Sincere But Suspect: Perceptions of Bisexual Women's Authentic Expression in the Dating Context

Bisexual women balance competing sets of gender norms and many adapt their behavior and dress according to the gender of the person they are dating, part of a practice known as bisexual display. The current research explores the consequences bisexual displays have on evaluations of bisexual women's authenticity in the dating context. In Study 1 (N = 137), participants evaluated a bisexual woman as less authentic, trustworthy, and likable when she was described as behaving and dressing differently on dates with men and women. In Study 2 (N = 378), we aimed to replicate Study 1 with more ecologically valid stimuli and extend the research to assess influences on romantic desirability. When dating profiles were presented to straight men, a bisexual woman was evaluated as less authentic when her profiles reflected a bisexual display, but not as less trustworthy, likable, or romantically desirable. The current research provides insight into how bisexual women, in an effort to combat traditional gender norms and authentically embrace their sexual identity, may be seen as less authentic in the dating context.