Queer Ethics; or, The Challenge of Bisexuality to Lesbian Ethics

Abstract

Due to its problematic political and social position between two opposed sexual cultures, bisexuality has often been ignored by feminist and lesbian theorists both as a concept and a realm of experiences. The essay argues that bisexuality, precisely because it transgresses bipolar notions of fixed gendered and sexed identities, is usefully explored by lesbian and feminist theorists, enhancing our effort to devise an ethics of difference and to develop nonoppressive ways of responding to alterity.

Bisexualität als Überschuss sexueller Ordnung

“…: 12). Andere schreiben der bisexuellen Position das Potential zu, eine neue sexuelle Ethik begründen zu können (Daumer 1992), kritisches Wissen zu produzieren (Hemmings 2002: 196) oder eine neue Form der radikalen sexuellen Koalitionspolitik zu ermöglichen (Du Plessis 1996: 23). Kontrovers diskutiert wird in Arbeiten jüngeren Datums auch die Möglichkeit der Verknüpfung bisexueller und queerer Theoriebildung (Burrill 2003;Callis 2009).…”

Playing with Butler and Foucault: Bisexuality and Queer Theory

“…Also like queer theory, much of the work written on bisexuality has focused on the problems with identity theories, and the "othering" which has been a result of identity politics. Further, queer theory and bisexual scholarship have questioned the naturalization of heterosexuality, studying its construction as a vital part of sexual categorization (Daumer, 1992). However, queer theory has ignored, and continues to ignore, questions of bisexuality and bisexual identity.…”

“…Others believe that bisexuality is assumed to be some mix of homosexuality and heterosexuality and is therefore considered implicit in discussions of sexual duality (Angelides, 2006;Ault, 1996b). Relatedly, bisexuality can be understood as a part of the binary system, and thus not a force of deconstruction (Daumer, 1992). Finally, there is a feeling from some queer theorists that 'queer' has moved beyond bisexuality, as bisexuality is a term situated within a sexual/gendered binary by its very name.…”

“…221). Perhaps the most written-about theme has been the hostility that bisexuals face, particularly from self-identified lesbians (Armstrong, 1995;Christina, 1995;Daumer, 1992;Hartman, 2005). Pajor (2005) called bisexuals the "white trash of the gay world, a group whom it is socially acceptable not to accept" (p. 574).…”

“…Still other bisexuality scholars have utilized feminist theory, believing the feminist separation of gender from biology to be an important basis for framing bisexual identity (Bradford, 2004). Daumer (1992) believes that the contemplation of bisexuality forces feminist theory to devise "alternative, non-oppressive ways of responding to alterity" (p. 91).…”