Decentering Gender: Bisexual Identity as an Expression of a Non-Dichotomous Worldview

Abstract

The study of bisexual identity has undergone a number of theoretical shifts in the past several decades, moving from the dismissal of bisexuality as a transitional period to the treatment of bisexuality as a legitimate sexual identity based on gendered desire (or attraction to men and women). A third tradition understands bisexuality as an identity that contests the dichotomous sex/gender structure. Working within this third tradition, we present the results of two studies that conceptualize a bisexual identity as the expression of a non-dichotomous worldview. The concept of world-view is imported from the field of ethnic studies and examined in relation to bisexual identity. We present nine themes that emerged from our qualitative data analysis and consider the relations between these themes and worldview. We conclude with potential directions for future research in the arena of worldview and sexual identity.