In this paper the question about how pansexuality is currently discussed in the academic debate in sexuality studies will be raised.
Given the ever-increasing rates on Google since 2004 with the highest point reaching in 2012, it can be stated that pansexuality is a topic that drives the people. In the academic debate pansexuality is also getting more and more attention, since the number of papers and publications regarding the topic is rising since 2013. This suggests that pansexuality is not only gaining importance in the academic field but also raises attention among the public.
Although the topic is gaining more and more attention and importance, pansexuality is still often confused with bisexuality and other so called non-monosexualities. Certainly, doing further research in this area could lead to a bigger understanding of the differences between these two. By improving the methods to study these sexualities, more efficient research could be done, because as it will be shown in the following, researchers often have problems finding the right method to get to the kind of people they need for their study.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Pansexuality and Bisexuality
4. Conclusion
Objectives & Core Topics
The primary objective of this work is to explore how pansexuality is currently positioned within academic sexuality studies, specifically addressing its conceptual distinction from bisexuality and the challenges regarding its representation and research methodology.
- Theoretical definitions and academic conceptualizations of pansexuality.
- Comparative analysis of the "bisexual umbrella" versus the unique identity of pansexuality.
- Challenges in research methodology, including sample representativeness and participant identification.
- The impact of discrimination and "panerasure" within both heterosexual and LGBTQ communities.
- The intersection of pansexuality, gender-binary perceptions, and online identity construction.
Excerpt from the Book
Literature Review
The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality describes Pansexuality as “[referring] to a person, who is sexually, emotionally, romantically, or spiritually attracted to others, regardless of biological sex, gender expression […], or sexual orientation” (Rice, 2015: 861). In the following more definitions for pansexuality will be introduced and discussed. All of them from various academic sources or qualitative interviews with people, who identify as pan- or bisexual.
The following literature review will have a look at different articles from academic journals. It will show that especially young people often identify as pansexual and how this identification is currently described. Phrases like “bisexual umbrella”, “non-monosexualities” or “new-homonormatives” are going to be defined and explained as well as being set in relation to pansexuality. The literature review will be structured following the similarities, which have been found in most of the texts.
The term “new-homonormatives” was mentioned by Gonel in her text from 2013 about the identification of pansexuals in online communities. In her opinion in order to be accepted by the heterosexual society, more and more members of the LGBTQ community, especially gay and lesbian people, are trying to adapt their behaviour and assimilate. She talks about how these LGBTQ organisations become “de-queerised” (Gonel, 2013: 38), which leads to the problem that many queer identities, such as pansexuality, are reduced to a uniform or a collective identity, which all members of the LGBTQ community supposedly have in common. She mentions that queer activism often criticises gay-only identity politics “for subsuming LGBTQ identities and contributing to the conceptualisation of fixed, closed, singular identities” (Gonel, 2013: 39), which could be a hint that pansexuality with its “multiple, ongoing and transgressive” (Gonel, 2013: 56) character, could break this point of view by initiating an anti-identity campaign to show all the different identities inside the LGBTQ community.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the rising visibility of pansexuality in academic and public discourse and establishes the intent to analyze existing literature and the relationship between pansexuality and bisexuality.
Literature Review: Examines academic definitions and common themes, such as the critique of "new-homonormatives," the use of multiple identity labels, and the challenges of panerasure within the LGBTQ community.
Pansexuality and Bisexuality: Critically analyzes the "bisexual umbrella" concept, explores the nuances of binary gender perceptions, and discusses shared experiences of discrimination among non-monosexual identities.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the research findings, highlights the ongoing struggle for unique recognition of pansexuality, and proposes future research directions regarding online communities, youth identification, and methodological improvements.
Keywords
Pansexuality, Bisexuality, Non-monosexuality, Gender-binary, LGBTQ, Identity Politics, Panerasure, Sexual Orientation, Queer Theory, Academic Discourse, Research Methodology, Online Communities, Identity Labels, Gender Identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The work focuses on the academic debate surrounding pansexuality, how it is defined in current literature, and how it relates to other non-monosexual identities like bisexuality.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
Key themes include the distinction between pansexuality and bisexuality, the critique of the "bisexual umbrella," the role of gender-binary perceptions, and the phenomenon of panerasure.
What is the central research question?
The primary goal is to examine how pansexuality is discussed in sexuality studies and whether it is accurate or appropriate to group it under a broader "bisexual umbrella" or if it should be recognized as a unique identity.
Which methodology is utilized?
The author employs a literature review and content analysis of existing academic articles and journals to compare various definitions and research perspectives on pansexuality.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a deep dive into existing literature, compares scholarly views on gender-binary transcendence, discusses the experiences of stigma and discrimination, and evaluates the limitations of past research studies.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The most relevant keywords are Pansexuality, Bisexuality, Non-monosexuality, Gender-binary, Identity Politics, and Panerasure.
How does the author characterize "new-homonormatives"?
The author uses the term to describe the tendency within parts of the LGBTQ community to assimilate into heterosexual societal norms, which can lead to the marginalization of more diverse queer identities like pansexuality.
What is "panerasure" as defined in the text?
Panerasure is defined as the stigmatization and minimization of pansexuality as a distinct sexual orientation, often resulting in it being erroneously folded into other categories or dismissed entirely.
Why does the author suggest that online research is important for this field?
The text notes that because many pansexuals use the internet as a safe space for initial coming-out processes, online communities offer a valuable, less-adulterated source of data for researchers.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Areti-Kristin Bouras (Autor:in), 2018, How is pansexuality discussed in the current academic debate in sexuality studies?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/925733
