Attitudes Toward Bisexual Men and Women in a University Context: Relations with Race, Gender, Knowing a Bisexual Man or Woman and Sexual Orientation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate differences pertaining to race, gender, knowing a bisexual person, religiosity and sexual orientation in relation to attitudes toward bisexual women and men in South Africa. The Attitudes Regarding Bisexuality Scale was administered. The reliability of the scale was significantly lower than desired for the sample of 1,459 university students. In an attempt to understand the sample's views on bisexuality, a focus group was organized, resulting in a revised instrument. The revised scale, a sexual orientation scale and a biographical questionnaire were consequently completed by 578 university students. The results indicated differences in attitudes between men and women, knowing or not knowing a bisexual person, being deeply religious or not, and various sexual orientation groups.

KEYWORDS:

• bisexual men
• bisexual women
• biphobia
• homophobia
• heterosexism
• sexual orientation
• attitudes
• university community
• students