Bisexuality in the Lives of Men: Facts and Fictions - Softcover

Steinman, Erich W; Beemyn, Brett Genny

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1560231483 ISBN 13: 9781560231486

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

Explore the theoretical, political, psychological, and cultural issues surrounding male bisexuality!

Bisexuality in the Lives of Men is the first anthology to focus on men who love both men and women. The theoretical, scientific, and literary essays in this landmark volume dispel the fictions that bisexual men are greedy, promiscuous, confused, deceptive, unfaithful, HIV-positive--the dominant images of bisexual men in our culture. Whether portrayed as a coward who can't quite come out into full gayness or a smooth-talking serial killer, the bisexual man has been vilified in books and movies. In scholarly studies, they are often ignored or else lumped together with gay men.

It is now widely acknowledged that human sexuality is more complex and diverse than the narrow categories “gay” and “straight.” But, while the use of the term “bisexual” has become much more common in the last decade, an understanding of bisexuality itself lags far behind. A lack of research on how bisexuality is experienced, interpreted, and encoded in literature, film, and other aspects of popular culture means that stereotypes, stigma, and confusion are still prevalent.

Bisexuality in the Lives of Men is a multidisciplinary examination of this neglected topic, bringing together expertise reflecting divergent approaches and fields to show the whole bisexual man. Topics include:

• a thoughtful review and analysis of the public health research on the role of bisexual men in HIV transmission
• a study of the marital consequences of a husband's bisexuality, including couples who have stayed together
• an analysis of the heartfelt discussions taking place in an online bi-male community
• an empirical study of the ways that bi-negativity differs from homophobia
• an essay bringing together queer theory and social constructionist ideas to explain why bisexual men are much less visible than bisexual women

The rigorously analytical yet accessible essays in this volume offer new information and perspectives about male bisexuality. Bisexuality in the Lives of Men is an essential resource for anyone interested in the theoretical, political, and cultural issues of male bisexuality.

About this title

Review:

"Fills in a major gap, raising and answering important questions...and offering challenging insights." - Joshua Gamson, PhD

Synopsis:

A Multidisciplinary Examination of a Long-Neglected, Controversial Topic; The first ever anthology to explore the theoretical, political, psychological and cultural issues surrounding male bisexuality, all in easy-to-read language. Men who love both men and women fall victim to numerous types of stereotyping in both scholarly studies and popular culture. Often vilified or misunderstood by everyday society, lumped together with gay men in cultural studies, rejected by the straight community for being too gay or rejected by the gay community for being too straight, bisexuality is a long-overdue topic of discussion. A lack of research on how bisexuality is experienced, interpreted and encoded in literature, film and other aspects of popular culture means that stereotypes, stigma and confusion are still prevalent. This timely study brings together theoretical, scientific and literary expertise to dispel the fictions surrounding male bisexuality and reveal the whole bisexual man. Includes; Public health research concerning HIV transmission. The marital consequences of a husband's bisexuality. The empirical differences between bi-negativity and homophobia.

The lack of public visibility of bisexual men as compared to bisexual women.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1560231483
• ISBN 13: 9781560231486
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224