Fluid Sexuality: what it is, concept and examples

George Alvarez 02-10-2023
George Alvarez

Society, in general, tends to establish a standard for living, among the main examples is sexual orientation. Studies show that it is a mistake to determine that if you are born with a sexual orientation, it will follow you for the rest of your life. To explain this, the American scientist Dr. Lisa Diamond brings the concept of fluid sexuality .

In short, changes concerning sexual orientation are something extremely common. people can experience different sexual attractions, which can change their current sexual orientation In other words, this means that sexual orientation and sexual desire are not rigid and can change over time.

What is sexual orientation and what are the types?

First of all, it is necessary to bring the definition of sexual orientation, which, to the concept of the term, is a person's pattern of choice about his or her sexual attraction to another. This is for the opposite sex, the same gender, or both sexes, which, in general, are divided, let's say, into groups:

  • Heterosexuals: a person is attracted to the opposite sex;
  • Homosexuals: the attraction occurs to a person of the same sex as yours;
  • Bisexual: the person is attracted to both sexes, female and male.

However, this definition is quite simple when it comes to defining sexual identity as one (or several), going beyond the groups above. As we know, there is a movement with acronyms LGBTQIAP+, which the letters represent:

  • L: Lesbians;
  • G: Gay;
  • B: Bisexual;
  • T: Transsexuals, Transgenders, Transvestites;
  • Q: Queer;
  • I: Intersex;
  • A: Asexual;
  • Q: Pansexuality;
  • +: Other sexual orientations and gender identities.

In this sense, what is demonstrated is that society tends to stipulate that your sexual orientation is fixed and unchangeable For example, "I am heterosexual and will remain so throughout my life, after all, I was born that way. sexual orientation does not work this way, and so fluid sexuality arises.

Concept of fluid sexuality

As the name implies, sexual orientation is fluid, that is, There is no pre-fixed standard, such as I am heterosexual or homosexual. But rather that over time, according to the circumstances of a person's life, they can have their sexual attraction altered.

In other words, sexual attractions show themselves to be fairly fluid over time, where some people who were exclusively attracted to one gender, over time become attracted to another gender, or to two genders. This, in short, is the definition of fluid sexuality.

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Fluid and free sexuality

So, to understand what fluid sexuality is, you must first of all understand that there are no standards about sexual attractions Studies show that over the years people may, for example, be homosexual, but as the years pass, their sexual attraction may change, and they may then identify as heterosexual.

This concept of fluid sexuality This is contrary to what many say about sexual orientation being something fixed, where, by adulthood, one usually has a fixed definition of it.

Thus, the variability around sexuality shows that as one progresses through life, amidst different relationships and circumstances, one can have various opportunities to explore sexuality. In this way, one sees many more probabilities than one might expect, and does not feel locked into a fixed, predefined sexual orientation.

In other words, the term "sexual fluidity", coined by Lisa Diamond, describes the natural change that can occur in people's orientation, desire, sexual expression, and identity throughout life. Thus, this mutability is the result of the diversity of sexuality, which is shaped by physiological factors and experiences.

However, what cannot be denied is that the field of sexuality is something quite complex, where studies seek to explain, scientifically, which are the behavioral tendencies of people. Thus, fluid sexuality is a way not to impose rigidity about people's sexual attractions, but to explain the existing freedom.

Fluid sex life

Sobremodo, as we explained, what we see is that, unfortunately, what many communities share when conceptualizing sexual identity is a belief in its fixed nature. Like the rhetoric of "born this way", usually erupted among gay movements. However, fluid sexual life is shown to be the complete opposite.

Thus, fluid sexuality can occur in a number of ways. Some people discover new attractions when they meet other people, while others find that a new sexual orientation fits better with their experience and this can bring about changes in sexual fluidity. Thus, fluid sexuality can occur, for example:

  • change in sexual attractions: Someone can experience changes in attraction over time, from attraction to a single genre to attraction to more than one genre.
  • change in sexual orientation: A person can identify as gay at one point in his life, and at another time identify as bisexual.

Human sexuality is complex

Human sexuality, as we have seen, is actually more complex than the representations of the acronyms we mentioned above.

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In this sense, an individual may, for example, desire to have sex typically with women, but be romantically attracted to people of all genders and aesthetically attracted to more androgynous forms of gender expression.

Many years later, the same individual may discover that their sexuality, ethics, and gender identity blend together and change daily over time. They may then identify as pansexual, which means that they are attracted to people regardless of their gender or gender identity.

Therefore, it is paramount to keep in mind that regardless of the reason, sexual fluidity is something that many people share and has no direct relation to negative emotional or mental health outcomes for people. For many, sexual fluidity is something that many people share. Sexual fluidity is only one of the many ways they experience sexuality throughout their lives.

Eliminating the stigmas about fluid sexuality

However, to promote standardization fluid sexuality In this way we can also overcome preconceived ideas that sexual orientation is stable, and accept the possibility of variations in sexual orientation for some people.

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As people gain experience and become more aware of themselves, their perceptions, beliefs and emotions can evolve. A sexual fluidity is an example of this ability to change over time which reflects the diversity of sexuality.

Therefore, we can all make room for this diversity by moving away from prejudices about the stability of sexual orientation and remaining open to the possibility of transformation.

Finally, as you have reached the end of this article, we invite you to understand more about the human mind and sexuality by getting to know our Psychoanalysis Training Course. Among the main benefits of the course is the enhancement, as the experience of psychoanalysis is able to provide the student and the patient/client with insights about themselves that would be practically impossible to obtain on their own.

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.