Bi+, heteronormativity, monosexism and intersectionality

The term bisexuality has historically been used to convey the experience of being attracted to people of more than one gender. For this post I will use the term bi+ so as to include the many ways bisexuality can be expressed in life. 

The sense of belonging is a basic psychological, social and physical need for all humans, yet this belonging is a point of tension and difficulty for bi+ people in the UK. People who identify as bi+ suffer more mental and physical health issues than monosexuals, i.e. heterosexual, lesbian and gay people (Barker 2012). In the past, the majority of bi+ research reflected a dichotomous view of sexuality which conflated bi+ experience with gay and lesbian experience. I believe that there is evidence of “a great deal of resistance to bisexuality” (Davies 1996, p.4) from queer and heterosexual communities, enacted through the structures of heteronormativity and monosexism. This proliferates neglect of bi+ realities, resulting in bi+ minority stress. 

Intersectionality can help us to think about our location in the cultural identity binary. Intersectionality can be misunderstood as being about how aspects of identity operate together, when it is really about how “interlocking systems of power impact us through patterns of privilege and oppression” (Barker & Lantaffi 2019, p.122). As such: “intersectional approaches to difference and diversity also give consciousness to the (hidden) power structures” (Turner 2021, p.21). It is important to acknowledge that the theory is born out of black feminism. Black women were marginalised in a largely white feminist movement and the theory helped to acknowledge this interlocking oppression. 

Next, I will briefly introduce heteronormativity and monosexsim. Heteronormativity is a cultural and social standard that imposes two binary genders, man and women, and only accepts romance, sexuality and lifestyles that honour the love and connection between these ideals of ‘normal’ polarity (Neves 2023, p.89). Heteronormativity draws its power from the concept of ‘compulsory heterosexuality’ (Rich 1980), which is seen as a foundational idea in queer theory. It describes western heterosexuality as a patriarchal institution that seeks to enforce obligatory hetrosexual relationships and lifestyles. Patriarchy is threatened by the challenge that bisexuality puts forward to the linked binaries of gender and sexuality. This explains some of the power within the idea that bisexuality does not exist. The hot gaze of patriarchal inheritance heats up shame in the belly, a heat to which individuals are especially vulnerable to in their youth. 

Monosexsim operates under the assumption that everyone should have one, fixed gender that they are attracted to (Eisner 2013). Therapists who practise unaware of holding monosexual and heteronormative values can reinforce their clients' experience of internalised bi-invisibility. By assuming that a client is struggling to accept a monosexual identity or that their identity is fixed, therapists can potentially misunderstand a client’s journey towards claiming a monosexual identity. The power of such ingrained beliefs about the nature of human connection, love and meaning when seen as cultural paradigms can become “so pervasive that they become normalised to the point of invisibility for anyone raised within that culture” (Walker 2021, p.7). 

References

Barker, MJ (2012). The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual inclusion in LGBT equality and diversity. 

The Open University

Davies, D (1996). Pink Therapy: A Guide for Counsellors and Therapists Working with 

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients. Open University Press

Barker, MJ & Lantaffi, A (2019).  Life Isn't Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-between. 

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Turner, D (2021). Intersections of Privilege and Otherness 

in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Mockingbird. Routledge

Neves, S (2023), Relationally Queer: A Pink Therapy Guide for Practitioners. Routledge

Rich, A (1980).  “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.” Signs, 

5(4):631-660

Eisner, S (2013). Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution. Basic Books

Walker, N (2021). “Toward a Neuroqueer Future: An 

Interview with Nick Walker.” Autism in Adulthood, 

3(1):5-10.