What Is Sexuality?

Sexuality is an umbrella term used to describe a wide array of sex-related attitudes, values, feelings and experiences. ⁽¹⁾ While sexuality is deeply personal, it can also be influenced by everything from familial and cultural beliefs to political leanings and education.

Sexual orientation, a major component of sexuality, deals with the nature of someone’s sexual attraction and romantic relationships. ⁽²⁾ Essentially, orientation is about who someone is attracted to physically, mentally, and emotionally. People may be attracted to individuals of the same gender, of another gender, of all genders, or of no set gender at all. They may choose to identify with labels like gay, lesbian, bisexual, or asexual or opt to refuse labels altogether.

In addition to sexual orientation, sexuality covers these other key topics:

• Sensuality and intimacy. This is how people choose to express and enjoy sex-related activities. This may include sexual expression and sexual acts as well as the structure of intimate and/or romantic relationships (e.g., monogamy, open relationships, polyamory, etc.). ⁽³⁾
• Gender identity. Gender is a social construct that exists as a spectrum. ⁽⁴⁾ While people are traditionally assigned male or female at birth, today there is increasing recognition of gender as an important part of someone’s expression and identity rather than a singular label. In addition to the traditional male and female genders, some other gender identities include nonbinary, bigender, pangender, and transgender.
• Sexual health. This part of sexuality encompasses everything from the physical health of reproductive organs to how people understand and wield their sexual agency. ⁽¹⁾ Some aspects of sexual health are introduced during sex ed classes in school, while others (such as overcoming sexual dysfunction) are incredibly nuanced and may take years and professional guidance to fully grasp.

What Is Sexuality?

Sexuality is an umbrella term used to describe a wide array of sex-related attitudes, values, feelings and experiences. ⁽¹⁾ While sexuality is deeply personal, it can also be influenced by everything from familial and cultural beliefs to political leanings and education.

Sexual orientation, a major component of sexuality, deals with the nature of someone’s sexual attraction and romantic relationships. ⁽²⁾ Essentially, orientation is about who someone is attracted to physically, mentally, and emotionally. People may be attracted to individuals of the same gender, of another gender, of all genders, or of no set gender at all. They may choose to identify with labels like gay, lesbian, bisexual, or asexual or opt to refuse labels altogether.

In addition to sexual orientation, sexuality covers these other key topics:

• Sensuality and intimacy. This is how people choose to express and enjoy sex-related activities. This may include sexual expression and sexual acts as well as the structure of intimate and/or romantic relationships (e.g., monogamy, open relationships, polyamory, etc.). ⁽³⁾
• Gender identity. Gender is a social construct that exists as a spectrum. ⁽⁴⁾ While people are traditionally assigned male or female at birth, today there is increasing recognition of gender as an important part of someone’s expression and identity rather than a singular label. In addition to the traditional male and female genders, some other gender identities include nonbinary, bigender, pangender, and transgender.
• Sexual health. This part of sexuality encompasses everything from the physical health of reproductive organs to how people understand and wield their sexual agency. ⁽¹⁾ Some aspects of sexual health are introduced during sex ed classes in school, while others (such as overcoming sexual dysfunction) are incredibly nuanced and may take years and professional guidance to fully grasp.