It is conflictive to talk about different types of sexual orientations It is already known that to define is to limit, and this becomes especially obvious when what is being defined is something as subjective as the patterns of sexual attraction and the different criteria that are used to determine whether something is sexually attractive or not.
How do we give a name to what we find desirable? Isn’t sexuality experienced as something linked to specific moments, contexts and states of mind?
What attracts us (or not) to people are not concrete and immutable elements that belong to them and that can be worn like someone wearing a new shirt. We can never say with certainty where the desire that a specific person produces in us comes from, much less ensure that that element will always be attractive to us.
However, It is increasingly common to talk about a range of types of sexual orientation which over time gains in breadth and variety. Homosexuality has long ceased to be the only alternative to heterosexuality, and as a consequence our notion of what sexual orientation is or can be is increasingly complex and full of nuances.
Categories created by science?
The fact that more and more proposals are being formulated to diversify the variants of sexual orientation does not take away from the fact that the “homosexuality – heterosexuality” dichotomy continues to have force and in many circles people and their inclinations continue to be classified into these two categories. . The reason is that these two concepts have an objective basis: the biological sex of people. The rest of the types of sexual orientation, however, are based on subjective phenomena, for better and for worse
The denominations or labels to define multiple types of sexuality do not arise from the field of psychology or biology, but rather appear as part of a socially rooted initiative (historically linked to movements in favor of equality) to claim and give visibility to ways of living sexuality that are eclipsed by the norm: heterosexuality.
This means that behind the creation of these categories to name the different types of sexual orientations there is no intention of labeling each and every one of the variants that we could identify if we set out to do so, and nor is there any intention to find ways to live sex that coincide with certain organic bases (unusual neuronal connections between certain areas, atypical functioning of some parts of the brain, etc.).
They are not concepts made to serve the purposes of science, but to achieve a social impact. Specifically, what is intended by using these terms is to more sensitively welcome people who tend to live a type of alternative sexual orientation.
Can we talk about the most important types of sexual orientation?
If defining what is and what is not one type of sexual orientation different from another is already somewhat complicated, it is even more so to talk about which are the most important. It is something subjective and depends on arbitrary criteria to order sexual orientations from most to least important and that, in short, they do not tell us anything about whether one is more valid than the other.
In this case, I have selected the types of sexual orientation that tend to appear more in the media so that people interested in the topic can begin to investigate.
Here you have an explanation of each of the most studied types of sexual orientation.
1. Heterosexuality
It’s sexual orientation defined by attraction to people of the opposite sex , exclusively. This is possibly the most common type of sexual orientation.
2. Homosexuality
Characterized by the sexual attraction directed exclusively toward people of the same sex Homosexual men are popularly known as gaywhile women are lesbians.
3. Bisexuality
Sexual attraction to people of the same sex and the opposite sex although not necessarily with the same frequency or intensity in one case or another.
4. Pansexuality
Sexual attraction to some people , regardless of your biological sex or gender identity. The difference between pansexuality and bisexuality is that in the second case, sexual attraction is still experienced through gender categories, while in pansexuality this does not happen. To find out more you can read the article about this sexual orientation.
5. Demisexuality
Demisexuality is described as the appearance of sexual attraction only in some cases in which a strong emotional or intimate bond has previously been established
6. Lithsexuality
People with this type of sexual orientation They experience attraction towards other people, but do not feel the need to reciprocate
7. Autosexuality
In autosexuality, attraction is experienced towards oneself , without this having to be synonymous with narcissism. It can be understood as a way of nurturing affection or self-love.
8. Antrosexuality
This concept It serves so that people who experience their sexuality without knowing in which category to identify themselves can identify with it and/or without feeling the need to classify oneself in any of them.
In this type of sexual orientation you are attracted to various groups of people with specific gender identities Depending on the criteria used to classify, it can be understood that polysexuality overlaps with other sexual orientations such as pansexuality.
10. Asexuality
asexuality serves to give a name to the lack of sexual attraction It is often considered not to be part of the diversity of sexual orientations, as it is a denial. You can read more about asexuality in this article.
