Gender Differences in Attitudes Toward Bisexual People and Bisexuality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Gender Studies
• Attitude Research

Background:

• Previous research indicates men hold more negative attitudes toward lesbian/gay individuals than women.
• Scholars hypothesize a similar gender disparity in attitudes toward bisexuality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first meta-analysis synthesizing gender differences in attitudes toward bisexual people and bisexuality.
• To quantitatively assess the prevalence and nuances of binegativity across genders.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized data from 61 studies (1999-2022) involving 32,010 participants.
• Analyzed 77 samples, including 10 unpublished papers, to provide a comprehensive overview.
• Examined gender differences in attitudes toward bisexuality, considering target gender and sexual orientation.

Main Results:

• Overall, men exhibited more binegative attitudes than women (g = 0.19).
• This effect was stronger for attitudes toward male bisexuality (g = 0.27) than female bisexuality (g = 0.10).
• Heterosexual men showed more binegativity than heterosexual women (g = 0.26), while gay men and lesbian women had similar attitudes (g = 0.04).

Conclusions:

• Men, particularly heterosexual men, display more negative attitudes toward bisexuality, especially concerning male bisexuality.
• Findings underscore the pervasiveness of binegativity and the need for targeted interventions.
• Interventions should focus on improving attitudes toward bisexuality, with a specific emphasis on addressing men's attitudes.