Title: Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics Author: Jennifer Baumgardner Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publish Date: 2007 Genres:: Bisexual, Non-Fiction, Sociology Reviewer: Jerome D'Angelo

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So often literary works and studies on sexual phenomena focus on either the straight or gay communities and bisexuals are largely ignored. So says author Jennifer Baumgardner, formerly of Ms. magazine, who in her new book Look Both Ways attempts to breach the seldom spoken of but just as socially relevant issues concerning the bisexual community. Baumgardner feels bisexuals exist as a kind of pariah “between” the orientations. “What I’m asserting is that we are looking at bisexuality the wrong way, making the identity dependant on someone other than the bisexual person him--or herself. But sexuality is not who you sleep with, it’s who you are.” Baumgardner goes on to assert that bisexuality is much more complex than merely a transition towards gay and straight. “To understand women who look both ways requires hearing their stories, not just noting the sex of their current partner.”

Of the bisexual community’s social hurdles, Baumgardner notes the “acceptance” of female-to-female sexual attraction by men while still not being given proper respect. “[Bisexuality in women] is perceived as either ‘for’ the man’s benefit or fundamentally dissatisfying, and thus could never replace intercourse.” She also points a rather bias article in the July 5, 2005 edition of the New York Times entitled “Straight, Gay or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited” which claimed that “there is no hint that true bisexual arousal exists.” 

Baumgardner’s efforts at making the subject of bisexuality, and the apparent backlash they face from straight and gay people, accessible to audiences that might be new to the subject are remarkable, albeit flawed. Her approach actually backfires in that her research and references, based in large part on the accounts of artists and musicians within the bisexual community, come off as not only preaching to the choir, but as downright gossipy. Precious few of the myriad of names Ms. Baumgardner drops throughout Look Both Ways are likely to be household in their commonality. This can best be exemplified by the frequency with which she mentions folk singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco.  DiFranco is, of course, widely regarded as a fearless pioneer for the rage against the patriarchy and the yearning for equality of her generation who touches thousands of young women through her music.  Ms. Baumgardner is obviously a fan. A big fan. DiFranco is mentioned is just about every chapter, on every subject from “queer” intercourse to antipathy from the gay community towards bisexuals. DiFranco’s iconic pro-feminist celebrity notwithstanding, she’s hardly the “expert”, so to speak, the way others that Baumgardner mentions such as Helen Gurley Brown, Naomi Wolfe and Gloria Steinem, to name a few, would be on the subject. Baumgardner also repeatedly mentions, and it seems arbitrarily so, Anne Heche, Ellen DeGeneres and Meshell Ndegeocello.

It’s worth noting that, strangely, bisexual icon and comedian Margret Cho is not mentioned once. If Baumgardner asserts that telling the stories of bisexuals is important, a fair critique of her work would point out that she neglected to mention the trials of one of its key figures.

Despite Baumgardner’s frustrating writing style, her observations on the truly unique struggles faced by the bisexual community are well taken. Baumgardner has tackled a difficult subject that, oddly enough, has been treated condescendingly by the gay, lesbian and straight communities and given voice to its members. It states definitely that bisexuals are not simply “going through a phase” that the lifestyle is just experimentation. By venturing to debunk these destructive myths about the bisexual community, Baumgardner’s work is in that regard a huge success in proclaiming bisexuals deserve the same respect and dignity as the other sexual orientations. Look Both Ways may read somewhat like conjecture, but it is nonetheless a must read.