's not a phase until it ends. Just sayin'.

  • I still wouldn't date or be in a relationship with someone who is bi.

    • And why not?

    • @BiQueen Their past sexual relations disturbs me.

    • That is not an answer, it's just giving more detail. Why does a bi person's sexual past bother you, but not a straight man or lesbians past (Since I don't know if you are straight or lesbian)

  • It's a shitty deal but it's going to be a long time before society's views change on the subject

  • Thank you for this! Eversince I came out as bi, I have stumbled upon these stereotypes myself and my brain hurts. It helps if people like you stand up to those jerks. Jerks who, ironically enough, are mostly lesbian women. I was baffled. I was expecting support mostly, not this, but it's not like I can expect the world to make sense anyway.

  • Out of curiosity, is it common for other types of LGBT people to discriminate against and/or hold lowly opinions about bisexual people? I've noticed a lot of my homosexual acquaintances making derogatory comments and/or jokes about them, which I found a bit odd considering that they're both a minority.

    • The most common one I get with other LGBT people is that bisexual people cannot make up their minds and often times lesbians don't want to date a bisexual because they're not sure if it's just a phase. Interesting to me that other people with similar sexualities still don't quite understand it. Awesome question by the way.

    • Bisexual has it's own hardships that is different from other LGBTQIA groups. There is a sizable portion of the real world and the LGBTQIA community that strongly believe that Bisexuality doesn't exist which baffles me. I am rather fortunate with my LGBTQIA community, but I still take people by surprise when I come out as Demisexual or that I "bat for all teams." Just because you haven't seen me with a guy doesn't mean that I haven't, not capable of, or am just going through swings. And the general public doesn't like it when I say I date people not sexes. I still get surprised at what people bring up sometimes.

    • @Oberon960 It is incredible what people believe about the community isn't it?

    • Show All

  • Great take!

  • Show More (26)
Home >  Sexual Relationships  > Bisexual Stereotypes and Common Misconceptions