Bisexuality: Function, Role & Diseases

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person can be sexually attracted to their own sex and to the opposite sex at the same time.

What is bisexuality?

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation that in its simplest form assumes two genders, namely the biological sexes. A bisexual person is sexually attracted to the opposite gender, but also to their own gender. In view of gender diversification, bisexuality can go even further and extend to other gender identities. Then, however, we are usually no longer talking about bisexuality, but the person defines his or her sexual orientation in a far more complex way. The word “bisexuality” contains the syllable “bi”, i.e. the number two – which refers to the idea of two genders. But even bisexuals who are interested in the opposite sex and their own sex define this interest differently. For example, some can certainly imagine establishing a love relationship with a person of the same sex that is just as equal as with a representative of the opposite sex. Other bisexuals, on the other hand, would only enter into a serious relationship with someone of the opposite sex, but sexual contact with their own sex is conceivable for them. Some bisexual people express that in their thoughts gender simply does not matter. They fall in love with a person regardless of which “category” in the attributed.

Function and task

Deviations from opposite-sex sexual orientation occur not only in humans. They can also be observed in some species in the animal kingdom. However, with bisexuality, as with any other deviation, the question of a possible biological or evolutionary benefit remains. Research on this has not progressed very far because phenomena such as bisexuality or even homosexuality have not been socially accepted for very long. Therefore, in earlier decades and centuries, they were researched more like a disease and causal research was done, but less attention was paid to their possible benefits for society. It is also conceivable that behind deviations from opposite-sex sexual orientation there is no explicit required development of evolution, but that it is one of many conceivable deviations that are not rare in nature (consider, for example, different hair colors without explicit benefit). Love has in general, i.e. between same-sex or opposite-sex partners but also in the friendly area, the function to build up and maintain social contacts. Because no human being can be alone in the long run without suffering psychologically or even physically from it. Love helps to establish contacts and to maintain them.

Diseases and ailments

Bisexuality belongs to those sexual orientations that have no disease value. Unlike, for example, necrophilia, a bisexual person is usually very well integrated into society and has no sexual problems due to bisexuality alone. In fact, bisexuality becomes problematic when it is not wanted or allowed to be lived out openly. This can be the case in strictly religious societies and becomes a problem when a bisexual person falls in love with a same-sex partner. Because then a pressure of suffering arises, which can trigger depression, for example, because the person does not feel free. A bisexual person can also put himself under this pressure if he does not admit his sexual orientation to himself and outwardly lives an unfulfilled heterosexual life. It is possible that this person feels that his sexual orientation is different from what he thought. If he suspects bisexuality, his own difficulties in accepting it can lead to psychological problems – but he can also be clueless about why he feels so different.