Of course, the stereotypes and issues surrounding representing bisexuality are different from, say, those surrounding gay men.
Is this indeed the case? The volume and quality of representation we have seen of LGBTIQ+ individuals, characters and communities has undoubtedly improved, though it is still rare enough for each one to be notable. One contestant even says “we’re doing so much for our community” in the second episode.
Having both male and female suitors was sold as a groundbreaking moment of representation. Such casting necessitates a first for the franchise - casting both male and female contestants to vie for Blurton’s affections. In its latest iteration, The Bachelorette Australia (Network 10 2021) is attempting to offer something refreshingly different through the casting of Brooke Blurton, a First Nations bisexual woman. Reality TV staple The Bachelor, and its various franchises, has been described as a “primetime harem fantasy” even though it ultimately presents a fairly conservative portrait of romance.
