Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, both genders or none. It is related to a person's sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share this attraction. Sexual identity is how individuals perceive their sexuality and how they label themselves. This can include one's sexual orientation but also encompasses other components, such as personal and cultural beliefs about sexuality, preferred labels or terms, and disclosing or discussing one's sexuality with others. For instance, a person might be attracted to people of the same sex, which is typically described as a homosexual orientation but prefer to identify as queer.
Even though attraction to people of the opposite (biological) sex can be expected, as it is the foundation of human reproduction, humans have a long history of same-sex attraction and relations. However, the concept of homosexuality as a sexual orientation did not exist in these societies in the same way it does today, and, as a rule, ancient cultures didn’t categorize people based on their sexual identities or preferences.
Even the concept of heterosexuality, as it's understood today, is relatively recent in historical terms, with the term only dating back to the late 19th century. When first introduced into English-language medical texts in the 1890s, heterosexuality was used in a pathological context. It was used to describe a form of 'sexual perversion' referring to an excessive or obsessive interest in the opposite sex. This was a period when procreative sex within marriage was the accepted norm, and any excessive sexual interest, regardless of the gender involved, was considered suspect or deviant.
The term ‘homosexuality’ was introduced by European sexologists, who were the first to categorize sexual attraction to persons of the same sex as a distinct psychological and behavioral type. The word, as well as the opposite term ‘heterosexual’, was coined by the Hungarian journalist Karl-Maria Kertbeny, who was arguing against a Prussian anti-sodomy law. While the term ‘gay’ is mainly used to refer to men attracted to men specifically, it can still be used more broadly to refer to both men and women who are attracted to the same sex. The label used more commonly for women with a same-sex attraction to women is, of course, ‘lesbian’.
Over time, people started to create labels for sexual orientations other than heterosexual and homosexual based on their own or others’ sexual orientation. The most common sexual orientations, other than heterosexual and homosexual (gay or lesbian), mentioned in articles and surveys currently are:
Even though attraction to people of the opposite (biological) sex can be expected, as it is the foundation of human reproduction, humans have a long history of same-sex attraction and relations. However, the concept of homosexuality as a sexual orientation did not exist in these societies in the same way it does today, and, as a rule, ancient cultures didn’t categorize people based on their sexual identities or preferences.
Even the concept of heterosexuality, as it's understood today, is relatively recent in historical terms, with the term only dating back to the late 19th century. When first introduced into English-language medical texts in the 1890s, heterosexuality was used in a pathological context. It was used to describe a form of 'sexual perversion' referring to an excessive or obsessive interest in the opposite sex. This was a period when procreative sex within marriage was the accepted norm, and any excessive sexual interest, regardless of the gender involved, was considered suspect or deviant.
The term ‘homosexuality’ was introduced by European sexologists, who were the first to categorize sexual attraction to persons of the same sex as a distinct psychological and behavioral type. The word, as well as the opposite term ‘heterosexual’, was coined by the Hungarian journalist Karl-Maria Kertbeny, who was arguing against a Prussian anti-sodomy law. While the term ‘gay’ is mainly used to refer to men attracted to men specifically, it can still be used more broadly to refer to both men and women who are attracted to the same sex. The label used more commonly for women with a same-sex attraction to women is, of course, ‘lesbian’.
Over time, people started to create labels for sexual orientations other than heterosexual and homosexual based on their own or others’ sexual orientation. The most common sexual orientations, other than heterosexual and homosexual (gay or lesbian), mentioned in articles and surveys currently are:
- Bisexual: People who are attracted to both men and women. The degree of attraction does not have to be equally split and can vary over time.
- Pansexual: People who can be attracted to anyone, including individuals who do not identify with their gender. Pansexual individuals are not aware of or do not consider the gender of the person they are attracted to, which is why they are considered gender blind.
- Omnisexual: People who can be attracted to anyone, including individuals who do not identify with their gender. Unlike pansexual individuals, omnisexual individuals consider the gender of the person they are attracted to. They may have a slight gender preference when it comes to attraction but not a specific gender requirement.
- Asexual: People who do not experience sexual attraction, although they may still experience romantic attraction. Asexuality is not the same as celibacy, which is the conscious decision to abstain from sexual activity.
- Demisexual: People who only experience sexual attraction once a deep emotional connection has been formed.
- Queer: A broad term that can be used to describe any sexual orientation or gender identity that does not conform to heterosexual and cisgender norms. Some people use it to avoid categorizing themselves more precisely. Anyone under the LGBTQ+ spectrum can use it.
- Questioning: This term is often used to refer to individuals who are unsure about or are still exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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The changes in the self-reported sexual orientation of students over the last two decades have been even more dramatic than the changes for gender identity. The data from my survey show a remarkable change in a short period of time. Among millennial respondents, 87% chose heterosexual, 7% bisexual, 3% homosexual (gay/lesbian), 2.5% pansexual, and 0.5% asexual.
A far lower percentage of Gen Z respondents identified as heterosexual (77%) and more Gen Zers were bisexual (13%), homosexual (gay/lesbian) (4.5%), pansexual (3%), asexual (1.5%) or selected a sexual orientation other than those mentioned. Among female Gen Z students, only 75% identified as heterosexual compared with 85% of male students. The majority of male students who are not heterosexual identify as bisexual or homosexual (gay). Among female students, 60% of non-heterosexual students are bisexual, and the rest are mainly homosexual (lesbian) or pansexual. Other sexual orientations mentioned by males and/or females were asexual, bicurious, demisexual, omnisexual, queer, questioning, and combinations of two orientations. However, the major change in sexual orientation, which also exposed a gap between male and female Gen Z students, happened during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2016 and 2020, almost 90% of respondents (88% of females and 92% of males) selected heterosexual as their sexual orientation. That number dropped down to 69% for 2021/2022 (64% for females and 81% for males). Now, more than one in five female Gen Z students are bisexual (21%), and 5% each consider themselves homosexual (lesbian) or pansexual. Among male Gen Z students who are not heterosexual, equal shares of 7% identify as bisexual or homosexual (gay). |
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