The 10 main types of sexual orientation

There are not only homosexuals and heterosexuals. There are also other sexual tendencies.

It is conflicting to talk about the different types of sexual orientation.. It is well known that defining is limiting, and this becomes especially obvious when what is being defined is something as subjective as patterns of sexual attraction and the different criteria used to determine whether something is sexually attractive or not.

How do we name what we find desirable? Isn't sexuality experienced as something linked to specific moments, contexts and moods?

The main types of sexual orientation

What attracts us (or not) to people are not concrete and immutable elements that belong to them and that can be worn like a new shirt. We can never say with certainty from where the desire that someone in particular produces in us is born, and even less can we be sure that this element will always be attractive to us.

However, it is becoming increasingly common to talk about a range of types of sexual orientation, it is becoming more and more common to talk about a range of sexual orientation types that with time is gaining 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 nuanced.

Categories created by science?

The fact that more and more proposals are being made to diversify the variants of sexual orientation does not detract from the fact that the "homosexuality - heterosexuality" dichotomy is still in force and in many circles people and their inclinations are still classified into these two categories. The reason is that these two concepts have an objective basis: the Biological sex of individuals. The other types of sexual orientation, however, are based on subjective phenomena, for better or worse..

The denominations or labels to define multiple types of sexuality are not born from the field of psychology or biology, but appear rather as part of a socially rooted initiative (historically linked to movements in favor of equality) to vindicate and give visibility to ways of living sexuality that are overshadowed by the norm: heterosexuality.

This means that behind the creation of these categories to name the different types of sexual orientations there is no pretension to label each and every one of the variants that we could identify if we set our minds to it, nor is there a desire to find ways of experiencing sex that coincide with certain organic bases (unusual neuronal connections between certain areas, atypical functioning of some parts of the brain, etc.).

These are not concepts made to serve the purposes of science, but to achieve a social impact. In particular, what is intended by using these terms is that people who tend to live an alternative kind of sexual orientation are more sensitively embraced.

Can we talk about the most important types of sexual orientation?

If delimiting what is and what is not a type of sexual orientation different from another is already complicated, it is even more complicated to talk about which are the most important ones. This is something subjective and depends on arbitrary criteria to order sexual orientations from greater to lesser importance, and which, ultimately, do not tell us anything about whether one is more important than another. and which, in the end, tell us nothing about whether one is more valid than another.

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 subject can begin to investigate.

Types of sexual orientation

Here is an explanation of each of the most studied types of sexual orientation.

1. Heterosexuality

It is the sexual orientation defined by the attraction towards people of the opposite sexexclusively. It is possibly the most common type of sexual orientation.

2. Homosexuality

Characterized by the sexual attraction directed exclusively towards persons of the same sex. Homosexual men are popularly referred to as gayswhile women are lesbians.

3. Bisexuality

Sexual attraction to persons of the same sex and of the opposite sex, although not necessarily with the same frequency or intensity in either case.although not necessarily with the same frequency or intensity in either case.

4. Pansexuality

Sexual attraction to some people, regardless of their biological sex or gender identity.regardless of their 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 occur. To learn more you can read the article on this sexual orientation.

5. Demisexuality

Demisexuality is described as the occurrence of sexual attraction only in some cases where a strong emotional or intimate bond has been previously established..

6. Lithsexuality

People with this type of sexual orientation experience attraction to other people, but do not feel the need to be reciprocated..

7. Autosexuality

In autosexuality attraction is experienced towards oneselfwithout this having to be synonymous with narcissism. It can be understood as a way of nurturing affection or self-love.

8. Antrosexuality

This concept This concept can be used to identify people who experience their sexuality without knowing in which category to identify themselves and/or without feeling the need to and/or without feeling the need to classify themselves in any of them.

9. Polysexuality

In this type of sexual orientation one is attracted to various groups of people with specific gender identities.. Depending on the criteria used for classification, polysexuality can be understood as overlapping 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 its negation. You can read more about asexuality in this article.