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Book Review, as promised
Apr. 17th, 2007 09:21 amLook Both Ways: Bisexual Politics, Jennifer Baumgardner. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2007.
An excellent discussion of the complex interrelationships between orientation politics and feminism. The author examines the history and meanings of bisexuality, particularly female bisexuality, in American culture and in her own life. She point out the devaluing of bisexuality in lesbian, gay, and straight cultures. Many women who identify as lesbians have had sex with men, many women have sex with women without identifying as anything other than straight – the LUG (lesbian until graduation) phenomena. She is aware of the problem of so-called heterosexual privilege, and of the dilemma that some women don't want "straight" relationships, they want true equality, whether their partner is female or male. But if your partner is male, you are perceived as straight, if your partner is female, as lesbian. Bisexual identity is therefore often the least visible of the four of GLBT. She delves into the history of second wave feminism, from the 1960's on, and how covert bisexuality is a constant undertone. And finally, she records the progress made since then, of how the map of sexual politics has changed, expanded, and gone mainstream, at least to some values of mainstream. She is very emphatic that every person's experience is different, and that's a good thing. "Because there is no single queer or straight experience, we have no choice but to exploit our individual strengths and stories for the betterment of gay rights and feminism. Bisexual women have a particular role in this struggle." (p221)
I strongly recommend this book for all women, and all men interested in feminism.
(The Minneapolis Public Library has this book)
An excellent discussion of the complex interrelationships between orientation politics and feminism. The author examines the history and meanings of bisexuality, particularly female bisexuality, in American culture and in her own life. She point out the devaluing of bisexuality in lesbian, gay, and straight cultures. Many women who identify as lesbians have had sex with men, many women have sex with women without identifying as anything other than straight – the LUG (lesbian until graduation) phenomena. She is aware of the problem of so-called heterosexual privilege, and of the dilemma that some women don't want "straight" relationships, they want true equality, whether their partner is female or male. But if your partner is male, you are perceived as straight, if your partner is female, as lesbian. Bisexual identity is therefore often the least visible of the four of GLBT. She delves into the history of second wave feminism, from the 1960's on, and how covert bisexuality is a constant undertone. And finally, she records the progress made since then, of how the map of sexual politics has changed, expanded, and gone mainstream, at least to some values of mainstream. She is very emphatic that every person's experience is different, and that's a good thing. "Because there is no single queer or straight experience, we have no choice but to exploit our individual strengths and stories for the betterment of gay rights and feminism. Bisexual women have a particular role in this struggle." (p221)
I strongly recommend this book for all women, and all men interested in feminism.
(The Minneapolis Public Library has this book)
