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lochanreads's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Bisexual Men Exist aims to validate bisexual and multi-gender attracted or m-spec men, who often have their sexual identity erased and stigmatised. It’s very holistic in the way it covers the many issues that bi and m-spec men face and it provides practical, first-hand advice and experience on things like coming out, sexual health and relationships. An important and affirming read.
librar_bee's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
5 stars. Mehta compiled an impressive, comprehensive body of work on the history and present-day experiences of M-spec (multiple attraction spectrum) men. Each section acknowledges and respects men from all backgrounds. In a tone both academic and reflective, Mehta weaves in survey data, studies, and interviews with other M-spec to convey the difference of experiences. He also reflects on some of his own experiences as a British Indian bisexual man.
Focusing on health, social experiences, cultural backgrounds, gender expression, and intersectionality, Mehta outlines how intersectionality is crucial for analyzing experiences among M-spec men. He also indicates how colonialism has infused toxic masculinity, transphobia, and homophobia into different cultures that are perceived as struggling with LGBTQ+ issues in comparison to the global West.
Mehta's book pulls data mainly from the UK and US, but I appreciated this important perspective and the care put into the research. Mehta also goes a step further and identifies where more research would be needed, and why certain research statistics might be unreliable due to unfavorable reporting circumstances. This critical lens is crucial and Mehta patiently outlines how to approach this information to the reader.
An excellent and validating read for M-spec men, and certainly a wonderful resource for anyone looking to support M-spec men. As a cis bisexual woman, this gave me incredible insights into how I can advocate for bisexual+ men in my own spaces and identify the differences in biphobia across the gender spectrum.
Focusing on health, social experiences, cultural backgrounds, gender expression, and intersectionality, Mehta outlines how intersectionality is crucial for analyzing experiences among M-spec men. He also indicates how colonialism has infused toxic masculinity, transphobia, and homophobia into different cultures that are perceived as struggling with LGBTQ+ issues in comparison to the global West.
Mehta's book pulls data mainly from the UK and US, but I appreciated this important perspective and the care put into the research. Mehta also goes a step further and identifies where more research would be needed, and why certain research statistics might be unreliable due to unfavorable reporting circumstances. This critical lens is crucial and Mehta patiently outlines how to approach this information to the reader.
An excellent and validating read for M-spec men, and certainly a wonderful resource for anyone looking to support M-spec men. As a cis bisexual woman, this gave me incredible insights into how I can advocate for bisexual+ men in my own spaces and identify the differences in biphobia across the gender spectrum.
hexenjunge's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.75
A pretty good starter when it comes to books about bisexuality. Sadly there wasn’t anything new in this book for me- I hoped to get some new input for my workshops but most of the things discussed were things I already knew. Nonetheless I think it’s a very important book that shows the wonderful but also difficult moments of being a bisexual man. I especially liked the chapter about intersectionality. In the end the book had too many numbers in it for me to really care about them in the end. I get it statistics are interesting and important but I felt that one could use them in a more elegant way.
But overall a nice book.
But overall a nice book.
jamie_macdonald's review against another edition
informative
2.0
There is a lot of really surprising information in this book and I think it would be a helpful read for m-spec men. However there is little to no critical engagement with its ideas. The statistics are interesting, but without any thorough analysis and engagement with queer theories, the book left me wanting for something more substantial.
If the book had more of an emphasis on the stories of m-spec men included this could be forgiven, but the personalities of the men and non binary folk featured dont really come through and their prescence isnt substantial enough.
Additionally, the writing about HIV and sexual health policy was strangely moralising and ill-informed.
The chapter on Pride gave a really good introduction to the discrimination and difficulties that mspec men encounter in the lgbtq+ community.
I think there is a lot for bi and m-spec men to benefit from in this book, but its ignorance around a lot of queer thought and sexual habits would stop me from reccomending.
If the book had more of an emphasis on the stories of m-spec men included this could be forgiven, but the personalities of the men and non binary folk featured dont really come through and their prescence isnt substantial enough.
Additionally, the writing about HIV and sexual health policy was strangely moralising and ill-informed.
The chapter on Pride gave a really good introduction to the discrimination and difficulties that mspec men encounter in the lgbtq+ community.
I think there is a lot for bi and m-spec men to benefit from in this book, but its ignorance around a lot of queer thought and sexual habits would stop me from reccomending.
anniekslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure what I'd personally get out of this book, seeing it's a topic I've been aware of already, but this was a really informative read, and I think it will be a great starting point for a lot of people. The book was logically structured, delving into one larger theme at a time, and very readable, which is not always the case with non-fiction. I'd highly recommend this!