Summary Of Why Bisexuals Stay In The Closet
Select/Define a Topic
Topic: Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet?
Briefly, discuss the relevance or importance of the topic, and then summarizing the major issues presented in the popular article.
The article “Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet?” addresses the negative effects of staying in the closet. The article discusses why bisexuals are far less willing to come out and how this negatively affects them. According to the article, closeted bisexuals often avoided coming out because they don't want to deal with misconceptions of bisexuality among the straight and gay community. As a result, the article states that bisexuals are at greater risk of emotional woes than people who are gay, lesbian or straight. The article is quick to highlight …show more content…
the importance of building a community where misconceptions do not suppress someone from the liberating effect of coming out. Most importantly, it reinstates the error of assuming sexual orientation to be a strict divide between gay and straight.
Brainstorm
What do you already know about this topic?
Bisexuality is an attraction toward both males and females
Bisexuals do exist. Some individuals are attracted to more than one gender.
Bisexual people are not automatically more promiscuous than any other person.
2. List 2-3 things that you would like to learn about the topic from your research?
I would like to learn about “Bi-phobia, “the irrational fear of bisexuality. I would like to learn about the origin of this term and how it is viewed today.
I would like to learn about “Bi-invisibility,” the denial that bisexuals exist. I would like to research individuals who practice “Bi-invisibility.”
Which of the disciplines below is related to your topic? How?
Personally, I believe the discipline of sociology is more related to my topic. According to the article, bisexuals stay in the closet because they are afraid of the backlash from society. The sociological challenges faced on a daily basis by bisexuals is something that is closely examined by sociologists.
Medicine
I learned upon doing some research that a medical study on mice has been conducted. The results from the medical trial have drawn inferences on human sexuality. For example, according to the article “Does Less Serotonin in the Body lead to Increased Bisexuality,” researchers at Beijing's National Institute of Biological Sciences found that mice that had no serotonin mounted both male and female partners about 80% of the time. This medical trail is relating to my topic by helping conclude that sexual attraction to both genders is a possible.
Psychiatry
In addition to the clinical trial on mice, I found the study “Female Bisexuality From Adolescence to Adulthood: Results From a 10-Year Longitudinal Study.” The study found that bisexuality in women appears to be a distinctive sexual orientation and not a transitional stage. This study further supports my topic by concluding that bisexuality is not a phase.
Psychology
I found a study published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, which examined bisexual men "on the down-low." In other words, the study attempted to find out more on why bisexual men live predominantly heterosexual lives and do not disclose their same-sex behavior. This study is directly related to my topic because it examined why some bisexuals choose to stay in the closet.
Sociology
I found an article on how a sociological researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who conducted a study on the unique challenges bisexual individuals face when coming out compared to gay and lesbian people. This sociological study relates to my topic by providing some background information on one of the reasons bisexuals stay in the closet.
Biology and Ethology
I had some difficulty understanding how this discipline is related to my topic. Despite having some difficulties, I managed to find a study released in May 2006 by Swedish scientists that demonstrated that biology plays a key role in determining whether a person is gay, straight, or bisexual.
Evolutionary Biology
I attempted to find an online source for how this discipline is related to my topic, but I couldn’t find anything concrete.
Epidemiology
Once again, I am unsure of how this discipline is related to my topic. I may need some help in figuring out how this discipline may be related to my topic.
Neuroscience
According to an online source, research by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Sherbourne Health Centre is shedding light on the mental health of bisexual people. The research being conducted is related to my topic because it is examining the effects of staying in the closet.
Criminology
I honestly unsure of how criminology is related to my topic. I may need some help in figuring out this discipline may be related to my topic.
Education
I didn’t investigate properly how education is related to my topic. However, after reading the homepage of The American Institute of Bisexuality, I realized that there are programs and organizations that help educate the public on bisexuality. I would like to learn more about these educational programs because they play a role in preventing bisexuals from staying in the closet.
Are there any known resources that are available for your research paper?
News article that contains information on my topic: (MLA format)
Alpert, Emily. "Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2013. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Melnick, Meredith. "Scientific Study Finds That Bisexuality Really Exists | TIME.com." Time. Time, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Denizet-lewis, Benoit. "The Scientific Quest to Prove Bisexuality Exists." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Mar. 2014. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Storrs, Carina. "Bisexuality on the Rise, Says New U.S. Survey - CNN.com."CNN. Cable News Network, 7 Jan. 2016. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
5 Ws
-What is your topic addressing?
This topic addresses the issue of how hard it can be for people to come out as bisexual because society doesn’t accept people who are attracted to both sexes. Furthermore, the topic discusses how being bisexual can cause feelings of isolation for some men and women because they feel a lot of pressure to be either straight or gay.
-Who does this topic include?
This topic includes bisexuals who wish for their sexual orientation to be validated. This topic also includes those who still subscribe to the stereotype that bisexuals are just closeted homosexuals, or simply confused.
-Why is this topic important in human sexuality?
This topic essential to address because it is important to inform people that there’s nothing “wrong” about feeling or being bisexual. Additionally, the topic is important in human sexuality because it highlights the fact that human sexuality is not strict divide between gay and straight.
-When will this topic/issue occur in the human life span?
The time an individual comes out to friends and family varies. For bisexuals, it varies as well.
-Where in society is this issue relevant?
This topic is relevant in our society today.
Far too little bisexuals feel validated in their community. It is time to address the issue in order to prevent bisexuals from being isolated and uncomfortable with their sexuality.
-How does it affect or influence human sexuality?
If more individuals researched the topic, then fewer people would believe the misconceptions that bisexuals are confused, opportunistic and unable to make commitments. Additionally, the topic addresses the validity of bisexuality and how human sexuality is fluid, not rigid.
Important Points
What ideas do you think you would be able to cover in your research within the page limit? What ideas related to your topic is most important for you to address overall?
I wish to answer the question: why bisexuals stay in the closet? I intend to answer the question by researching the reasons behind why bisexuals prefer to stay in the closet. Additionally, I wish to learn of the reasons of why some individuals deny the existence of bisexuality. However, one of my primary goals is to research methods in which individuals have attempted to validate bisexuality. This is essential to cover in my research paper because I would like to learn about progression in human
sexuality.
Topic: Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet?
Briefly, discuss the relevance or importance of the topic, and then summarizing the major issues presented in the popular article.
The article “Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet?” addresses the negative effects of staying in the closet. The article discusses why bisexuals are far less willing to come out and how this negatively affects them. According to the article, closeted bisexuals often avoided coming out because they don't want to deal with misconceptions of bisexuality among the straight and gay community. As a result, the article states that bisexuals are at greater risk of emotional woes than people who are gay, lesbian or straight. The article is quick to highlight …show more content…
the importance of building a community where misconceptions do not suppress someone from the liberating effect of coming out. Most importantly, it reinstates the error of assuming sexual orientation to be a strict divide between gay and straight.
Brainstorm
What do you already know about this topic?
Bisexuality is an attraction toward both males and females
Bisexuals do exist. Some individuals are attracted to more than one gender.
Bisexual people are not automatically more promiscuous than any other person.
2. List 2-3 things that you would like to learn about the topic from your research?
I would like to learn about “Bi-phobia, “the irrational fear of bisexuality. I would like to learn about the origin of this term and how it is viewed today.
I would like to learn about “Bi-invisibility,” the denial that bisexuals exist. I would like to research individuals who practice “Bi-invisibility.”
Which of the disciplines below is related to your topic? How?
Personally, I believe the discipline of sociology is more related to my topic. According to the article, bisexuals stay in the closet because they are afraid of the backlash from society. The sociological challenges faced on a daily basis by bisexuals is something that is closely examined by sociologists.
Medicine
I learned upon doing some research that a medical study on mice has been conducted. The results from the medical trial have drawn inferences on human sexuality. For example, according to the article “Does Less Serotonin in the Body lead to Increased Bisexuality,” researchers at Beijing's National Institute of Biological Sciences found that mice that had no serotonin mounted both male and female partners about 80% of the time. This medical trail is relating to my topic by helping conclude that sexual attraction to both genders is a possible.
Psychiatry
In addition to the clinical trial on mice, I found the study “Female Bisexuality From Adolescence to Adulthood: Results From a 10-Year Longitudinal Study.” The study found that bisexuality in women appears to be a distinctive sexual orientation and not a transitional stage. This study further supports my topic by concluding that bisexuality is not a phase.
Psychology
I found a study published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, which examined bisexual men "on the down-low." In other words, the study attempted to find out more on why bisexual men live predominantly heterosexual lives and do not disclose their same-sex behavior. This study is directly related to my topic because it examined why some bisexuals choose to stay in the closet.
Sociology
I found an article on how a sociological researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who conducted a study on the unique challenges bisexual individuals face when coming out compared to gay and lesbian people. This sociological study relates to my topic by providing some background information on one of the reasons bisexuals stay in the closet.
Biology and Ethology
I had some difficulty understanding how this discipline is related to my topic. Despite having some difficulties, I managed to find a study released in May 2006 by Swedish scientists that demonstrated that biology plays a key role in determining whether a person is gay, straight, or bisexual.
Evolutionary Biology
I attempted to find an online source for how this discipline is related to my topic, but I couldn’t find anything concrete.
Epidemiology
Once again, I am unsure of how this discipline is related to my topic. I may need some help in figuring out how this discipline may be related to my topic.
Neuroscience
According to an online source, research by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Sherbourne Health Centre is shedding light on the mental health of bisexual people. The research being conducted is related to my topic because it is examining the effects of staying in the closet.
Criminology
I honestly unsure of how criminology is related to my topic. I may need some help in figuring out this discipline may be related to my topic.
Education
I didn’t investigate properly how education is related to my topic. However, after reading the homepage of The American Institute of Bisexuality, I realized that there are programs and organizations that help educate the public on bisexuality. I would like to learn more about these educational programs because they play a role in preventing bisexuals from staying in the closet.
Are there any known resources that are available for your research paper?
News article that contains information on my topic: (MLA format)
Alpert, Emily. "Why Bisexuals Stay in the Closet." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2013. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Melnick, Meredith. "Scientific Study Finds That Bisexuality Really Exists | TIME.com." Time. Time, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Denizet-lewis, Benoit. "The Scientific Quest to Prove Bisexuality Exists." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Mar. 2014. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Storrs, Carina. "Bisexuality on the Rise, Says New U.S. Survey - CNN.com."CNN. Cable News Network, 7 Jan. 2016. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
5 Ws
-What is your topic addressing?
This topic addresses the issue of how hard it can be for people to come out as bisexual because society doesn’t accept people who are attracted to both sexes. Furthermore, the topic discusses how being bisexual can cause feelings of isolation for some men and women because they feel a lot of pressure to be either straight or gay.
-Who does this topic include?
This topic includes bisexuals who wish for their sexual orientation to be validated. This topic also includes those who still subscribe to the stereotype that bisexuals are just closeted homosexuals, or simply confused.
-Why is this topic important in human sexuality?
This topic essential to address because it is important to inform people that there’s nothing “wrong” about feeling or being bisexual. Additionally, the topic is important in human sexuality because it highlights the fact that human sexuality is not strict divide between gay and straight.
-When will this topic/issue occur in the human life span?
The time an individual comes out to friends and family varies. For bisexuals, it varies as well.
-Where in society is this issue relevant?
This topic is relevant in our society today.
Far too little bisexuals feel validated in their community. It is time to address the issue in order to prevent bisexuals from being isolated and uncomfortable with their sexuality.
-How does it affect or influence human sexuality?
If more individuals researched the topic, then fewer people would believe the misconceptions that bisexuals are confused, opportunistic and unable to make commitments. Additionally, the topic addresses the validity of bisexuality and how human sexuality is fluid, not rigid.
Important Points
What ideas do you think you would be able to cover in your research within the page limit? What ideas related to your topic is most important for you to address overall?
I wish to answer the question: why bisexuals stay in the closet? I intend to answer the question by researching the reasons behind why bisexuals prefer to stay in the closet. Additionally, I wish to learn of the reasons of why some individuals deny the existence of bisexuality. However, one of my primary goals is to research methods in which individuals have attempted to validate bisexuality. This is essential to cover in my research paper because I would like to learn about progression in human
sexuality.