BISEXUALITY, ACTIVISM AND KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION: INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON BISEXUAL STUDIES AND MOVEMENTS

Abstract

This article aims to draw a brief overview of knowledge production and political movements trajectory on bisexuality, highlighting the dialogue and the reciprocal influence between them, through an interdisciplinary approach. To achieve that goal, we use the literature review of the main Brazilian and worldwide research references on the topic, as well as observations based on our research experiences, debates, and documents about bisexual activism. First, we systematize the historical process of constitution of those two fields on a global scale, with special attention to the North American and European initiatives, the pioneer, most influential ones until today. Then, we explore the dynamics of the construction of bisexuality as a field for political action and scientific knowledge in Brazil. Finally, we introduce the main concepts and categories that emerged from contemporary debates on the topic: biphobia, erasure, monosexuality, monosexism and monodissidence. We conclude that the academic productions and the bisexual movement have influenced each other in Brazil and worldwide, producing political and theoretical meanings of bisexuality and formulating analytical categories.