Skip to main content

Virtual Glass Houses: The Process and Politics of Bisexual Identity Discussions in Online Diary Communities

  • Chapter
Emerging Digital Spaces in Contemporary Society
  • 755 Accesses

Abstract

Bisexual-identified people commonly experience cultural invisibility and stigmatization within lesbian, gay and heterosexual discourses and communities. These feelings of un-belonging, combined with the desire for community with like-identified people, have been cited as key reasons why bisexual-identified people have begun to create and participate in bisexual-themed online social spaces. These digital spaces, through their dedication to bi-themed content and presumably bi-identified membership, have become safe spaces for community members to engage freely in identity discussions and publish personal narratives on experiences with bisexuality and bisexual-identification. With this in mind, the Internet is emerging as an important venue in which bisexual subjects, in particular, may meet to commune as well as to share their experiences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Bibliography

  • Alexander, J. 2002. “Homo-Pages and Queer Sites: Studying the Construction and Representation of Queer Identities on the World Wide Web.” International Journal of Sexuality and Gender Studies 7 (2/3): 85–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, M., H. Bowles-Catton, A. Iantaffi, A. Cassidy and L Brewer. 2008. “British Bisexuality: A Snapshot of Bisexual Representations and Identities in the United Kingdom.” Journal of Bisexuality 8 (1): 141–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bereket, T. and J. Brayton. 2008. “Bi’ NO Means: Bisexuality and the Influence of Binarism on Identity.” Journal of Bisexuality 8 (1): 51–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryson, M., L. MacIntosh, S. Jordan, and L. Hui-Ling. 2006. “Virtually Queer? Homing Devices, Mobility, and Un/Belongings.” Canadian Journal of Communication 31: 791–814.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroli, Linda. 1997. “Virtual Encounters: Community or Collaboration on the Internet.” Leonardo 30 (5): 359–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deschamps, C. 2008. “Visual Scripts and Power Struggles: Bisexuality and Visibility.” Journal of Bisexuality 8 (1): 131–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pallotta-Chiarolli, M. and S. Lubowitz. 2003. “Outside Belonging: Multi-Sexual Relationships as Border Existence.” Journal of Bisexuality 3 (1): 53–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, K. 2003. Intimate Citizenship: Private Decisions and Public Dialogues. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakeford, N. 2000. “Cyberqueer.” In The Cyberculture Reader, eds. D. Bell and R H Kennedy New York: Rougtlede 402–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodland, R. 2000. “Queer Spaces, Modem Boys and Pagan Statues: Gay/lesbian identity and the Construction of Cyberspace.” In The Cyberculture Reader, eds. D. Bell and B. H. Kennedy. New York: Routledge, 416–31.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2010 Emily D. Arthur

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Arthur, E.D. (2010). Virtual Glass Houses: The Process and Politics of Bisexual Identity Discussions in Online Diary Communities. In: Kalantzis-Cope, P., Gherab-Martín, K. (eds) Emerging Digital Spaces in Contemporary Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230299047_47

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics