The Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) magazine has recently come under fire for a book review. The book in question is "Run" by Kody Keplinger, author of "The Duff". "Run" is a novel about Bo Dickinson, a girl with a less-than-stellar family background, and Agnes Atwood, a blind girl with overprotective parents. The girls become good friends. Bo gets into some trouble with the police and the two run away.
VOYA has given a review of the book that has some people up in arms. A direct link to the review is currently unavailable, but here is a screenshot that has been circulated.
This screenshot can be found on Angie Manfredi’s Twitter here.
The print is small, but I want to focus on a specific section of the review. The final line of the review reads, “The story contains many references to Bo being bisexual and an abundance of bad language, so it is recommended for mature junior and senior high readers.” At first glance and without much thought, this warning seems fair for the book. However, it has some connotations behind it that are definitely harmful to the bisexual community.
Bo’s bisexuality, according to the review, is equivalent in maturity to an “abundance of bad language.” The thing is, Bo doesn’t have a sexual encounter with another female. She has one with Colt, a male. The review suggests that Bo’s sexual identity is a mature topic and readers should take caution. Whereas the actual sexual encounter she has with Colt, a male character, is not mentioned in the maturity warning.
The problem with equating Bo’s sexuality to swearing and mature themes is that it suggests the concept of sexuality is a mature topic that only older teenagers should be reading about. Here is where we come to a double standard. Plenty of books written for teenagers include opposite-sex romances, but they’re not deemed to be for mature audiences. Although VOYA might not have intended their review to look this way, it seems that the magazine is saying Run is mature because Bo identifies as bisexual, despite her not having any same-sex sexual encounters. The review is telling people that any sexuality that isn’t heterosexuality is a mature topic. So the double standard is that books can contain straight romances without being considered mature, but once books bring in simple references to same-sex romances, they are deemed mature.
What does this double standard mean for the LGBT community? There is a stigma that bisexuality and homosexuality are inherently sexual, that if someone identifies as bisexual or gay, they are more sexually active. This applies especially to bisexuality. This stigma leads to more biphobia and homophobia. For example, there are many instances where a straight person begins dating a bisexual person, but begins fearing that the bisexual person’s attraction to both genders will lead to cheating and breakup. This fear stems from the unfounded claim that bisexual people are more sexually active.
The assumption that bisexuality is equal to more sexual activity is definitely harmful to bisexual people, especially those who are questioning their sexuality. These people may be afraid to identify as bisexual and/or talk about their sexuality because of backlash from those who do not understand that sexuality simply identifies the gender that a person is attracted to and not the person’s sexual encounters or likeliness to participate in them.
The double standard arises again when sexual encounters and heterosexuality are examined. No one assumes a boy’s sexual experience because he is attracted to girls, and no one assumes that a girl has more sexual encounters because she is attracted to boys. The reason is that heterosexuality is not considered inherently sexual. This is why it is not seen as creepy when an adult says that a three-year-old boy is going to be a “ladies’ man” because he is playing house with a girl his age.
VOYA’s review incorrectly assumes "Run"'s inclusion of a bisexual character makes the book mature, while a heterosexual sexual encounter does not. Other sexualities, in general, are not immediately mature topics just because they are not straight. Assuming so makes it more difficult and less safe for those who are questioning. Don’t be like VOYA – consider your own thoughts, viewpoints, and assumptions and how they can affect others who aren’t like you.
