Erasing Bisexuality: Perceived Attraction Patterns in Bisexual Women and Men

First published: May 3, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2773

Commentary

This study analyzes bisexual individuals with regard to facing identity denial and erasure.

Qualitative analysis suggests that assumptions may be made that stereotype bisexual women as truly heterosexual and bisexual men as truly gay.

In three studies (total N = 787), we were investigating bisexual targets' perceptions of attraction patterns. Participants rated the attractiveness of female and male bisexual targets for both the same and opposite gender/gender.

In an internal meta-analysis, heterosexual, lesbian, and gay participants indicated that they felt bisexual men were more attracted to men than women. Also, no such pattern is seen among bisexual women.

The differences in perceptions between bisexual women and bisexual men were also reflected in the explicit measurement endorsement of bisexual erasure.