sjbshannon's review against another edition
2.0
This book is hard to rate to say the least. There's some essays I'd give a 0 (or less) and recommend avoiding (or at least reading very critically) because of the overt transphobia. There's some essays that are 5 stars and that are written by trans people. I went for two stars mostly because of the overt transphobia in some of the essays.
I'd recommend this book specifically for people looking for a time capsule of 1990s queer, specifically bisexual (and mostly cisgender and white, with some exceptions) politics and points of view. I'd recommend it to anyone trying to look into the history of bisexuality or queer politics and who's curious how stances have evolved.
What surprised me is how many of the arguments within these pages (identity politics and their validity; bisexuals' place in the larger community and the relationship to the lesbian, gay, and transgender communities; bisexuality as "trendy"; bi erasure; respectability politics) are still ongoing today.
I'd recommend this book specifically for people looking for a time capsule of 1990s queer, specifically bisexual (and mostly cisgender and white, with some exceptions) politics and points of view. I'd recommend it to anyone trying to look into the history of bisexuality or queer politics and who's curious how stances have evolved.
What surprised me is how many of the arguments within these pages (identity politics and their validity; bisexuals' place in the larger community and the relationship to the lesbian, gay, and transgender communities; bisexuality as "trendy"; bi erasure; respectability politics) are still ongoing today.
ophiliae's review against another edition
3.0
There were some really really really bad essays in here, but also some really really really great ones. I think this is a great text to just have around and I will definitely want to own it in full someday.
There is this one chapter that basically lays out how I experience bisexuality and it makes me feel so valid and seen and I love it
There is this one chapter that basically lays out how I experience bisexuality and it makes me feel so valid and seen and I love it
amourfou's review
informative
medium-paced
3.75
i didn't agree with all the essays in the book but i think they provide a good variety of points of view on the subject of bisexuality and its politics. i only skimmed through the last section of the anthology, the "directions" one, since i wasn't really interested. my favorite part was the first section dedicated to the history of bisexual activism through the decades; reading the words of bisexual activist who have been fighting for the movement since the early 70s was very emotional for me.
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