Bisexual Phenomenology is an interdisciplinary field that studies the experiences of individuals who identify as bisexual. It has been proposed as a means of understanding how bi+ people navigate their identities within heteronormative societies where monosexism is the dominant ideology. Bisexual phenomenology challenges the assumption that bisexual people are "fence-sitting" between gay and straight identities, and instead argues for the recognition of diverse forms of nonmonosexual desire. This can complicate conventional moral understandings of desire, relationality, and responsibility because it calls into question assumptions about binary categories, normativity, and the nature of desire itself. In this essay, I will explore three ways in which bisexual phenomenology does so: through its challenge to the notion of identity, its rejection of binaries, and its focus on fluidity and multiplicity. First, bisexual phenomenology challenges the idea of identity as stable and fixed, pointing out that bisexual people often experience multiple attractions simultaneously and may shift over time. Second, it rejects the binary framework that divides the world into either/or categories such as gay or straight, suggesting instead that sexual orientation is more complex and nuanced than these labels imply. Third, bisexual phenomenology emphasizes fluidity and multiplicity, suggesting that desire and relationships are not static but constantly changing. Together, these insights have implications for our understanding of moral reasoning, particularly around questions of responsibility and accountability.
Desire
The first way bisexual phenomenology complicates conventional moral understandings is by challenging the notion of identity as fixed and stable. For many bisexual individuals, their sexual orientation is not a singular, unchanging aspect of their being, but rather something that shifts and evolves over time. Bisexuals may experience attraction towards people of different genders at different points in their lives, and this can make it difficult to define themselves within traditional categorical frameworks. Some bisexuals describe feeling attracted to both men and women from an early age, while others only develop bi+ feelings later in life after experiencing same-sex attractions or encounters. This suggests that bisexuality cannot be reduced to one simple label, but rather must be understood as a complex set of experiences that vary depending on context and circumstance. As queer theorist Judith Butler writes, "the very concept of 'identity' presupposes a certain stability in gender and sexual expression," which ignores the ways that identity can change over time (Butler, 2010). By disrupting this assumption, bisexual phenomenology opens up new possibilities for thinking about how we conceive of ourselves and our desires.
Relationality
The second way bisexual phenomenology complicates conventional moral understandings is through its rejection of binaries. The idea that there are only two distinct categories - gay or straight - fails to capture the complexity of human desire and relationships. Bisexual phenomenology argues instead that sexual orientation is a continuum, with individuals falling somewhere along a spectrum of attraction.
Some people may identify as bisexual even though they primarily experience same-sex or opposite-sex attraction, because they recognize that their desires cannot be neatly categorized into either/or choices. This challenges the idea that moral responsibility hinges on making a clear choice between good and bad actions, since it acknowledges that many decisions involve shades of gray.
Consider a situation where someone who identifies as bisexual is attracted to both men and women, but has only had relationships with people of the same gender so far. If they decide to pursue a relationship with a man or woman, should they feel more responsible than if they had never experienced any attractions towards members of the other sex? Or does their past make them equally responsible for choosing one over the other? Bisexual phenomenology suggests that these questions cannot be answered in binary terms, and calls us to think critically about the ways that our assumptions about identity affect our ethical reasoning.
Fluidity and Multiplicity
Bisexual phenomenology emphasizes fluidity and multiplicity, suggesting that desire and relationships are not static but constantly changing. Rather than viewing them as fixed entities, we must acknowledge that they can shift and evolve over time.
Bisexual people may find themselves feeling more attracted to one gender or another at different points in their lives, or may experience simultaneous desires for multiple partners. This complicates conventional understandings of monogamy, fidelity, and commitment, which often presuppose a stable set of values that remain constant throughout a person's life. Instead, we might view relationships as dynamic processes involving mutual negotiation and renegotiation, rather than permanent agreements based on fixed definitions of love and devotion.
Bisexual phenomenology challenges conventional moral understandings by calling into question assumptions about identity, binaries, and the nature of desire itself. By recognizing that sexual orientation is complex and nuanced, it disrupts the assumption that identities are fixed and unchanging, and instead encourages us to see ourselves as constantly evolving individuals who navigate multiple social worlds.
Its focus on fluidity and multiplicity complicates ideas about responsibility and accountability, suggesting that ethical choices are never simply black-and-white.
This field has important implications for how we think about human relationships and the ways we make decisions in our daily lives.
In what ways does bisexual phenomenology complicate conventional moral understandings of desire, relationality, and responsibility?
Bisexual individuals often experience complexities regarding their sexual identity and expression that may challenge traditional conceptions of desire, relationality, and responsibility. Conventional moral frameworks tend to privilege heteronormative assumptions about monogamy, fidelity, and exclusivity, which can create difficulties for those who identify as bisexual.