The Historical Prevalence Of Bisexuality Essay - 1855 Words

The historical prevalence of bisexuality is hard to determine because same-sex sexual activity has traditionally been very stigmatized; furthermore bisexuality is often ignored in historical discussions of sexual orientation. Nonetheless, over the past few decades, the status quo with regard to same-sex sexual activity has changed drastically. The repeal of anti-gay laws and the 2003 supreme court decision Lawrence v. Texas which eliminated all remaining sodomy laws in the United States, the removal of homosexuality from its designation as a sexual disorder in the DSM, the existence of high-profile LGBTQ figures, and the push for, and legalization of gay marriage in the United States and other western countries have all been significant contributing factors toward the normalization of same-sex sexual activity. The general public has experienced increased exposure to the LGBTQ community, and as a result, acceptance of sexual minorities, including bisexual individuals, has grown. In spite of the progress toward acceptance of bisexual individuals, many people still view sexual orientation as dichotomous, which contributes to the erasure and/or invisibility of the bisexual community (Alarie Gaudet 2013). Some also perceive bisexuality as a â€Å"transitional identity† between heterosexuality and homosexuality, or believe that people who identify as bisexual are just too afraid to come out as homosexual (Israel and Mohr 2003; Alarie Gaudet 2013). Some studies haveShow MoreRelatedThe Concept Of Sexual Orientation1293 Words   |  6 Pagesdimensions of sexual orientation, self-identification with the LGBQ community tended to underrepresent those reporting same-sex or both-sex attraction and behavior, resulting in discordance across items assessing sexual orientation and variable prevalence rates. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed. Keywords: sexual orientation, adolescence, LGBQ â€Æ' Assessing and Measuring Sexual Orientation in LGBTQ Research Sexual Orientation The World Health Organization (2006) definesRead MoreFilipino Adolescents in Changing Times*10342 Words   |  42 Pageslocal sociocultural context. In accordance with this, independent and interdependent self-construals were equally likely to be endorsed reflecting the multicultural face of Filipino society and youth. Socioeconomic development and sociopolitical and historical events in the country have likely resulted in a society and self that acknowledges and asserts the need for both autonomy and relatedness. Self-complexity was found to increase as a function of the adolescents’ age bearing out social cognitiveRead MoreEssay on Sexuality and Sexual Identity2559 Words   |  11 Pagescontinually be reestablished based on the current philosophy of what is acceptable at the time. The process of change through which certain deviations become labeled as normal or abnormal remains difficult to discern, becoming clear only when historical or social conditions permit#8230; (Bayer, p. 189). As we shall see, people in positions of power, have the ability to influence what society permits and sometimes we construct negative perceptions in our crusade to influence the rest of societyRead MoreWhy Homosexuality Is Abnormal And Homes11892 Words   |  48 Pagesways in which the populous human herd will be trimmed are best left to speculation. I should also note that nothing I have said shows bisexuality or sheer polymorphous sexuality to be unnatural or self-punishing. One might cite the Greeks to show that only exclusive homosexuality conflicts with our evolved reinforcement mechanism. But in point of fact bisexuality seems to be a quite rare phenomenon - and animals, who receive no cultural conditioning, seem instinctively heterosexual in the vast majority