What is Sexuality?

Sexuality has been an important, vital part of human existence throughout history.

All civilizations have managed sexuality through sexual standards, representations, and behavior.

So if you’re wondering what the term “sexuality” means or you are wondering where you belong.

Don’t panic, because in this article I’ll be sharing important but concise insights for the above subject.

What is Sexuality?

Sexuality can be defined as the pattern of sexual interest in the opposite or same-sex.

Primarily your sexuality or sexual orientation is a way to describe the feelings you have for someone you fancy or are attracted to.

Your physical and emotional aspects of sexuality include your bonds between people.

However, these bonds are expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of love, trust, and care.

Social aspects deal with the effects of human society on one’s sexuality.

While spirituality concerns your spiritual connection with others.

Sexuality also affects and is affected by cultural, political, legal, philosophical, moral, ethical, and religious aspects of life.

Below are the most common examples of sexuality and their definitions:

  1. Heterosexuality/Straight
  2. Gay
  3. Lesbian
  4. Homosexual (gay/lesbian)
  5. Bisexual/Bi
  6. Pansexual
  7. Asexual/Ace

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1. Heterosexuality/Straight

This is a romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between persons of the opposite sex or gender.

As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality is “an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions” to persons of the opposite sex.

2. Gay

A gay is a male who is physically and emotionally attracted to another male or a female physically and emotionally attracted to another female (more commonly used in males).

3. Lesbian

A lesbian is a homosexual woman.

It is a female who is physically and emotionally attracted to another female.

4. Homosexual (gay/lesbian)

People who are homosexual possess romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender.

As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is “an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions” to people of the same sex.

5. Bisexual/Bi

People who are bisexual possess romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender.

6. Pansexual

People who are pansexual are sexual, romantic, or emotionally attracted towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity.

Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others.

7. Asexual/Ace

People who are asexual lack sexual attraction to others.

It may be considered a sexual orientation or the lack thereof.

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What factors affect a person’s sexuality?

There are many factors that affect a person’s sexuality.

The four main and most common factors are:

  • Culture.
  • Family.
  • Government laws and orders.
  • Religion.

What is the importance of knowing your sexuality?

You can find other people physically, sexually, or emotionally attractive, those things are a part of your sexuality.

Sexuality is diverse and personal, and it is an important part of who you are.

However, discovering your sexuality can be a very liberating, exciting, and positive experience.

What the effects of sexuality on one’s mental health?

Some of the stressful experiences that can affect the mental health of an LGBTI person are:

  • feeling different from other people.
  • being bullied ( both verbally or physically).
  • feeling pressure to deny or change their sexuality.
  • feeling worried about coming out, and then being rejected or isolated.
  • feeling unsupported or misunderstood.

These pressures are on top of all the other stuff people have to deal with in life such as:

  • Managing school
  • Finding a job
  • Forming relationships and making sense of your identity and place in the world.

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What are the basic terms in sexuality?

Below are the basic terms in sexuality:

  1. Asexual
  2. Bullying
  3. Cisgender
  4. DSD (disorders of sex development)
  5. Gender
  6. Behavior
  7. Gender Expression
  8. Gender Identity
  9. Gender Diversity
  10. Gender Dysphoria
  11. Gender Non-Conforming
  12. Gender Role
  13. Genderqueer
  14. Intersex
  15. Pansexual
  16. Queer
  17. Questioning
  18. Sex assignment
  19. Sexual Orientation
  20. Transgender

Some definitions of the above terms are:

1. Gender Expression

Gender expression is a person’s behavior, mannerisms, interests, and appearance that are associated with gender in a particular cultural context, specifically with the categories of femininity or masculinity.

This also includes gender roles.

2. Cisgender

A cisgender person is a person whose gender identity matches the sex assigned at birth.

The word cisgender is the antonym of transgender.

3. Gender

Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to and differentiating between femininity and masculinity.

4. Gender Diversity

Gender identity is the personal sense of one’s own gender.

It can correlate with a person’s assigned sex at birth or can differ from it.

5. Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.

6. Queer

Queer is an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or are not cisgender. 

7. Genderqueer

Genderqueer non-binary or genderqueer is an umbrella term for gender identities that are neither male nor female‍—‌identities that are outside the gender binary.

8. Gender Role

A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that person’s biological or perceived sex.

9. Transgender

Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth.

Some transgender people who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another identify as transsexual.

10. Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender.

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What do you think is the role of parents on human sexuality?

Parents should play the primary role in imparting to their children social, cultural, and religious values regarding intimate and sexual relationships.

Whereas health and education, professionals should play the primary role in providing information about sexuality and developing related social skills.

Conclusion

Sexuality is diverse and personal, and it is an important part of who you are.

However, identifying our sexuality is really important and fundamental.

Please kindly drop your suggestions and contributions in the comment box below.

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