Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
This study posits that although the South African government has shown an unprecedented commitment to acknowledging and upholding the human rights of bisexual men and women, negative attitudes exist towards bisexual men and women. A mixed method research study was conducted, consisting of three phases. In the first phase of the study (quantitative), a biographical questionnaire, the Attitudes Regarding Bisexuality Scale (ARBS-FM) (Mohr & Rochlen, 1999), and the Sexual orientation scale of Berkey, Perelman-Hall and Kurdek (1990) was utilised. A total of undergraduate 1 459 students were selected by convenience sampling. However, the reliability of the scales of the ARBS-FM in this student sample appeared to be significantly lower than desired. Therefore, the researcher organised an expert group (N = 11). This second section of the study served as expert advice from cultural interpreters that brought about adaptation of the measures (qualitative) and was complementary to the quantitative study. The researcher endeavoured to seek elaboration and clarification of the results from one method with the results of the other method. In the third phase of the study a revised ARBS (consisting of two scales measuring attitudes towards bisexual men and women separately), a biographical questionnaire, and the sexual orientation scale was administered. A total of 578 undergraduate students were selected by convenience sampling. The psychometric properties of the revised ARBS instruments were investigated by means of confirmatory factor analyses. Results indicated a two-factor structure (Tolerance and Stability) for both of the ARBS-F and ARBS-M. Tucker’s coefficients of congruence showed that attitudes towards bisexual men and women may be measured by an integrated scale. Differential item functioning (DIF) and differential test functioning (DTF) analyses suggested the removal of some items that favoured either the black or the white group. The revised ARBS-F and revised ARBS-M were used for testing the stated hypotheses. The results indicated that participants’ attitudes towards bisexual men and women vary on a range of factors such as gender, religiosity, contact, and the sexual orientation of the participants. Both heterosexual and homosexual students have more negative attitudes towards bisexual men and women than bisexual students. This double discrimination by heterosexuals and the gay and lesbian community is seldom recognised or acknowledged. Therefore, the current research findings elucidate that this oppression is real, and may have negative psychological effects on bisexual men and women. The results are discussed against the background of previous studies, and suggestions for future research are made.
Key words: bisexual men, bisexual women, biphobia, homophobia, heterosexism, sexual orientation, university community, survey, attitudes, students.