The issue of biphobia has been present for centuries throughout human history. In modern times, it is frequently expressed by means of moral condemnation in movies, TV shows, and social media. This essay explores how bisexual people are exposed to negative stereotypes and judgmental ideas about their identities that can have profound effects on their mental health and personal lives. We will discuss the main types of media exposure that create these detrimental impacts and explore ways to counteract them.
Types of Media Exposure
There are several kinds of media that convey anti-bisexual messages through storylines, dialogue, visual imagery, and music. These include:
1. Television Shows - TV shows often depict bisexuals as untrustworthy, promiscuous, greedy, selfish, immoral, irresponsible, perverted, confused, or mentally ill. They may be portrayed as "transitional" between heterosexuality and homosexuality, making false assumptions about sexual identity development.
2. Movies - Movies similarly reflect common tropes such as bisexuals being duplicitous, treacherous, indecisive, or sexually manipulative. They may also show bisexuals as having secret relationships with both a man and a woman, implying bisexuality is unstable or dishonest.
3. Social Media - Online platforms like Facebook and Instagram commonly feature memes and jokes that make fun of bisexual people's sexuality. Bisexuals might also encounter explicit comments or insulting remarks.
4. Print Publications - Magazines and books regularly display images of scantily clad bisexual individuals in suggestive poses to attract attention. These media outlets often portray bisexuals as desperate for attention and willing to do anything for it.
Consequences on the Mental Health of Bisexuals
The media exposures described above can have significant consequences on bisexual individuals' mental health. Biphobia leads to feelings of shame, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, loneliness, fear, isolation, anger, frustration, stress, insecurity, alienation, and stigmatization. It reinforces negative beliefs about bisexuality and bisexual people. The constant pressure to hide one's true orientation creates internalized biphobia, which manifests as self-hatred. As a result, bisexuals may experience symptoms similar to those of other minority groups struggling with identity conflicts. This phenomenon has been called "bi-erasure," referring to the eradication of bisexual experiences from public life.
Strategies to Combat Stereotypes
There are several strategies bisexual individuals can employ to combat stereotypes and challenge biphobic messages conveyed by media:
1. Education and Advocacy - Raising awareness about the issue through educational programs, seminars, campaigns, and social activism is an important step towards dismantling prejudices.
2. Self-Empowerment - Individuals can become more confident by celebrating their sexuality and learning more about themselves. They might join supportive communities or attend LGBTQ+ events.
3. Positive Representation - Supporting positive representations of bisexuality in movies, TV shows, books, magazines, and websites helps change public perceptions.
4. Challenging Inaccurate Information - Bisexuals should speak up when they encounter false information or stereotypical portrayals in media. They might contact producers, writers, editors, bloggers, influencers, and others who create negative content.
5. Building Community - Networking with peers and allies builds resilience against biphobia. It provides emotional support, empathy, understanding, validation, and encouragement.
In what ways do bisexual individuals experience and internalize moral judgment or stereotyping conveyed through media?
According to recent research on bisexual identity development (e. g. , Dempsey et al. , 2019), many bisexual individuals may feel that they are often perceived as greedy, promiscuous, indecisive, or confused by others because of their sexual orientation. These attitudes towards bisexuals can be further aggravated by the portrayal of bisexual characters in media.