Definitions and differences between pansexual and bisexual are often overlooked. Although generally considered the same, these two types of sexual orientation actually have different meanings. To know more clearly about the difference between pansexual and bisexual, see the following review.
The definition of pansexual and bisexual is indeed similar. Both of these terms are both interpreted as a type of sexual orientation that describes a person's attraction to more than one gender. So, what exactly is the difference between pansexual and bisexual?
Kinds of Gender
Before discussing the definition of bisexual and pansexual and the differences between the two, let's first identify the various genders.
In fact, currently gender is no longer appropriate to describe biological sex, namely male and female. There are non-binary genders that are not identified as male or female, including:
- Bigender, ie someone who has 2 gender identities (male or female), either simultaneously or not
- Agenter, ie someone who does not declare his gender as male or female
- Transgender, ie someone whose gender identity is different from their biological gender
- Genderfluid, i.e. someone who changes gender over time
Definition of Bisexual
The word "bi" in bisexual means "two". That is, people with this sexual orientation have an attraction to two genders, both different and the same. For example, the term bisexual can apply to:
- A woman who is sexually or emotionally attracted to both a man and a woman
- A man who is sexually or emotionally attracted to both a man and a woman
In the example above, bisexual views gender as only divided into two types (binary), namely male and female. Even so, there are also those who think that bisexuals are people who like two genders, including non-binary gender.
Definition of Pansexual
Literally, the initial word "pan" in pansexual means "all". So, pansexual is a term to describe someone who can be sexually or emotionally attracted to all genders.
Usually, a pansexual can be attracted to or fall in love with another person regardless of their biological gender or sexual orientation, but based on their personality, abilities, or physical appearance. So, a person can be said to be pansexual if:
- A woman is attracted to men who are good at public speaking, but then can also be attracted to women, transgender people, and bigenders who have the same abilities.
- A man is attracted to a woman who has a beautiful face and long hair, but then can also be attracted to a transgender person who is also beautiful and has long hair, or a man whose face looks feminine.
Based on the above definition, it can be seen that there is a fundamental difference between pansexual and bisexual. Pansexuals do not depend their sexual preferences on one's gender, while bisexuals still have preferences based on gender.
In reality, a person may feel himself bisexual, then change to pansexual or perhaps another sexual orientation. This can sometimes lead to feelings of depression or stress.
In addition, people who are bisexual or pansexual may also be classified as demisexual, i.e. an orientation in which a person can only feel sexually attracted to people with whom he or she has a strong emotional bond. Meanwhile, sexual attraction to people who are smart or have a high level of intelligence is called sapiosexual.
If you know someone who is confused about their sexual identity or orientation, or perhaps you have experienced it yourself, don't hesitate to consult a psychologist for advice or therapy if needed.