Bisexual Individuals
Bisexual individuals are people who experience attraction to both men and women. They may identify as "bisexual" or "pansexual", and their gender identity can be male, female, nonbinary, agender, or anything else. Bisexuals have been historically misrepresented as promiscuous, confused, immoral, indecisive, or lying about their true orientation.
Bisexuals are no more likely to engage in casual sex than heterosexuals or homosexuals. This stigma has led many bisexual individuals to internalize negative stereotypes and feel ashamed of themselves.
Invalidation and Invisibility
Bisexual individuals often face invalidation from family members, friends, coworkers, healthcare providers, and even romantic partners.
They may hear remarks such as "You'll never find anyone," "You're just confused," or "You'll eventually choose one side." These comments imply that bisexuality is not real and that bisexuals cannot form stable relationships. Invisibility occurs when bisexual individuals are ignored, excluded, or denied access to resources because of their sexuality.
Bisexual activists have faced obstacles accessing healthcare services and LGBTQ+ support groups.
Reconstructing Self-Worth
Repeated experiences of invalidation and invisibility can damage a bisexual individual's self-worth. They may start to doubt their own feelings and wonder if they really are bisexual. They may question why they should bother coming out or advocating for themselves when it will only lead to rejection. They may develop low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse problems.
Healing Process
To rebuild self-worth, bisexual individuals must first recognize the root cause of their pain: society's biases against bisexuality. They can seek support from fellow bisexual people, queer community organizations, mental health professionals, and faith leaders who affirm their identity. They can practice self-acceptance by writing down positive affirmations, creating artwork, attending pride events, and engaging in meaningful activities with other bisexuals. They can prioritize self-care through mindfulness exercises, meditation, exercise, journaling, and therapy. They can challenge negative internalized stereotypes by educating others on bisexuality and speaking up for themselves at work, school, and home.
Bisexual individuals deserve respect, recognition, and celebration. By addressing the stigma surrounding bisexuality, we can create safer spaces for all members of the LGBTQ+ community to thrive. Bisexual individuals can heal by seeking validation, practicing self-care, challenging stereotypes, and advocating for change.
How do bisexual individuals reconstruct self-worth after repeated experiences of invalidation and invisibility?
In general, bisexual individuals may experience repeated invalidation and invisibility due to the stigma attached to their sexual orientation. This can lead to feelings of low self-worth and identity crisis. To reconstruct self-worth, they may seek validation from trusted friends or family members, join support groups, engage in self-care activities such as meditation or therapy, and educate themselves about bisexuality and allyship.