Cohort Effect on the Coming Out Experiences of Bisexual Men

• Published in: Sociology (Oxford) Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 1207 - 1223
• Main Authors: McCormack, Mark, Anderson, Eric, Adams, Adrian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2014; Sage Publications; Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: Age Groups; Bisexual males; Bisexuality; Coming out; Depth interviews; Female homosexuality; Friendship; Gender; Generation differences; Generational Differences; Homophobia; LGBT; Males; Masculinity; Men; Prejudice; Queer culture; Queer studies; Self Disclosure; Social change; Social organization; Sociology; Stereotypes; Studies; U.S.A; United States Of America; United States > US; bisexuality; masculinity; coming out; homophobia; biphobia; Masculinity; Lived experience; Homophobia; Bisexuality; Man; Age
• ISSN: 0038-0385; 1469-8684
• DOI: 10.1177/0038038513518851

This article examines bisexual men's experiences of coming out across three age cohorts, and documents generational differences in the reception from friends and family regarding this disclosure. Drawing on in-depth interviews with an ethnically diverse sample of 60 openly bisexual men from the United States, we find that the oldest cohort encountered the most stereotypical views and prejudiced behaviour, while those of the youngest cohort expressed predominantly positive coming out stories. We attribute the cohort differences in these experiences to a decrease in cultural homophobia, alongside changes in the social organisation of masculinities.