There seems to be quite a bit of confusion, misinformation, and general ignorance about sexual orientation and gender.
Let's get some clarification.
Your equipment identifies your GENDER
Male- you are born with a penis and testicles.
Man- you were born a male, grew into a boy, and matured to an adult.
Female- you are born with a vagina, a womb, a uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries.
Woman- you were born a female, grew into a girl, and matured to an adult.
Intersexed- Ambiguous genitalia. You are born with genitalia that could either be a female with a large clitoris and labia that are semi closed or genitalia that closely resembles that of a male with a small penis with a scrotum that resembles a vagina. In many instances, the parents and doctors assign a gender and perform surgery at birth to "correct" the problem but many of the individuals are then left with gender confusion as they mature. Intersexed babies are born at a fairly high rate, as many as 1 out of 100 births.
Transgendered- your identity doesn't match your genitals. Your body is either male or female but your identity, the way you navigate the world, the way you feel, the gender you identify with most is opposite to the packaging. In most instances, the brain of a transgendered person is physically formed similar to that of the opposite gender as well as their chromosomal makeup more closely resemebles the gender of the sex they most identify with. Some trans men and women desire gender reorientation surgery to "correct" their gender. Some trans individuals are content to simply live as passable (with breast augmentation and/or hormone therapy, etc) and don't feel a need to have sex reassignment.
Cross dressers or transvestites- individuals who don't live 24/7 as the opposite gender, who don't want gender reassignment surgery, but who simply enjoy wearing the clothing of the opposte gender for sexual arousal.
Hermaphrodite- you are born with a penis and vagina. VERY rare.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION identifies to whom you are attracted.
Heterosexual means you are attracted to the opposite gender. There's no room for creative definitions. If you are aroused, attracted to, or participate in sex with a person of the same gender, you can not consider yourself heterosexual. Being in denial or lying doesn't make you heterosexual either.
Bisexual means you are aroused by, attracted to, or have sex with people of the same gender. There is no rule that says you have to be attracted to both genders EQUALLY to be bisexual. There are 14 types of bisexuality that covers curiosity, to emotional attraction, to physical attraction, to situational experimentation and a whole host of other levels of bisexuality.
Pansexual means you are attracted to all genders, including the transgendered and intersexed.
Asexual means you don't experience sexual arousal
Hope that clears some things up.
1 comment:
That was great! There is so much confusion about these definitions and you laid them out very clearly. I work with kids and see how they struggle with coming into their sexuality in a world which likes to prescribe their roles for them. It's sad that most young people don't learn about things other than the 'norm' until they are much older. Unfortunately, many who do not fit into the 'norm' go through a lot of pain and discomfort trying to fit in or be accepted.
Post a Comment