Sexuality
A term that encompasses all aspects related to sexual behavior, including sexual acts, desires, arousal, and the overall experience that is typically associated with sexuality.
Sexuality as a social construct
Queer theory challenges the idea that sexuality is a fixed and natural aspect of a person, and instead explores how it is constructed and shaped by cultural and social forces.
It also challenges the idea that sexuality is a private matter that should be confined to the realm of the individual, and instead emphasises the importance of understanding sexuality as a social and political issue. This includes examining how sexual identities and practices are regulated and policed by various institutions and discourses in society, and how they intersect with other forms of oppression and marginalisation.
Sexual Scripts
In society, there are many dominant narratives that shape a persons sexuality. These narratives are called sexual scripts , which refer to the cultural expectations and norms that shape how individuals are supposed to behave sexually in different contexts, such as on a date, during sexual encounters, or in relationships. They can include expectations around who initiates sexual activity, what types of activities are considered acceptable or desirable, and how sexual pleasure is supposed to be expressed. Sexual scripts can vary based on factors such as gender, sexual orientation, and cultural background, and they can be influenced by media, family values, religious beliefs, and other social factors.
Sexuality vs. Sexual Orientation
Sexuality encompasses the many aspects of human sexual experience, while sexual orientation specifically refers to an individual's enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions. Below are some common labels used to describe sexual orientations. Click each flag for a definition of the sexual orientation that it represents. This is not a exhaustive list.
Straight/
Heterosexual
People who are attracted to people of a different gender than one's own.
Gay Man
Men who are attracted to other men
Lesbian
Women who are attacted to other women.
Bisexual
People who are attracted to two or more genders.
Asexual
People who experience little or no sexual attraction to others.
Pansexual
People who are attracted to people regardless of their gender identity.
"Sexuality is not just about sex. It's about intimacy, connection, pleasure, and identity."
- Emily Nagoski
- Emily Nagoski
Further Reading
Sex & Sexuality: Crash Course Sociology #31 - This video explores the concepts of sex and sexuality in the context of sociology.
Understanding Sexual Orientation From a Psychological Perspective by ThoughtCo - This article breaks down the concept of sexual orientation.