Bisexual phenomena are those that involve attraction to more than one gender simultaneously. Bisexuals may experience physical, emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions towards individuals of multiple genders simultaneously. Bisexuality has existed throughout history and across cultures but is often misunderstood due to social stigma. Biphobia refers to discrimination against people who identify as bisexual.
Moral understandings
The moral understanding of desire involves ethics, principles, and values related to love, sex, and relationships. Desire is typically viewed as something positive, beneficial, and natural.
It can also be seen as harmful if it causes suffering or violates norms. Morality is based on morals, codes of conduct, standards, rules, laws, obligations, duties, rights, and responsibilities.
Conventional understandings
Conventional understandings assume heterosexuality as the standard for all things erotic. It views homo-, bi-, pan-, and polysexual individuals as deviant from normality or abnormalities requiring treatment. Such attitudes imply that such identities lack validity or credibility. They suggest that non-heteronormative desire leads to immorality, infidelity, promiscuity, and danger. This view implies that bisexual individuals face greater moral scrutiny since they challenge conventional notions of identity, desire, relationality, and responsibility.
Complications
Bisexual phenomenology complicates conventional moral understandings by challenging assumptions about monogamy, fidelity, and exclusivity. Bisexuals may have different sexual experiences with different genders at different times. Some bisexuals are fluid, meaning their desires change over time. This raises questions regarding commitment, loyalty, and trustworthiness. Bisexuality suggests an absence of moral absolutes, highlighting subjective perspectives and complexities. It introduces tensions between individual choice and social constraints, individual autonomy and group membership, personal desire and collective interests.
In what ways does bisexual phenomenology complicate conventional moral understandings of desire, relationality, and responsibility?
Bisexuality has been defined as "attraction to people of more than one gender," but this definition is not sufficient for fully understanding how it complicates conventional moral understandings of desire, relationality, and responsibility. The complexity of bisexual phenomena stems from its relationship with sexual orientation, which can be influenced by various factors such as culture, biology, and personal experiences.