We explain what a heterosexual person is and the history of the term. Also, other sexual orientations.
What is heterosexual?
Heterosexual people are those who feel sexual or emotional attraction to people of a sex different from their own. A heterosexual woman is attracted to men and a heterosexual man is attracted to women.
The first contact with the term “heterosexuality” was at the beginning of the 20th century.when doctors were investigating possible treatments so that “heterosexuals and homosexuals become human beings with natural erotic inclinations and normal drives,” since at the time both terms referred to practices of lust towards the same sex or the opposite sex. Over time, the conception of sexual behavior as a disease was put aside and many people began to defend heterosexuality as the only valid model of emotional sexual relationships.
Currently, activist associations and citizens around the world are fighting to ensure that discrimination against all sexual orientation or behavior – in the social, cultural, legal, religious, among others – disappears.
Other sexual orientations
There are other sexual orientations among which the following stand out:
- Homosexual. That person who feels physical or emotional attraction towards a person of the same sex.
- Bisexual. That person who feels physical or emotional attraction to both people of the same sex and the opposite sex.
- Asexual. That person who does not feel any type of sexual attraction towards others.
- Pansexual. That person who feels physical or emotional attraction to other people beyond their sex or sexual or gender identity.
- Demisexual. That person who does not feel sexual attraction towards another or others unless they form a strong emotional bond.
- Antrosexual. That person who does not feel represented by any sexual orientation, and therefore establishes sexual and emotional relationships with people of any gender or sex.
- Greysexual. That person who feels sexual attraction towards another only in some specific cases.
Continue with: Gender violence
References
- “Types of sexual orientation” in Very Interesting.
- “Sexual orientations: definitions and types” in Profamilia.
- “Sexual orientation and gender identity” in American Psychological Association.
- “Sexual orientation” in KidsHealth.
