Tiffany Haney
Pansexuality is a sexual orientation that refers to the romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attraction to people of all genders or regardless of their sex or gender identity. The term pansexual first appeared in the early 1900s and is derived from the Ancient Greek pan, meaning all, every. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others. While pansexuality is sometimes considered a distinct sexual orientation, it is also sometimes viewed as a branch of bisexuality, as both encompass attraction to more than one gender. However, the key difference is that bisexuality can imply varying levels of preference for different genders, whereas pansexuality suggests a lack of gender preference. Ultimately, individuals are free to choose the label that best fits their personal experience of attraction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity |
| Synonyms | Omnisexuality |
| Etymology | The prefix "pan-" comes from the Ancient Greek "πᾶν" (pan), meaning "all, every" |
| History | The term "pansexuality" emerged in the 1990s, although it appeared earlier in the 1970s and was used by celebrities in the 1950s-60s |
| Relationship to bisexuality | Pansexuality is sometimes considered a branch of bisexuality, but some people distinguish between the two, arguing that bisexuality can mean attraction to multiple genders, but not necessarily all |
| Relationship to other sexualities | Pansexuality is one of many sexual orientations, including bisexuality, homosexuality, asexuality, and polysexuality |
| Stereotypes | Pansexuality is sometimes associated with stereotypes, such as the idea that pansexual people are sexually forward or less likely to be monogamous, but these are misconceptions |
| Individual variation | People may identify with different sexual orientations at different times, and their definitions of these orientations may vary |
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What You'll Learn
Pansexual vs. bisexual
Pansexuality and bisexuality are related but distinct concepts. Pansexuality is the romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attraction to people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity. The prefix "pan-" comes from the Ancient Greek "πᾶν" ("pan"), meaning "all, every". People who identify as pansexual may be attracted to some people and not others, but the gender of the person is not a factor in their attraction.
Bisexuality, on the other hand, involves attraction to people of two or more genders, but not necessarily all. The prefix "bi-" implies sexual or romantic attraction to two sexes or genders. People who identify as bisexual may be attracted to multiple genders, but they may have a preference for one gender over another. For example, someone who is bisexual may be attracted to men, women, and non-binary people, but they may prefer women.
Some people use the terms "bisexual" and "pansexual" interchangeably, and there is overlap between the two orientations. However, the key distinction is that bisexuality includes a preference for certain genders, while pansexuality does not. Pansexuality explicitly rejects the gender binary and includes attraction to people who do not identify as strictly men or women, such as those who are agender or gender-fluid.
The terms "pansexual" and "pansexualism" were first attested in 1914, coined by opponents of Sigmund Freud to denote the idea that the sex instinct plays the primary part in all human activity. The term "pansexuality" emerged in the 1990s as a sexual identity or orientation, while the pansexual flag was designed and posted on a Tumblr blog in 2010.
Some people may prefer to identify as bisexual even if they are technically pansexual, as the term "bisexual" is more commonly recognized and understood by society at large. Additionally, some people who previously identified as pansexual may switch to using the label bisexual as a reclamation of sorts, to counter biphobia. Ultimately, people are free to choose their sexual orientation according to how they feel, and they can change their orientation label over time.
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Pansexual vs. polysexual
Pansexuality and polysexuality are distinct sexual orientations that both describe attraction to multiple genders. However, there are important differences between the two terms.
Pansexuality is defined as an attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender. Some pansexuals describe themselves as being "gender-blind", indicating that gender is not a factor in their attraction to others. Pansexuality is derived from the Greek root "pan", meaning "all". This suggests that pansexual people are attracted to all genders. However, it is important to note that pansexuality does not necessarily mean attraction to all genders in every case. For some pansexual individuals, gender may be a factor, but it is not the primary determinant of attraction. Instead, they may be attracted to individuals of any gender because of their personality or character.
Polysexuality, on the other hand, is the attraction to multiple, but not necessarily all, genders. The prefix "poly" means "many", indicating that polysexual individuals may be attracted to a wide range of genders but not all of them. For example, a polysexual person might be attracted to all genders except men, or only to non-binary and genderfluid individuals. Polysexuality is, therefore, a more flexible and individual-specific term, as it does not prescribe attraction to any particular gender or combination of genders.
Both pansexuality and polysexuality describe attraction beyond the binary of male and female. However, the key distinction is that pansexuality implies attraction to people of any gender, whereas polysexuality allows for the possibility of certain genders being excluded from an individual's sphere of attraction. This distinction is important to some people, as it can influence how they perceive and understand their sexual identity.
It is worth noting that the terms pansexuality, polysexuality, bisexuality, and omnisexuality are often used interchangeably or confused with one another. This is partly because bisexuality can be understood as an umbrella term that includes polysexuality, pansexuality, and omnisexuality. However, some people prefer to make a distinction between these terms based on the number of genders a person is attracted to and whether gender is a factor in their attraction. For example, omnisexuality can be defined as attraction to all genders with a preference for certain genders, while pansexuality is typically understood as attraction to all genders without a preference.
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Pansexual vs. omnisexual
The terms "pansexual" and "omnisexual" are often used interchangeably, and both fall under the multisexual umbrella. However, there are subtle differences between the two.
Pansexuality, derived from the Greek prefix "pan" meaning "all", is the attraction to people of all genders, regardless of gender. Pansexual people are gender-blind, meaning gender does not play a role in their attraction to others.
Omnisexuality, derived from the Latin prefix "omni" meaning "all", is also the attraction to people of all genders. However, omnisexual people do recognize the gender of potential partners, and gender can play a role in their attraction. Some omnisexual people may have preferences or fluctuations in attraction to different genders.
It is important to note that individuals may strongly identify with one label and not the other, and the specific choice of terminology is important to respect. While the terms have similar meanings, they are not interchangeable for everyone.
Some people use the terms omnisexual and pansexual to indicate that they recognize gender fluidity or that there are more than two genders. The omnisexual pride flag, which first appeared on Tumblr in 2016, includes light pink and light blue stripes to represent the gender spectrum, with other colors representing attraction to femininity, masculinity, and people whose gender falls outside of these categories.
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The history of the term 'pansexual'
The history of the term "pansexual" is closely linked to the evolution of human understanding of gender and sexuality. While the term itself may be relatively new, the concept it describes is ancient, with many ancient cultures recognizing that people could be attracted to more than one gender.
The term "pansexual" first appeared in the early 20th century, derived from the Greek prefix "pan-", meaning "all", and "sexual". It was first used in the field of psychology by Sigmund Freud, who posited that people are naturally bisexual and that sex was a motivator of all human behaviour. This theory was later expanded upon by Magnus Hirschfeld, who believed that people could be attracted to both sexes. Freud's term "pan-sexualism" was used to characterize sexual deviancy, and it was coined by his opponents to criticize his methods and theories.
In the 1970s, the term "pansexual" emerged as a descriptor of a person's sexual identity or orientation, particularly within BDSM and queer communities. It was used to indicate a person's attraction to a wide array of sexual experiences, without being restricted by gender. The term continued to gain popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, with an uptick in searches for the term starting in 2004 and a peak in 2012.
The current meaning of "pansexual" has evolved thanks to the spirit of activism and the desire to reclaim one's identity on one's own terms. It is now used to describe a person attracted to people of all genders, regardless of their gender identity, and is often seen as a more inclusive and progressive form of sexuality than bisexuality. Early online communities, such as the LiveJournal group "I Am Pansexual", played a significant role in the growth and spread of the term.
In recent years, the term has become even more visible due to several factors: the rise of social media and the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, its usage by celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, and Bella Thorne, and its inclusion in popular culture, such as in the TV show Schitt's Creek and the Star Wars and superhero franchises.
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The pansexual flag
Pansexuality is defined as the sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity. The prefix "pan" comes from the Ancient Greek "πᾶν" (pan), meaning "all, every". Pansexual people may refer to themselves as "gender-blind", asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others. Pansexuality is considered a sexual orientation in its own right, or sometimes as a branch of bisexuality, as both identities involve attraction to more than one gender. However, pansexuality explicitly rejects the gender binary and includes attraction to people who are intersex or outside the gender binary.
The use of the pansexual flag and other pride flags has been met with some criticism due to their colour schemes. Some people may prefer the rainbow flag, which is seen as more vibrant and inclusive. However, the pansexual flag's colours have specific meanings and represent the attraction towards different genders. The flag is meant to empower and connect individuals within the pansexual community, providing a sense of belonging and fostering love, inclusion, and unity.
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Frequently asked questions
Pansexuality is the romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attraction to people of any gender or to people regardless of their gender. The prefix "pan" comes from the Greek for "all". Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others.
Bisexuality generally refers to attraction to more than one gender, whereas pansexuality refers to attraction to all genders. However, some people use the terms interchangeably.
The term "pansexuality" emerged as a term for a sexual identity or sexual orientation in the 1990s, but the word "pansexual" has been attested as a term for a variety of attractions since the 1970s.
