The invisibility of bisexual and pansexual bodies: Sexuality, appearance norms, and visual identities

Hayfield, Nikki

Abstract

The invisibility and erasure of bisexuality and bisexual identities within the wider culture has been of central concern among activists and academics. The lack of cultural recognition of bisexuality has often been attributed to the persistence of binary understandings of sexuality. Individual in/visibility is also a meaningful area, but one that is little researched. Our identities are often associated with particular appearance norms, so the way we dress and appear provides the potential for the expression of our identities and the recognition of others “like us”. Bisexual people have sometimes “borrowed” appearance norms more commonly associated with lesbian and gay identities or been innovative in their dress and appearance. Fewer studies have included pansexual people, and to date there is no research with those who are biromantic and panromantic. The overall picture is that there are seemingly no known appearance norms for bisexual, biromantic, pansexual, or panromantic people. Therefore, those who identify with these identities may have limited opportunities for expressing their sexualities or being recognised by others. Nonetheless, as growing numbers of young people in particular take up bisexual, pansexual, and asexual spectrum identities, it remains important to consider the ways in which bodies are potential sites of in/validation and in/visibility.

Citation

Hayfield, N. (2020). The invisibility of bisexual and pansexual bodies: Sexuality, appearance norms, and visual identities. In Bisexuality in Europe: Sexual Citizenship, Romantic Relationships, and Bi+ Identities. London: Taylor & Francis (Routledge). https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367809881

• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 2, 2020
• Deposit Date: Mar 30, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 31, 2021
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Edition: 1st
• Book Title: Bisexuality in Europe: Sexual Citizenship, Romantic Relationships, and Bi+ Identities
• Chapter Number: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367809881
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7241001