A History of Bisexuality

by Steven Angelides

Why is bisexuality the object of such skepticism? Why do sexologists steer clear of it in their research? Why has bisexuality, in stark contrast to homosexuality, only recently emerged as a nascent political and cultural identity? Bisexuality has been rendered as mostly irrelevant to the history, theory, and politics of sexuality. With A History of Bisexuality , Steven Angelides explores the reasons why, and invites us to rethink our preconceptions about sexual identity. Retracing the evolution of sexology, and revisiting modern epistemological categories of sexuality in psychoanalysis, gay liberation, social constructionism, queer theory, biology, and human genetics, Angelides argues that bisexuality has historically functioned as the structural other to sexual identity itself, undermining assumptions about heterosexuality and homosexuality.

In a book that will become the center of debate about the nature of sexuality for years to come, A History of Bisexuality compels us to rethink contemporary discourses of sexual theory and politics.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, History, Queer, Sexuality, Bisexual, Theory

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2001

Reviews

[Satu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not fun to read. Thats about it

[Chris W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, an informative read for someone like me who is interested in bisexuality and its attendant culture. The information and speculations within the text are engaging. Having said that, there is a lot of unproductive academic jargon and sentences are often long winded. if you are prepared to sit next to a dictionary with it ready on hand, have the patience to decode and are commited to finishing it then it will be a good read.

[Tommy Estlund]

I didn't finish this; barely got into chapter one. Not my cup of tea. Very academic. Not, by my estimation, for someone who is just curious and wants to learn more (at a beginning level) about the history of bisexuality from a VERY academic and philosophical perspective.