The positioning of bisexuals and ‘men who have sex with men’ in sex, sexuality and sexual health research, 1990 – 2004

Abstract

This paper examines the use of the categories bisexual and men who have sex with men (MSM) in sex, sexuality and sexual health research. We study the deployment of these categories in the research literature, using sets of studies published between 1990 and 2004 (bisexual set: n = 2,859; MSM set: n = 986). These sets were established using an approach developed by the authors in an earlier review of sexual health literature for the World Health Organisation (WHO). The approach uses insights from Weberian methodology. We ascribe value to research outcomes which provide contextually sensitive evidence for the design and/or evaluation of sexual health interventions, and are concerned about the creation within research of subjects who become reduced to risky or at-risk groups, or subjects of public health surveillance and control. The categories bisexual and MSM are mostly ascribed without attention to social or cultural settings, and to designate risky or at-risk populations or behaviours.

Key Words:

• sociology
• bisexuality
• MSM
• sexuality
• sexual health
• review