What is sexuality? A common sexuality definition is a person’s identity in relation to who they are attracted to sexually. The word sexuality is used interchangeably with sexual orientation. Some people identify with more than one sexuality at different times in their lives, sexuality can, in fact, change with age.
Sexuality can be a stressful and confusing subject for many individuals, especially during the teenage years when many individuals are finding their identities and may question their sexuality. Although questioning sexuality can happen at any age. Being comfortable in your sexuality is a must, in order to have healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships and it also plays a large role in the confidence you have in your everyday life.
How do I work out who I am and what it means?
For many people, sexuality develops during the teenage years and in early adulthood. Although age is not important, nor is your gender or your relationship status; it is normal to question your sexuality during your lifetime. Understanding your sexuality can be confusing and you may feel overwhelmed and scared, Experiencing and managing strong emotions, and worried about how people would react to you.
If you have doubts about your sexuality and you are feeling lost and confused there are questions you can ask yourself, different people, you can talk to for help and various resources available to help you. Examples of questions that you can ask yourself include: Do same-gender couples make you feel envious, if you envision your perfect partner do they have a specific gender? Have you been attracted to different genders yourself or the same gender?
If you’re comfortable talking to a family member, or a loved one, talk about your feelings and let them know you are confused about your sexuality. Talking about your insecurities will help relieve some of the pressure that you are feeling. If you find that this isn’t helpful, there are professionals that you can talk to. The LGBT National Help Centre is available for advice, or you can speak to a therapist. Many cities have LGBTQ Centres with free support groups.
Another step that you can take is using dating apps that will help you tube to connect with other persons, also question their sexuality, meeting people in the same situation will help you deal with the whole situation easier.
You don’t need to do anything straight away, take the time to sort through any emotions you are feeling. There is plenty of time for you to work out what the feelings you are having mean.
Types of sexuality
Lesbian
Lesbians are women that are attracted to other women.Gay
A gay person is an individual who is attracted to people of the same gender. This can be men or women. Some women refer to themselves as lesbian and gay.Bisexual
Individuals that are bisexual are attracted to more than one gender.Transgender
A transgender individual, also shortened to trans, is a person who identifies themself as a gender that is different from which they were assigned at birth.Queer or Questioning
Queer is an umbrella term that is used for anyone who isn’t heterosexual. The term means that the person isn’t straight but doesn’t give any information about who they are attracted to. This was previously used as a derogatory term but is now widely used in the LGBTQIA+ community. Questioning is the term used for individuals currently in the process of discovering their sexuality.Intersex
The intersex category refers to people that were born with bodies that do not easily fit into the male or female gender binary. It is not a sexually descriptive term, but a gender description.Asexual
Asexual individuals are not attracted to other people. This is considered a spectrum. So some individuals may experience some attraction, others none at all.Plus (+)
This symbol denotes that there are more identities in addition to those identified in the acronym.Pansexual
Someone who is pansexual is attracted to all genders of people.Polysexual
Polysexual individuals are attracted to many genders of people but not all.Demisexual
A demisexual is someone who becomes attracted to another person only after they have formed an emotional bond with them.Sapiosexual
Individuals who are attracted to others based on their intelligence are identified as sapiosexual.Fluidity - Changes in your sexuality
Sexuality can change at any period in your life. If you have been experiencing a change in your attractions, this could be an indication that your sexuality is changing. As you age your priorities change and you begin to know and understand yourself better, including your emotional and sexual needs, during this time it’s possible that your sexuality changes. Some individuals experience changes in their sexuality throughout their entire life. These individuals can be described as being sexually fluid.
There are several different sexual identities, it takes time and patience to find the right fit. There is no universal solution that works for everyone, you need to take your time and explore what suits you, there is no right or wrong way, you just need to find who you are. We are all different and what attracts one person will be different to what attracts someone else. Just remember there is no wrong or right answer, or wrong or proper sexuality, your sexuality is part of what makes you uniquely you! You can always meet someone just right for you!