reading Getting Bi

[slipnslide]

I've started reading "Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World" and I'm a little underwhelmed so far. I'm finding it very female-bisexuality-centric. I was hoping for more from the guys. Anyone else read this? Will it include more from dudes? Not that I'm going to stop reading it, it's still been enlightening.

[IanBorthwick]

It doesn't really. It's VERY female centric and not at all geared to men. It mentions, or refers, but not much I can recall from it that is centered on men by comparison to women.

[BfloBiFun]

I do not have the book, but in general society gets off on Bi girls together, but Bi guys together is a turn off, I can't say much having not read it. But imho maybe it helped sales . . .

[John Selig]

I have found the comments on this excellent book to be perplexing. I think "Getting Bi" gives an amazing glimpse into what it means to be bisexual. The profiles written by contributors are as diverse as anything I have seen written on what it is like being LGBT.

Robyn Ochs & Sarah E. Rowley went out of their way in "Getting Bi" (second edition which is new and improved and published in 2009) to ensure a large representation of bisexuals from around the world of various religions, nationalities, occupations, ages. As to it being "very female centric" approximately 40% of the contributions were from men. Heck so much that is researched and written about the LGBT community slants heavily male. Personally I think it is refreshing to have females adequately represented.

There is no better authority on bisexuality than Robyn Ochs. I had her as a guest on two episodes of my John Selig Outspoken Podcast.

Feel free to download episodes 67 & 68 via iTunes. Here are links to both episodes that can let you download or stream the podcasts.

Part 1 -

http://johnselig.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/episode-67-robyn-ochs-bisexual-writer-educator-activist/

Part 2

http://johnselig.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/episode-68-robyn-ochs-part-2-of-2-bisexual-writer-educator-activist/

Here is a link to order the book on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Bi-Voices-Bisexuals-Around/dp/0965388158/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281485454&sr=8-1

I don't understand the negative comments on the book. I found it extremely insightful, divers, informative. It is a book that I would proudly give to parents, other family members, friends and anybody else interested in bisexuality!

John Selig,
Dallas, Texas

[Gary North]

I have to say "ditto" to everything John Selig has said here, so let me add the following:

1. I've covered bi news on and off for more than two decades, and been a bi activist fairly constantly during that same time, and I can personally attest that "Getting Bi" is one of the most -- indeed, perhaps THE most -- balanced portraits of the diversity of bisexual lives since the dawn of modern bi literature, dating back 20+ years. I can also personally attest that Robyn Ochs and Sarah Rowley went to monumental/global lengths to get a vast cross-section of voices -- their achievement is nothing short of awe-inspiring. One must read and experience the totality of the book to let the impact of the various stories and strands wash over and sweep you up in the way only a series of vignettes can: They are like an impressionistic painting that can be experienced one way close up, daub by daub, but a completely different way when seen from further back.

2. As a journalist and as an activist, I know there are many male and trans voices in the bi community, but the fact is that historically the most articulate and constant voices have been that of bi women -- I think this is because whereas bi men often become aware of their sexuality on a much more primal/basic way, bi women have become conscious of their sexual identity from various aspects, not the least of which is feminist theory, oppression, and other dynamics besides the basic one of physical attraction. Perhaps that is what the first people to post in this string are reacting to: the perhaps subliminal perception that the women's essays and voices in the book seem more strong, forceful, dynamic, and expansive in their worldview, vs. the men's more personal and less theoretical viewpoints. But that's not the same as saying the book has a more feminist voice; it's to say that (in my opinion and experience) bi women and bi men experience life and the world in very different ways from each other, and that comes through in the diversity of views expressed in the book. The fact that it might "seem" more feminist is one of personal emotional impact, not necessarily one of impartial analysis.

These are my own thoughts, and I could be way off base in my interpretation of the totality of the "voices" in the book, but I don't think so.

[slipnslide]

Perhaps that is what the first people to post in this string are reacting to: the perhaps subliminal perception that the women's essays and voices in the book seem more strong, forceful, dynamic, and expansive in their worldview, vs. the men's more personal and less theoretical viewpoints.

Gary - It's not even that academic, I'm just talking numbers. I'm only about 50 pages in but it feels like there's 1 section from a man for every 3-5 from a woman. Getting frustrated from this I've flipped through pages to see if this changes and from first glances it appears not. I've flipped through and happily discovered that it's only 4 or 5 more pages before I hit something from a guy.

If I was a bisexual women, up to 50 pages in at least, I'd be far more satisfied. Unfortunately now I'm unsure now much I will get from it as a man. However, as I stated, I'm still reading through and hoping I'm wrong.