Bisexual individuals often face difficulties in professional settings that stem from their identity being misrepresented, underrepresented, or ignored entirely. This can take several forms, including but not limited to: being subjected to stereotypes about their sexual orientation; being discriminated against for their perceived promiscuity; being excluded from spaces where they are seen as "not fully gay enough" or "not fully straight enough"; being tokenized for the sake of diversity without being given real agency or power in decision-making processes; and having their bisexuality ignored altogether due to societal biases. In this article, I will discuss each of these forms of bisexual erasure in detail and offer suggestions for how individuals, companies, and organizations can work to combat them.
Visibility issues
One major issue faced by bisexual individuals is visibility - the fact that they may be assumed to be either straight or gay/lesbian depending on who is asking. Bisexuals have to constantly come out to people, and this can lead to frustration and fatigue when they are constantly asked questions like "are you sure you're really bisexual?" or "why do you need to label yourself?"
Bisexuals may feel isolated within LGBTQ+ communities if they don't fit the traditional mold of being exclusively attracted to one gender, and this can lead to a sense of erasure. Companies should make an effort to create safe spaces for bisexual employees to express themselves freely and without judgment.
Perceived promiscuity
Another challenge facing bisexual individuals is being treated as though they are inherently more sexually promiscuous than monosexuals (straight or gay/lesbian). This stereotype is often perpetuated by society at large, with TV shows and movies portraying bisexual women and men as being especially prone to cheating or engaging in casual encounters. The truth is that many bisexual individuals prefer monogamy just as much as their monosexual counterparts, but this perception can harm their professional prospects. Companies should strive to educate themselves about the diversity of sexual orientations and avoid making assumptions based on gender or identity alone.
Erasure in decision-making processes
Bisexual individuals may also face tokenism in professional settings - being included only because they are bi, rather than for any true contribution they bring to the table. This type of inclusion is often insincere and does not result in real power or agency for bisexuals. Companies should make an effort to include all voices equally in decision-making processes, regardless of sexual orientation or other demographic characteristics.
Ignoring bisexual identities altogether
Some companies and organizations simply ignore bisexuality entirely, either through ignorance or deliberately. This can be extremely frustrating for bisexuals who feel that their identities are constantly being minimized or erased. Companies should make a point of including bisexual individuals in their marketing campaigns, outreach efforts, and other initiatives designed to promote LGBTQ+ representation.
Bisexual individuals face unique challenges in professional settings due to societal biases and misconceptions about their sexual orientation.
There are steps that companies and organizations can take to combat these issues and create more welcoming environments for everyone. By creating safe spaces for expression, avoiding stereotypes, including all voices in decision-making processes, and actively promoting bisexual visibility, businesses can help ensure that bisexuals feel valued and respected at work.
In what ways do bisexual individuals experience visibility, erasure, or tokenization in professional settings?
Bisexual individuals may experience various forms of marginalization in professional settings, including invisibility, erasure, and tokenization. Invisibility refers to the tendency for bisexuals to be overlooked or ignored due to their sexual identity and perceived heterosexuality. This can lead to a lack of representation and underrepresentation in the workplace, which can have negative consequences on their career advancement.