With so many gender and sexuality terms being used today, it’s very easy to get confused and mix them up. We know that the last thing that you’d want to do is offend someone, so we’re here to help by breaking down many of the most common gender and sexuality identifiers for you.
Let’s start with gender. Gender is different than sex. Although biology plays a big part of the sex you’re “assigned” at conception, gender is largely based on your internal identification. Sex refers to biological characteristics, like one’s reproductive organs.
Gender is not biological — gender is a social construct. Biology can play into it, but only if a person feels as though they can identify with the gender that corresponds to the sexual organs they were born with. It’s more emotional and based on what a person feels makes them closest to their most authentic self. Think of it this way: when people have ‘gender reveal parties,’ they’re actually ‘sex reveal parties.’
Here are some common gender identities:
Agender: A person who does not identify with a gender or identifies as having no gender at all.
Cisgender: A person who identifies with the sex they were assigned at conception.
Gender expansive: An umbrella term to describe people whose self-identified gender is outside of the male/female societal norm. Some gender expansive people identify as agender.
Genderfluid: A person whose gender presentation and identity shifts between gender ‘norms’.
Gender outlaw: A person who doesn’t identify with gender ‘norms’ of male or female as society knows them.
Genderqueer: A person who embraces gender fluidity who may identify as being both male and female, may identify as being neither male or female, or who may identify outside of those categories.
Non-binary: A person who doesn’t experience gender as ‘norms’ and who doesn’t identify as just male or female. Non-binary individuals may experience overlap between male, female, and potentially other genders on this list.
Omnigender: A person who experiences all genders.
Pangender: A person who experiences or displays all genders.
Polygender: A person who experiences or displays multiple genders.
Transgender: This is another umbrella term. It includes all people who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at conception.
Now that you understand gender, we can move on to talk about sexuality and sexual orientation.
Sexual orientation refers to physical and/or emotional attraction to other humans. Someone’s sexual orientation should not be assumed based on their gender identity. People of all genders can identify all different ways.
Let’s talk about sexual orientations:
Allosexual: A term used to describe any and all people who experience sexual attraction. The opposite of asexual.
Asexual: This term describes someone who does not experience sexual attraction.
Bicurious: This is what someone may identify as if they’re exploring whether or not they are attracted to people of their same gender and/or people of their own gender.
Bisexual: A term used to describe a person who is sexually and emotionally attracted to others of the same gender as themself and another gender.
Demiromantic: This describes people who don’t experience romantic attraction without first establishing emotional intimacy.
Demisexual: A person who experiences some sexual attraction, but only after forming an emotional connection.
Gay: This is used to describe people whose physical and emotional attractions are to people of the same gender. Women may prefer the term lesbian, or they may not.
Heterosexual: A term to describe those who are sexually attracted to those of the ‘opposite’ gender than which they identify. This term is limiting as it assumes there are only two genders.
Homosexual: This term is often offensive. It’s an outdated term that should no longer be used, unless someone self-identifies this way and prefers this term.
Lesbian: A term used to describe those who identify as women and experience physical and emotional attraction to other women.
Pansexual: A term to describe those who experience sexual and emotional attraction to those of any gender identity.
Queer: This term is typically used to describe anyone whose orientation is something other than heterosexual or cisgender. Many people identify as queer and another sexual orientation, like gay or bi, but not all. Some may feel as though other sexual orientations are too limiting.
Scoliosexual: A term that describes people who are primarily attracted to non-binary, trans, and genderqueer individuals.
Whatever gender or sexual orientation you identify with, you are always welcome at Boudoir Noir! We celebrate Pride all day, everyday!
Stop into one of our stores in Fort Wayne or Evansville for judgment-free, top-notch service, or shop our online store from the comfort of your home.