What is bisexuality?
Bisexuality refers to an individual's emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction towards people of both genders or more than one gender. It differs from heterosexuality (attraction towards persons of the opposite sex) and homosexuality (attraction towards persons of the same sex), but also from polysexuality (attraction towards multiple genders) and pansexuality (attraction towards all genders). Bisexuality can be expressed either passively or actively, depending on whether the person engages in sexual acts with both men and women or only with one gender.
Psychological costs of suppressing bisexual identity
Suppressing bisexual identity has several negative psychological effects that compromise social harmony because it prevents individuals from living authentic lives. First, it leads to self-denial and cognitive dissonance, causing stress, anxiety, depression, shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. Second, it impairs mental health, leading to high rates of suicide, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental illnesses. Third, it reduces intimacy within relationships, making them less satisfying, fulfilling, and long-lasting. Fourth, it limits opportunities for expression, connection, and creativity, reducing the capacity to make meaningful contributions to society. Fifth, it increases prejudice and discrimination against bisexuals and their allies, creating hostility, violence, and exclusion.
It contributes to a culture of silence and fear, preventing open communication and collaboration between people of different sexual orientations.
Consequences for social harmony
The psychological consequences of suppressing bisexual identity negatively affect not only the individual but also the community, compromising social harmony by undermining trust, respect, empathy, and solidarity. When bisexuals hide their true selves, they cannot build strong connections with others based on truth, vulnerability, honesty, mutual understanding, and shared values. This isolation creates mistrust, misunderstanding, and resentment, fostering divisions within communities. Bisexual suppression can also lead to homophobia and biphobia among heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals who feel threatened or jealous, increasing tensions and conflicts in families, workplaces, schools, and organizations. In short, suppressing bisexual identity has negative effects on both the individual and the collective levels, threatening the health and well-being of all members of a community.
Overcoming bisexual suppression
To overcome bisexual suppression, we need to recognize that bisexuality is a legitimate form of human diversity, acknowledge its existence, accept its validity, support its expression, and normalize it as part of our lives. We must stop stigmatizing, pathologizing, and stereotyping bisexuals as promiscuous, confused, greedy, and immoral, and instead create safe spaces where they can share their experiences, needs, hopes, fears, desires, and aspirations. We should provide resources and support for bisexuals to come out openly, explore their identities, express themselves creatively, find love and friendship, and pursue meaningful careers without discrimination.
We must promote awareness campaigns, educational programs, political initiatives, and legal protections to defend the rights of bisexuals, combat prejudice and violence against them, and celebrate their contributions to society.
What are the psychological costs of suppressing bisexual identity for social harmony?
Suppressing one's bisexual identity can have significant psychological and emotional consequences on an individual's mental health, self-esteem, and sense of belonging within their social groups. Societal pressures against nonconformity may lead to feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety, depression, and isolation that can negatively impact overall wellbeing.