Playing with Butler and Foucault: Bisexuality and Queer Theory

Abstract

Scholars writing on the topic of bisexual identity frequently lament the lack of bisexual representation in works of Sexuality (1978) and Butler's Gender Trouble (1990. By writing bisexuality into these works, I will demonstrate that the inclusion of bisexuality ultimately bolsters the arguments of both authors. This article first turns to Foucault, whose work is often considered the catalyst of queer theory, to show that bisexuality can be profitably analyzed through his framework of medicalization, speciation and reverse discourse. I then look at Butler's foundational work, illustrating that her arguments on the interrelatedness of sex/sexuality/gender and also on gender performativity are reinforced by the inclusion of bisexuality.

Moving out of the Shadows: Accomplishing Bisexual Motherhood

“…'Bisexual' held a sense of personal meaning and purpose for our participants as they narrated their life stories. Yet participants' self-understanding was often obscured as others in their lives focused in on performance as the key factor in defining sexuality; a reflection that seemed to mirror the theoretical bypassing of bisexuality by queer theory (see Callis, 2009). …”

Sexual Positioning Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Narrative Review

“…For example, queer theory suggests the meaning of masculinity and femininity may differ vis-à-vis the performance of bisexual behavior with men versus women by MSMW, reflecting a gendered influence on proximal power dynamics not observed among MSM who do not have sex with women. Similarly, ways in which proximal power dynamics are influenced by the adoption (or non-adoption) of bisexual identity by MSMW may also influence the meaning and desire for sexual positioning practices (Callis, 2009). Insight into these stereotypes, particularly with respect to the relational interactions between men is important to unpack as these may inform spoken or unspoken sexual scripts between sexual partners immediately prior to or during the sexual encounter; part of which may include facial cues that have been described within the respective section.…”

Bisexuality

“…And there was a connection to wider politics which is important -to politics about race, disability, and feminism. (Camel) Queer theory has largely overlooked bisexuality (Angelides, 2001;Callis, 2009). Authors such as Eve Sedgewick (1991) have not made bisexuality central to the deconstruction of the opposing categories of heterosexual and homosexual, and 'in spite of occupying an epistemic position within this very opposition, the category of bisexuality has been curiously marginalised and erased from the deconstructive field of queer theory (Angelides, 2001, p.7).…”