A person's sexual identity is determined by their attraction towards gender(s), while one's sexual orientation defines how they express that attraction. Bisexuals are attracted to both men and women but can have varying degrees of attraction toward either gender.
Society has always assumed monogamy and heterosexuality as normative standards for sexuality. This has resulted in bisexuals facing discrimination and rejection from both straight and gay communities. The lack of representation and visibility has led to misconceptions about bisexuality being more unstable and promiscuous than other orientations. Consequently, bisexuals struggle with societal expectations around fidelity, romantic commitment, and sexual preference.
Bisexuals experience difficulties navigating polyamory due to societal perceptions of exclusivity. Polyamorous relationships involve multiple partners who consent to share each other without jealousy or possessiveness. In such relationships, one partner could date another couple or an individual outside the relationship. While this arrangement seems ideal, societal norms make it challenging for bisexuals to engage in nonmonogamous relationships openly. Bisexual people may feel stigmatized when they explore same-sex relationships or face homophobia within heteronormative settings.
Some individuals struggle to reconcile polyamory with religious beliefs like monogamy, which further complicates things.
Society expects monogamy between two genders, which can be a challenge for bisexuals. Some bi individuals prefer to date opposite sexes because of social acceptance while others want to embrace their bisexuality. Bisexuals find it difficult to navigate this expectation since some view them as confused and indecisive regarding their sexual identity. They fear that their partners might cheat on them or view them as immoral if they are openly bisexual. This can lead to disharmony and conflict in their relationships.
Bisexuals have a higher probability of experiencing domestic violence compared to straight and gay couples. They often face discrimination and marginalization, resulting in emotional abuse from their partners. The victim might endure verbal harassment and threats of leaving if they do not act according to society's expectations. Bisexuals also experience pressure from family members to hide their orientation and live up to social standards.
Fidelity is critical in maintaining healthy relationships; however, bisexuals have complexities navigating it due to societal misconceptions about their behavior. It becomes challenging for them to have successful long-term committed relationships since they need to work out how much freedom they want to give themselves within the relationship. Many bisexuals may feel trapped in monogamous relationships since they cannot fully express their attraction towards same-sex partners without facing repercussions from society.
How do bisexual individuals interpret and navigate societal expectations around fidelity, sexual preference, and romantic commitment?
While monosexism and heteronormativity permeate various cultures around the world, the bisexual community faces unique challenges regarding societal expectations concerning fidelity, sexual preference, and romantic commitment. Many people still view bisexuality as an unstable identity or a phase that leads to homosexuality, which can create internalized shame and self-doubt for some bisexuals (Brown & Harris, 2017).