The bisexual double standard -

[jason444]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 6:52am

Have you noticed the bisexual double standard lately? The bisexual double standard relates to the different way in which female sexual fluidity is treated by the media, the entertainment industry, and society as a whole.

These institutions treat female sexual fluidity in a much better way than they treat male sexual fluidity. A woman who says she's bi or finds women attractive often gets a lot of positive press in the mainstream media and is considered "cute" by society. In contrast, a man who says he's bi or finds men attractive is so rare, it's not funny. If a man does say he's bi or attracted to men, he is either subjected to the "you must be gay" nonsense or he is considered "not that hot".

My view is that the bisexual double standard is a clever way of disgusing patriarchy as progress. The patriarchal notion of the sexually fluid woman - open to advances by men - is disguised as an open-mindedness which is really not open-mindedness at all. It's a phony acceptance based on titillation. The confinement of men into the "gay" category is an extension of this phoniness. It's a phony acceptance based on segregation.

We really haven't come very far, I'm afraid, especially at the social level.

[romantico]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:17am

As a bisexual male I have heard this for years and agree. I do however think it is getting better. Although it seems like people know how to react if you are gay or lesbian but bisexuals seem to through people off. Not gay, not straight is much more difficult to label. I have lost friends over my sexual orientation both heterosexuals friends and gay friends.I just love how people know what I think and feel. Jerby did a youtube video regarding bisexuality that is a must see if you haven't seen it.

[jason444]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:23am

Yes, I think women have it much easier than men in terms of acceptance of their sexual fluidity. Personally, I think it's liberals who are practising the double standard.

[romantico]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:25am

Liberals? Since when does politics play into that? Oh, and I am just now looking at your join date. I think I see where this is going.

[jason444]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:33am

romantico,

I agree with a lot of what liberals say and do. However, I disagree with liberalism on how it has veered towards promoting the bisexual double standard. This is where liberalism fails. If you look at the defining institutions of liberalism, including the sexual revolution, you will see that liberalism is about making bisexuality socially acceptable for women but not for men. It's a crucial point because it dovetails with liberalism being a male-driven thing rather than a genuine open-mindedness.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 7:36am

"sexual fluidity"

Lol, I like that.

[scott68]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 8:15am

It reminds me of Astroglide for some reason.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 8:29am

Tazber. Not-Scott. Astroglide. Hmmm...

Sorry--what was the question?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:19am

PJ, you're keeping score here...

Is jason444 our first conservative, bisexual sock-puppet?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:27am

Don't forget gay and retarded.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:31am

The double standard is the same as the gay double standard, and it's due to the fact that two women together (as long as they're hot!) turns straight guys on and two guys together icks most of them out.

Oh, and what's this "lately" crap? It's always been like this.

What a weird agenda for a new sock.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:37am

Oh, please...we all know that bi is the last exit before Gay Town.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:39am

For men. For women, it's the last month before graudation.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:46am

I think the other element that has to be considered is the remaining taboo against coming out as gay.

The fact that some people announce their bisexuality before coming out as gay--either because they're still unsure, still exploring, or because bi seems less likely to be outright condemned--has lead many people, straight and gay, to view bisexuality as a "cop-out" rather than a genuine orientation.

Please note: I AM NOT SAYING THAT'S TRUE.

Hopefully, as being gay carries less of a stigma, so will being bi.

Plus, similar to what others have posted, much of society views male sexuality as a one-way-street. If I, as a gay man, were to have sex with a woman tonight, people would go "Wow, you had sex with a woman! Really?" Wherease if a straight man has sex with a gay man tonight, people would say "You're a closet homo."

[tazber]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:47am

Do any of the sock's agendas make sense?

I'm guessing that since this one wants to come off as an expert on bisexual double standards it's another of fenny's personalities.
It's pompous enough. I bet his linguist wife is gonna end up being bi now.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 9:49am

They often like to lay the groundwork for their personas as moderate, or even left-leaning, but somehow recently "disappointed."

Bickle's first post was on the main board, saying "You go girl" to Patti LuPone. So that, I assume, we'd take him to be gay or gay-friendly before he started his right-wing rants (not that you can't be both, I suppose, but come on . . . ).

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:01am

Sock puppets always trip up on the dialogue.

They try to sound like a new person with new topics to talk about, but sooner or later, they always end up sounding like the same-old azole.

Remember that cowboy sock puppet that ended up sounding like what's-his-name?

[romantico]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:06am

I think the term bisexual is abused. Some people who are not ready to come out hide behind it and there are some who call themself a bisexual because they feel it is some sort of temporary phases they are going through. I don't think its fair to lump all of us in the same boat together. I have been in relationships with both. Still, I feel more at home with the gay community and am a advocate for gay, or as I call them, equal rights. People ask me if I am more on the gay side or more on the straight side. I never know how to react or how to answer them. It comes down to people needing to label others. They need to know what group to lump you into. People need to know who you are sleeping with so they can fairly judge you and determine whether or not you will be accepted in their little world.

Updated On: 10/10/08 at 10:06 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:15am

I don't have a problem with labels. Labels prevent you from drinking poison.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:18am

I always look for the union label.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:22am

When it says Libby's, Libby's, Libby's on the label, label, label; you will like it, like it, like it on the table, table, table.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:24am

LIBBY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuKmE4zR1Sw&feature=PlayList&p=69DFD9F834502B13&index=4

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:24am

LOL, SOMMS.

I was just thinking, "when it says Liberal, Liberal, Liberal on the label, label, label..."

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:27am

doodle---I always wondered what Little Edie Beale looked like without the sweater wrapped around her head.

Wow!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 10:32am

I love that clip so much that I often just blurt out..."LIBBY! Come on over..."