Bisexuality

Bisexuality Definition

Bisexuality refers to a multifaceted concept encompassing various historical, biological, psychological, and social understandings of sexual attraction and identity. While often understood today as the attraction to more than one gender, the term has evolved through distinct conceptualisations, ranging from an early notion of primordial hermaphroditism to a contemporary framework that addresses the complex processes of sexual identity formation, social positioning, and lived experience within broader gender and sexual landscapes.

Historical and Biological Origins

The historical treatment of bisexuality is deeply intertwined with evolutionary theories and medical sexology. Early concepts viewed it as a primordial state preceding sexual differentiation. This lineage was influenced by 19th-century biological thought, notably the work of Aleksandr Kovalevsky in 1866 concerning hermaphroditic animals, which Darwin later incorporated into his theory of evolution to posit primordial hermaphroditism as an ancestral link. This view was often linked to Haeckel’s recapitulation theory, which suggested that human development mirrored the life history of species, contributing to racialised conceptualisations of sexuality.

Theoretical Development

Psychological and theoretical frameworks have shaped how bisexuality has been understood. Early evolutionary theories provided elements for shifting the understanding of homosexuality from a theory of role inversion to one based on object choice. Psychoanalysis, particularly Freudian theory, located essential bisexuality at the core of sexual orientation via the Oedipus complex; however, this framework struggled to accommodate desires that did not adhere to strict gendered object choices. Subsequent developments often found it difficult to account for bisexual object preferences. Critiques, such as those from Cixous, have challenged the linear narratives inherent in these theories.

Empirical Measurement and Social Shifts

The challenge to binary understandings of sexuality was significantly advanced by empirical research. Alfred Kinsey’s influential sex surveys revealed that the majority of people experience sexual activity with both men and women, suggesting a continuum rather than strict dichotomy. This led to attempts to quantify sexual orientation, such as the Kinsey scale and the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG), which sought to map variables like attraction, behaviour, and fantasy across a spectrum.

Identity, Politics, and Oppression

In sociology, the focus has shifted from defining ‘sexual orientation’ to exploring ‘sexual identity’. Research suggests that bisexual identity formation is an ongoing process of self-location and renegotiation rather than a linear outcome. This perspective posits that sexual identities function as ‘landmarks on a sexual landscape,’ shaped by historical context and social relations. The emergence of bisexual social movements has been crucial in consolidating this identity, leading to activism across feminist, lesbian, and gay spheres. However, this visibility has also exposed the concept of biphobia—prejudiced behaviour and discrimination based on stereotypes (e.g., shallow, promiscuous)—which intersects with sexism, racism, and classism. Contemporary scholarship continues to examine the epistemological challenges within bisexual theory and calls for an integrated focus to fully comprehend the complex web of meanings surrounding sexuality.