In my last post, I went over the differences between sexual orientation, sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual behavior. There are many terms used within each of these categories. Some are frequently used in the wrong context which can lead to confusion between people of different backgrounds.
Originally, I had planned on defining all of these terms in one post. I have found, however, that there are enough terms that defining them all at once would lead to a rather lengthy post. And so I will split the definitions into two separate posts. These posts will define many of the terms used within these categories. The list of terms will not necessarily be complete or exhaustive. They are also not necessarily authoritative. They represent my best understanding of the terms. Some terms are used in multiple categories, while others are used in only one. I will make distinctions as to which category or categories each fit in.
I will list the terms in alphabetical order. This post will cover the first half, while my next post will cover the second half.
Asexual- (used to define orientation, identity and attraction) used to describe a lack of sexual orientation or sexual attractions; also an identity used by those who are not sexuallly attracted to either sex; asexual is not the same as celibacy; those that are asexual may be in romantic or sexual relationships with those of either sex, both sexes, or neither.
Bisexual- (used to define orientation, identity, attraction and behavior) used in orientation and attraction to describe attraction to both sexes; also used as an identity by those who are attracted to both sexes; bisexual is not the same as polyamorous; those that are bisexual may be in romantic or sexual relationships with either sex or both sexes; some that are bisexual are also polysexual or pansexual; can be used as an adjective to describe sexual behavior of an individual with others of both sexes.
Celibate- (used to define behavior) a state of abstaining from sexual behavior; most individuals that choose to be celibate do so for personal or religous reasons; there are many that are SSA or SGA that choose to be celibate; individuals of any sexual orientation or identity may be celibate.
Gay- (used to define identity and behavior) a sexual identity used by men or boys that are sexually attracted to other men or boys (in other words, an identity used by those that are male and attracted to the same sex); also used as an adjective to describe sexual activity between individuals of the same sex; not all men that are attracted to other men identify as gay (some identify as bisexual, SSA, SGA or do not take on a sexual identity); the term gay is frequently used to describe a sexual orientation, though the correct term for the orientation is homosexual.
Heterosexual- (used to define orientation, identity, attraction and behavior) the sexual orientation of individuals attracted only to the opposite sex; a sexual identity used by those attracted only to the opposite sex and frequently used interchangeably with the term straight; also used to describe attractions to the opposite sex and as an adjective to describe sexual behavior between individuals of the opposite sex.
Homosexual- (used to define orientation, identity, attraction and behavior) the sexual orientation of individuals attracted only to the same sex; a sexual identity used by those attracted only to the same sex and frequently used interchangeably with the terms gay (for men) and lesbian (for women); also used to describe attractions to the same sex and as an adjective to describe sexual behavior between individuals of the same sex.
Lesbian- (used to define identity and behavior) a sexual identity used by women or girls that are sexually attracted to other women or girls (in other words, and identity used by those that are female and attracted to the same sex); also used as an adjective to describe sexual activity between women; not all women that are attracted to other women identify as lesbian (some identify as bisexual, SSA, SGA or do not take on a sexual identity); the term lesbian is frequently used to describe a sexual orientation, though the correct term for the orientation is homosexual.
LGBT- (used to define identity) an acronym for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transexual; at times has other identities, the most common being Questioning, attatched to it; LGBT is often used as an umbrella term to include all those of a sexual identity or orientation that are not heterosexual (or straight), or in other words, an umbrella term for all sexual minorities; in more recent times, used interchangeably with the term queer.
Monogamy- (used to define behavior) in the literal sense, marriage to one spouse; often used more recently to refer to having only one sexual or romantic partner; individuals of any sexual orientation or identity may be monogamous.
Opposite Sex Attraction- (used to define attraction) attraction to the opposite sex (for example, the attraction of those that are male to those that are female, and those that are female to those that are male).
Pansexual- (used to define orientation, identity, attraction and behavior) the sexual orientation of those attracted to all sexes; a sexual identity used by those attracted to all sexes; attraction to all sexes; can be used as an adjective to describe sexual behavior of an individual with others of all sexes; by definition, those of a pansexual orientation are also bisexual (though not all bisexuals are pansexual) and polysexual (and not all polysexuals are pansexual); pansexual is often refered to as being "gender-blind" or attracted to individuals regardless of their sex or gender.
Polyamory- (used to define behavior) the practice of having multiple sexual and/or romantic partners at the same time (with the knowledge and acceptance of all those involved); individuals of any sexual orientation or identity may be polyamorous.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Terminology -Part 1
There are a lot of terms used when describing sexuality: gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, homosexual, heterosexual, trans-gender, same-sex attraction, same-gender attraction, queer, and so on. Some refer to a sexual orientation, others refer to an identity, while others refer to attractions or behaviors.
Some of these terms are frequently used interchangeably by many, even when the terms mean different things. This can lead to confusion when one uses one term in lieu of another. For example, one can engage in homosexual behavior without necessarily identifying as gay or even having a homosexual orientation. Yet they often all get lumped together.
This will be the first of two posts about terminology used when discussing sexuality. The purpose of this post is to define sexual orientation, sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual behavior.The next blog post will address the different terms used to describe the above listed categories.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation is defined by the American Psychological Association as "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes." Sexual orientation is related to sexual identity, sexual attractions, and sexual behavior, but is distinguished from them. For example, an individual could have a homosexual orientation, without a gay identity, without engaging in homosexual behavior, and have the possibility of a variety of types of attractions. Some examples of sexual orientations include: homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, asexual, polysexual and pansexual.
Sexual Identity
Sexual identity is a reference to how and individuals think of themselves in terms of who they are sexually and emotionally attracted to. Sexual identity is related to sexual orientation, but is not the same thing. There are many people that have a homosexual or bisexual orientation that do not identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Sexual identity tends to be more closely related to sexual behavior than to sexual orientation, as the majority of those that identify as homosexual or bisexual have participated in sexual behavior with someone of the same sex. Those with a homosexual or bisexual orientation that don't have a homosexual or bisexual orientation, on the other hand, are less likely to have participated in sexual behavior with someone of the same sex.
There are also some individuals that do not have a sexual identity, some because they may live in a culture that does not not readily use sexual identities, while others because they choose not to take on a sexual identity. In the past, I chose not to take on a sexual identity. I later chose to identify as same-sex attracted, as I didn't like the implications that often seemed to come with a gay or bisexual identity. I am now comfortable identifying as bisexual, as that seems to be the best identity that fits for me.
As sexual identities are how individuals self-identify, there are quite a variety of them. Some examples of sexual identities include: gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, homosexual, heterosexual, same-sex attracted, queer, and LGBT, just to name a few.
Sexual Attraction
Sexual attraction is both simpler and more complex than sexual orientation and identity. In simple terms, it is the basis of sexual desire. Sexual attraction is closely related to sexual orientation. It should also be noted that also related to sexual attractions are physical, romantic and emotional attractions. Individuals can experience just one of these types of attractions to another individual, or they can experience several or all of them.
Not only can sexual attraction be described as being directed toward the same sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes, it can also be described as being to specific traits or features in others, some of which may be related to the person's sex, while others may not. For some that are bisexual and many that are pansexual, sexual attraction to traits or features is less likely to be related to the sex of the person to whom the individual is attracted.
Sexual Behavior
Sexual behavior refers to sexual activity, and is related to sexual orientation and sexual identity, but is not the same thing. For example, an individual could participate in sexual behavior with someone of the same sex without being homosexual or bisexual, just as one could participate in sexual behavior with someone of the opposite sex without being heterosexual or bisexual.
An individual may participate in sexual behavior with someone of a sex that they are not attracted to for a variety of reasons, including lack of availability of a sexual partner of a sex they are attracted, curiosity, cultural expectations, and a variety of other reason. In short, an individual's sexual behavior, while usually related to sexual orientation and identity, does not always coincide with their orientation or identity.
* * * * *
In two weeks, my post will focus on the specific terms used in the categories I described. Until then, if you have any comments or questions about the terms I have used in this post, feel free to comment or to send me a private message.
Some of these terms are frequently used interchangeably by many, even when the terms mean different things. This can lead to confusion when one uses one term in lieu of another. For example, one can engage in homosexual behavior without necessarily identifying as gay or even having a homosexual orientation. Yet they often all get lumped together.
This will be the first of two posts about terminology used when discussing sexuality. The purpose of this post is to define sexual orientation, sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual behavior.The next blog post will address the different terms used to describe the above listed categories.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation is defined by the American Psychological Association as "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes." Sexual orientation is related to sexual identity, sexual attractions, and sexual behavior, but is distinguished from them. For example, an individual could have a homosexual orientation, without a gay identity, without engaging in homosexual behavior, and have the possibility of a variety of types of attractions. Some examples of sexual orientations include: homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, asexual, polysexual and pansexual.
Sexual Identity
Sexual identity is a reference to how and individuals think of themselves in terms of who they are sexually and emotionally attracted to. Sexual identity is related to sexual orientation, but is not the same thing. There are many people that have a homosexual or bisexual orientation that do not identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Sexual identity tends to be more closely related to sexual behavior than to sexual orientation, as the majority of those that identify as homosexual or bisexual have participated in sexual behavior with someone of the same sex. Those with a homosexual or bisexual orientation that don't have a homosexual or bisexual orientation, on the other hand, are less likely to have participated in sexual behavior with someone of the same sex.
There are also some individuals that do not have a sexual identity, some because they may live in a culture that does not not readily use sexual identities, while others because they choose not to take on a sexual identity. In the past, I chose not to take on a sexual identity. I later chose to identify as same-sex attracted, as I didn't like the implications that often seemed to come with a gay or bisexual identity. I am now comfortable identifying as bisexual, as that seems to be the best identity that fits for me.
As sexual identities are how individuals self-identify, there are quite a variety of them. Some examples of sexual identities include: gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, homosexual, heterosexual, same-sex attracted, queer, and LGBT, just to name a few.
Sexual Attraction
Sexual attraction is both simpler and more complex than sexual orientation and identity. In simple terms, it is the basis of sexual desire. Sexual attraction is closely related to sexual orientation. It should also be noted that also related to sexual attractions are physical, romantic and emotional attractions. Individuals can experience just one of these types of attractions to another individual, or they can experience several or all of them.
Not only can sexual attraction be described as being directed toward the same sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes, it can also be described as being to specific traits or features in others, some of which may be related to the person's sex, while others may not. For some that are bisexual and many that are pansexual, sexual attraction to traits or features is less likely to be related to the sex of the person to whom the individual is attracted.
Sexual Behavior
Sexual behavior refers to sexual activity, and is related to sexual orientation and sexual identity, but is not the same thing. For example, an individual could participate in sexual behavior with someone of the same sex without being homosexual or bisexual, just as one could participate in sexual behavior with someone of the opposite sex without being heterosexual or bisexual.
An individual may participate in sexual behavior with someone of a sex that they are not attracted to for a variety of reasons, including lack of availability of a sexual partner of a sex they are attracted, curiosity, cultural expectations, and a variety of other reason. In short, an individual's sexual behavior, while usually related to sexual orientation and identity, does not always coincide with their orientation or identity.
* * * * *
In two weeks, my post will focus on the specific terms used in the categories I described. Until then, if you have any comments or questions about the terms I have used in this post, feel free to comment or to send me a private message.
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