''The Bisexual Option'' (1978; second edition 1993) is a book by the sex researcher Fritz Klein. It is considered one of the seminal works on

bisexuality Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or Human sexual activity, sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, ...

in the discipline of

queer studies Queer studies, sexual diversity studies, or LGBTQ studies is the study of topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity usually focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender dysphoric, asexual, aromantic, queer, question ...

. ''The Bisexual Option'' was developed based on Klein's belief that there was not enough publicly available information relating to bisexuality, and that providing information would allow bisexuals to feel more comfortable with their identities. The book provides a general overview and explanation of bisexuality. It additionally addresses and disputes several myths related to bisexuality.

Summary

The book discusses where people may fit on the

sexual orientation Sexual orientation is an enduring personal pattern of romantic attraction or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Patterns ar ...

continuum, specifically discussing bisexuality and the idea of feeling

sexual attraction Sexual attraction is attraction on the basis of sexual desire or the quality of arousing such interest. Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal is an individual's ability to attract other people sexually, and is a factor in sexual selection or m ...

towards both men and women. In addition to defining bisexuality, the book explains several problems bisexual people face in mainstream

heterosexual Heterosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between people of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions ...

and

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...

lesbian A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexu ...

communities. Klein specifically addresses the ideas that bisexuality does not exist, and that sexuality only allows for attraction to one gender, going on to establish these ideas as myths. Klein additionally identifies seven variables which contribute to an individual's sexual identity. These variables are part of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, which Klein developed based on the

Kinsey Scale The Kinsey scale, also called the Heterosexual–Homosexual Rating Scale, is used in research to describe a person's sexual orientation based on one's experience or response at a given time. The scale typically ranges from 0, meaning exclusively ...

. However, whereas the Kinsey Scale considers a person's sexuality based on a scale of 1-6, the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid uses seven different variables and treats sexuality as something that is

fluid In physics, a fluid is a liquid, gas, or other material that may continuously motion, move and Deformation (physics), deform (''flow'') under an applied shear stress, or external force. They have zero shear modulus, or, in simpler terms, are M ...

and can change with time.Klein uses the grid to establish his belief that sexuality is only partially defined by sexual behavior, something which was not clearly demonstrated via the Kinsey Scale. The book includes information relating to historically significant bisexual figures. It also features a discussion of modern factors which influence bisexuality and bisexual people, including

AIDs The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

feminism Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...

, and other factors.

Reception and legacy

''The Bisexual Option'' was seen as an important work relating to bisexuality, mainly for its comprehensive discussion of sexual identity and the factors which contribute to sexuality. Ulrich Gooß, discussing the book in the '' Journal of Bisexuality,'' described it as "a component of the process, begun in the 1970s, of establishing actual bisexuality as a sexual category".

References

External links

''The Bisexual Option'' (Second Edition)
on publisher's site

page at the American Institute of Bisexuality 1978 non-fiction books 1970s LGBTQ literature 1993 non-fiction books American non-fiction books Bisexual non-fiction books Sexology literature LGBTQ literature in the United States {{LGBT-sex-book-stub

Summary

Reception and legacy

See also

References

External links