Bisexual Men: Cultural Scripts About Masculinity and Sexual Orientation
Many bisexual men are aware that they may experience difficulty fitting into traditional male gender roles due to their attraction to both women and men. Despite this awareness, many still face challenges when it comes to identifying as bisexual. One reason for this is that society often associates bisexuality with femininity, which can conflict with societal expectations of masculinity. As a result, some bisexual men may feel pressure to suppress their bisexuality or avoid expressing it publicly. Others may adopt heterosexual behaviors or identities in order to fit in with cultural norms. These actions can contribute to internalized homophobia and self-denial, leading to feelings of shame and isolation. To resist these pressures, some bisexual men choose to embrace their identity and challenge societal norms around sexuality and gender expression. They may engage in activism or advocacy work, create spaces for other bisexual individuals, or simply be open about their orientation in everyday interactions.
Even those who actively resist cultural scripts around masculinity and sexual orientation may struggle to fully accept themselves. This struggle is exacerbated by the lack of support from family, friends, and peers who may not understand or affirm their experiences.
Bisexual men must navigate a complex web of social and personal factors in order to find comfort and community within themselves.
Bisexual Men: Cultural Scripts About Masculinity
Cultural scripts around masculinity play an important role in shaping how bisexual men view themselves and their relationships.
They may feel pressure to conform to traditional ideas of manhood, such as being stoic and physically strong. They may also face negative stereotypes about bisexual men, including that they are promiscuous or unfaithful. Such messages can lead to feelings of anxiety and insecurity, making it difficult for them to explore their attractions freely. In addition, bisexual men may feel isolated due to the limited visibility of bisexual people in popular culture. As a result, they may have difficulty finding role models or mentors who reflect their own identities and experiences. All of these factors contribute to a sense of isolation and self-doubt among bisexual men.
Bisexual Men: Resisting Cultural Scripts
Despite these challenges, many bisexual men choose to resist societal expectations and embrace their identity. Some do so through activism or advocacy work, creating spaces where other bisexual individuals can connect and share their stories. Others simply be open about their orientation in everyday interactions, normalizing bisexuality and helping to dispel harmful stereotypes. Still others may engage in creative expression, such as writing poetry or music, to express their emotions and experiences. By doing so, bisexual men can create a more positive narrative around bisexuality and challenge the status quo.
Even those who actively resist cultural scripts around masculinity and sexual orientation still struggle to fully accept themselves. This is partly because society often views bisexuality as "less valid" than heterosexuality or homosexuality, leading to a lack of support from family, friends, and peers. In addition, biphobia and internalized homophobia can make it difficult for bisexual men to see themselves as worthy of love and affection.
Bisexual men must navigate a complex web of social and personal factors in order to find comfort and community within themselves.
In what ways do bisexual men internalize or resist cultural scripts about masculinity and sexual orientation?
According to research studies on sexual orientation, bisexual individuals often experience difficulties with both their heterosexual and homosexual communities due to perceived social expectations of gender roles and norms (e. g. , Lerner et al. , 2018). The same study also shows that many individuals who identify as bi are faced with the challenge of navigating between two distinct cultures of male-dominated heterosexuality and female-dominated lesbianism.