Variability in Sex Attitudes and Sexual Histories Across Age Groups of Bisexual Women and Men in the United States

ABSTRACT

Data from 1,380 self-identified bisexual women and men age 18 to 70 living in the United States document significant diversity across age and gender in attitudes regarding which behaviors constitute “sex” and behavioral histories. With the exceptions of deep kissing, penile-vaginal intercourse, and penile-anal intercourse, the 18 to 29 age groups of both genders were significantly less likely to count all other behaviors (manual and oral stimulation of breasts, genitals, and anus; and use of sex toys) as sex. Stronger age effects were found for men than women for manual and oral stimulation of genitals or anus, and sex toy use. Compared to older men and women, fewer 18- to 29-year-olds had experienced each behavior. Use of behaviorally nonspecific sexual history questions in research and clinical practice is problematic because (1) across age-group comparisons may be contaminated by differential interpretation of questions across age groups and (2) within age-group comparisons may be confounded by gender differences in interpretation.

KEYWORDS:

• bisexual
• definitions of sex
• sex attitudes
• older bisexuals

Note

Notes

1. In the original survey (dated 2007), we collected binary gender/sex information with this question. The questionnaire was posted online (as described in the text) with open participation, although we specifically recruited for sexual orientation diversity. We used the reported wording because the general population is not well-acquainted with concepts of sex and gender as non-binary, and because of debates about the overlaps and distinctions of the concepts of sex and gender, the term “assigned” sex or gender, the use of the term “cis” as a modifier of gender, and the emergence of newer self-identities such as “queer” and “non-gendered” (which may be seen by the public as offensive terms). We considered wording the parenthetical as “assigned male/female at birth” instead of “born male/female” and chose the wording we thought would be the least confusing to the majority of the people taking the survey. Further, we recognize that contemporary notions of sex and gender extend beyond such simple bifurcations, and have defined “sex” as the indication assigned at birth. We acknowledge that categorization does not necessarily represent the full spectrum of gender experience and identity, and this has been noted as a study limitation. As sex and gender categories continue to proliferate, additional approaches for assessing and including gender/sex variation are needed in survey research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Brandon J. Hill

Brandon J. Hill, PhD, is executive director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) at the University of Chicago and research fellow at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University.

Stephanie A. Sanders

Stephanie A. Sanders, PhD, is provost professor in the Department of Gender Studies and associate director of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University.

June M. Reinisch

June M. Reinisch, PhD, is director emeritus and senior research fellow at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University, president of R2 Science Communications, Inc., and vice president of scientific affairs and director of acquisitions and new exhibitions for the Museum of Sex (New York, NY).