Community Bisexuality

1 community

1.1 general social impacts
1.2 perceptions , discrimination
1.3 symbols
1.4 within bdsm
1.5 within feminism

community

general social impacts

the bisexual community (also known bisexual/pansexual, bi/pan/fluid, or non-monosexual community) includes members of lgbt community identify bisexual, pansexual or fluid. because bisexual people not feel fit either gay or heterosexual world, , because have tendency invisible in public, bisexual persons committed forming own communities, culture, , political movements. identify bisexual may merge either homosexual or heterosexual society. other bisexual people see merging enforced rather voluntary; bisexual people can face exclusion both homosexual , heterosexual society on coming out. psychologist beth firestein states bisexuals tend internalize social tensions related choice of partners , feel pressured label homosexuals instead of occupying difficult middle ground attraction people of both sexes defy society s value on monogamy. these social tensions , pressure may affect bisexuals mental health, , specific therapy methods have been developed bisexuals address concern.

bisexual behaviors associated in popular culture men engage in same-sex activity while otherwise presenting heterosexual. majority of such men — said living on down-low — not self-identify bisexual. however, may cultural misperception closely related of other lgbt individuals hide actual orientation due societal pressures, phenomenon colloquially called being closeted .

in u.s., 2013 pew survey showed 28% of bisexuals said or of important people in life aware lgbt vs. 77% of gay men , 71% of lesbians. furthermore, when broken down gender, 12% of bisexual men said out vs. 33% of bisexual women.

perceptions , discrimination

like people of other lgbt sexualities, bisexuals face discrimination. in addition discrimination associated homophobia, bisexuals contend discrimination gay men, lesbians, , straight society around word bisexual , bisexual identity itself. belief bisexual (especially women opposed men), or bisexuality not exist unique identity, common. stems 2 views: in heterosexist view, people presumed sexually attracted opposite sex, , reasoned bisexual person heterosexual person sexually experimenting. in monosexist view, believed people cannot bisexual unless equally sexually attracted both sexes, regulating sexual orientation being sex or gender 1 prefers. in view, people either exclusively homosexual (gay/lesbian) or exclusively heterosexual (straight), closeted homosexual people wish appear heterosexual, or heterosexuals experimenting sexuality. assertions 1 cannot bisexual unless equally sexually attracted both sexes, however, disputed various researchers, have reported bisexuality fall on continuum, sexuality in general.

male bisexuality particularly presumed non-existent, sexual fluidity studies adding debate. in 2005, researchers gerulf rieger, meredith l. chivers, , j. michael bailey used penile plethysmography measure arousal of self-identified bisexual men pornography involving men , pornography involving women. participants recruited via advertisements in gay-oriented magazines , alternative paper. found self-identified bisexual men in sample had genital arousal patterns similar either homosexual or heterosexual men. authors concluded in terms of behavior , identity, bisexual men exist , male bisexuality had not been shown exist respect arousal or attraction. assertion of bailey men arousal orientation criticized fairness , accuracy in reporting (fair) simplification neglects account behavior , self-identification. further, researchers hold technique used in study measure genital arousal crude capture richness (erotic sensations, affection, admiration) constitutes sexual attraction. national gay , lesbian task force called study , new york times coverage of flawed , biphobic.

the american institute of bisexuality stated bailey s study misinterpreted , misreported both new york times , critics. in 2011, bailey , other researchers reported among men history of several romantic , sexual relationships members of both sexes, high levels of sexual arousal found in response both male , female sexual imagery. subjects recruited craigslist group men seeking intimacy both members of heterosexual couple. authors said change in recruitment strategy important difference, may not have been representative sample of bisexual-identified men. concluded bisexual-identified men bisexual arousal patterns indeed exist , not establish whether such pattern typical of bisexual-identified men in general.

bisexual erasure (or bisexual invisibility) tendency ignore, remove, falsify, or reexplain evidence of bisexuality in culture, history, academia, news media , other primary sources. in extreme form, bisexual erasure includes denying bisexuality exists. manifestation of biphobia, although not involve overt antagonism.

there increasing inclusion , visibility of bisexuals, particularly in lgbt community. american psychologist beth firestone writes since wrote first book on bisexuality, in 1996, bisexuality has gained visibility, although progress uneven , awareness of bisexuality still minimal or absent in many of more remote regions of our country , internationally.

symbols


the bisexual pride flag.

a common symbol of bisexual community bisexual pride flag, has deep pink stripe @ top homosexuality, blue 1 on bottom heterosexuality, , purple one, blended pink , blue, in middle represent bisexuality.

the overlapping triangles

another symbol same color scheme pair of overlapping pink , blue triangles, pink triangle being well-known symbol homosexual community, forming purple intersect.

the double moon

many homosexual , bisexual individuals have problem use of pink triangle symbol, symbol hitler s regime use tag , persecute homosexuals (similar yellow star of david constituted of 2 opposed, overlapping triangles). therefore, double moon symbol devised avoid use of triangles. double moon symbol common in germany , surrounding countries. symbol used bisexuality purple diamond, conceptually derived intersection of 2 triangles, pink , blue (respectively), placed overlapping.

within bdsm

in steve lenius original 2001 paper, explored acceptance of bisexuality in supposedly pansexual bdsm community. reasoning behind coming-out had become territory of gay , lesbian, bisexuals feeling push 1 or other (and being right half time either way). found in 2001, people in bdsm open discussion topic of bisexuality , pansexuality , controversies bring table, personal biases , issues stood in way of actively using such labels. decade later, lenius (2011) looked on study , considered if has changed. concluded standing of bisexuals in bdsm , kink community unchanged, , believed positive shifts in attitude moderated society s changing views towards different sexualities , orientations. lenius (2011) emphasize pansexual promoting bdsm community helped advance greater acceptance of alternative sexualities.

brandy lin simula (2012), on other hand, argues bdsm actively resists gender conforming , identified 3 different types of bdsm bisexuality: gender-switching, gender-based styles (taking on different gendered style depending on gender of partner when playing), , rejection of gender (resisting idea gender matters in play partners). simula (2012) explains practitioners of bdsm routinely challenge our concepts of sexuality pushing limits on pre-existing ideas of sexual orientation , gender norms. some, bdsm , kink provides platform in creating identities fluid, ever-changing.

within feminism

feminist positions on bisexuality range greatly, acceptance of bisexuality feminist issue rejection of bisexuality reactionary , anti-feminist backlash lesbian feminism. number of women @ 1 time involved in lesbian-feminist activism have since come out bisexual after realizing attractions men. studied example of lesbian-bisexual conflict within feminism northampton pride march during years between 1989 , 1993, many feminists involved debated on whether bisexuals should included , whether or not bisexuality compatible feminism.

common lesbian-feminist critiques leveled @ bisexuality bisexuality anti-feminist, bisexuality form of false consciousness, , bisexual women pursue relationships men deluded , desperate. tensions between bisexual feminists , lesbian feminists have eased since 1990s, bisexual women have become more accepted within feminist community, lesbian feminists such julie bindel still critical of bisexuality. bindel has described female bisexuality fashionable trend being promoted due sexual hedonism , broached question of whether bisexuality exists. has made tongue-in-cheek comparisons of bisexuals cat fanciers , devil worshippers. sheila jeffreys writes in lesbian heresy while many feminists comfortable working alongside gay men, uncomfortable interacting bisexual men. jeffreys states while gay men unlikely sexually harass women, bisexual men bothersome women heterosexual men.

donna haraway inspiration , genesis cyberfeminism 1985 essay cyborg manifesto: science, technology, , socialist-feminism in late twentieth century reprinted in simians, cyborgs , women: reinvention of nature (1991). haraway s essay states cyborg has no truck bisexuality, pre-oedipal symbiosis, unalienated labor, or other seductions organic wholeness through final appropriation of powers of parts higher unity. however, book feminist essays (2017) nancy quinn collins states in opinion of author wrong because bisexuality sexual orientation, harmless attraction people have, not try have or in order create organic wholeness through final appropriation of powers of parts higher unity. therefore, [the author] cyborgs can bisexual, , cyberfeminism can , should accepting of bisexuality.

a bisexual woman filed lawsuit against magazine common lives/lesbian lives, alleging discrimination against bisexuals when submission not published.