1st Edition
Bisexual and Pansexual Identities Exploring and Challenging Invisibility and Invalidation
This book explores the invisibility and invalidation of bisexuality from the past to the present and is unique in extending the discussion to focus on contemporary and emerging identities. Nikki Hayfield draws on research from psychology and the social sciences to offer a detailed and in-depth exploration of the invisibility and invalidation of bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality.
The book discusses how early sexologists’ understood gender and sexuality within a binary model and how this provided the underpinnings of bisexual invisibility. The existing research on biphobia and bisexual marginalisation is synthesised to explore how bisexuality has often been invisible or invalidated. Hayfield then evidences clear examples of the invisibility and invalidation of bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality within education, employment, mainstream mass media, and the wider culture. Throughout the book there is consideration of the impact that this invisibility and invalidation has on people’s sense of identity and on their health and wellbeing. It concludes with a discussion of how bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality have become somewhat more visible than in the past and the potential that visibility holds for recognition and representation.
This is fascinating reading for students and academics interested in in bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexual spectrum identities and for those who have a personal interest in bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality.
Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. A history of bisexual invisibility within sexology and psychology Chapter 3. Invisible or invalidated: The marginalisation of bisexual identities Chapter 4. In/visible visual identities Chapter 5. The erasure and exclusion of bisexual, pansexual, asexual, and plurisexual people within education, employment, and mainstream mass media Chapter 6. Becoming visible and reflecting on visibility
Biography
Nikki Hayfield is a social psychologist whose research interests are in bisexualities, pansexualities, asexualities, and sexualities more widely. She has published research on a range of topics including bisexual identities, marginalisation, and relationships.
‘Hayfield's Bisexual and Pansexual Identities: Exploring and Challenging Invisibility and Invalidation is a much needed text both in studying plurisexualities and sexualities more broadly. Hayfield's text has a brilliant clarity and breadth, giving much needed academic attention to bisexual identities, and also sexual identities not commonly studied including asexuality and pansexuality. Its particular strengths lie in characterising the complex and disparate debates to impress upon the reader the invisibility and marginalisation of plurisexual identities. These points are accentuated through Hayfield's compelling usage of contemporary illustrations of plurisexual invisibility across media and society. This is an excellent and accessible resource for anyone with an interest in sexuality, across all levels of expertise.’
Mx. Rosie Nelson, University of Bristol, U.K.‘Nikki Hayfield’s work on bi/pan/asexual invisibility is an essential resource on the documentation of the historical development and reinforcement of this invisibility and its modern manifestations and consequences. This text weaves together decades of research into a useful and impactful narrative that can support the future visibility of these communities.’
Corey Flanders, Dept of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, U.S.
