A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
The becoming of family relationships and friendship circles after a bisexual break-up (2021)
Lahti, A. (2021). The becoming of family relationships and friendship circles after a bisexual break-up. In E. Maliepaard, & R. Baumgartner (Eds.), Bisexuality in Europe : Sexual Citizenship, Romantic Relationships, and Bi+ Identities (pp. 85-99). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367809881
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Lahti, Annukka
Parent publication: Bisexuality in Europe : Sexual Citizenship, Romantic Relationships, and Bi+ Identities
Parent publication editors: Maliepaard, Emiel; Baumgartner, Renate
ISBN: 978-0-367-40922-7
eISBN: 978-0-367-80988-1
Publication year: 2021
Pages range: 85-99
Number of pages in the book: 222
Publisher: Routledge
Place of Publication: Abingdon
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367809881
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72535
Abstract
This chapter explores how bisexual women’s family relationships and friendship circles unravel after a relationship breakup. It intervenes at the conjunction of three under-researched areas: bisexual people’s relationships, LGBTIQA+ separations, and social networks after relationship breakups. The becoming of social or friendship circles after a bisexual relationship breakup is approached through the Deleuzo-Guattarian concept of assemblages, where multiple and complex elements come together, connecting in various ways and taking various forms. Further, the chapter offers a novel perspective on bisexuality as a process of “becoming” as part of these relational assemblages, rather than as “being” a stable identity. Bisexuality’s function during a breakup is not determined by participants’ identities, but rather by the specific assemblages that bisexual bodies form with other bodies, relationships, and affects. In particular, binary notions of gender and sexuality give energy to the intensification of affects when bisexual women start to date a partner whose gender is different from that of their previous partner. Yet, as all assemblages are complex and unique, the gender of a bisexual woman’s partner matters differently depending on the other elements and relationships in the assemblage. Some assembled relationships and affects have the power to (dis)connect bisexual bodies with (from) relational assemblages. This can radically diminish the vitality of bisexual bodies. However, bisexual becomings continue because they are connected with other relational assemblages, highlighting multiple bisexual potentialities.
Keywords: bisexuality; bisexuals; separation (interpersonal relations); social relations; family relations; social networks; friends; queer studies
Free keywords: bisexuality; assemblage; queer; break-up; social circles
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- LGBTIQ break-ups in Finland
- Lahti, Annukka
- Kone Foundation
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 3