WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PANSEXUALITY & BISEXUALITY?

Have you ever thought of understanding the differences between pansexuality and bisexuality but do not know how? Well, herein is a complete guide on the definition of pansexuality & bisexuality, differences, sexuality, and how to identify each of them.

Pansexuality and sexuality are technical terms used in describing different sexual orientations. Sexuality is understood in different ways and can also be identified differently. Generally, people are born with different sexuality, but this does not mean they are not normal. Like any straight human being with the intended sexual organs, pansexual and bisexual people are also normal. They deserve respect as any human being with a normal sexual organ. However, the definition of pansexuality and bisexuality might vary for different people.

Moreover, they might be related but have distinctive concepts. Numerous gender identities and sexual orientation exist, meaning people's definition has a high chance of varying. However, this article takes you through the differences between pansexuality and bisexuality. Also, it discusses different sexual orientations and how to identify them.

What About Pansexuality

According to Gonel (2013), pansexual orientation is where a person feels sexual attraction to any gender, including those identified as special genders. Hayfield (2020) states that pansexuals focus more on personality and character than gender. They can also be attracted to people of similar gender to them. However, someone's gender cannot be used to determine whether they are attracted sexually or not. According to Savin-Williams (2021), pansexual orientation is technically different from gender identity. While sex is commonly assigned at birth regarding your genitals, gender is equally different. Gender is something you acquire socially. People identified as pansexual can take in any gender they feel comfortable in. Generally, a pansexual person can choose to be a male, genderqueer, genderfluid, non-binary, or female, regardless of their sex at birth. Also, pansexuals can be identified as a huge spectrum with numerous experiences. This means that not all pansexual individual's experiences will be similar.

Understanding Bisexuality

Unlike pansexuality, bisexuality has numerous meanings. Bisexual orientation is where someone feels sexually attracted to several genders. Similarly, some people define their gender depending on the sex they are given at birth. But others identify themselves as either gender-fluid or agender.

Moreover, some people define bisexuality as the feeling of sexual attraction to both males and females. Furthermore, some people define bisexuality as a sexual orientation involving only two genders. But those people identified as bisexual acknowledge the existence of multiple genders. The name 'bi" means more than two. This means the person who identifies as bisexual are sexually attracted to more than one person. Also, a bisexual person can be sexually attracted to both males and females with or without taste or preference. Pansexuality is also a subset of bisexual orientation.

Differences Between Pansexuality and Bisexuality

Most people understand bisexuality as a sexual attraction to several genders. But pansexuality is a sexual attraction between the identified and all genders. There might be a difference between the two sexual orientations, but they have similar distinctions. For example, a bisexual person will feel sexually attracted to males, non-binary, agender, or gender-fluid people, but not females. According to Galupo, Henise & Mercer (2016), a pansexual person feels sexually attracted to any gender. But they still experience pansexuality in different ways. Moreover, the sexual attraction both the pansexual and bisexual person feels might vary depending on the gender, but they are sexually attracted to each other.

The Arguments Against the Pansexual Label

Here are the arguments against the pansexuality label;

Pansexuality is the Attraction to Objects and not a Real Sexual Orientation

Like bisexual orientation has no close relation to sexuality, pansexual orientation and pansexual have had a relation. However, this should not worry you since it is normal to have contradicting meanings in two different contexts.

Bisexuality is the Same as Pansexuality, So Pansexuality is Unnecessary

Bisexual orientation is feeling attracted to either 2 or multiple genders, while pansexual orientation feels sexually attracted to all genders. The definition might be similar but have different distinctions. Therefore, insisting that bisexuality is identical to pansexuality might not be right for the people identified. Generally, not all bisexual people are sexually attracted to all genders, and not all bisexual people can be identified as pansexual.

Pansexuality was Created Based on Misconceptions

It is challenging to ascertain whether pansexuality and bisexuality were created based on misconceptions. Generally, the world wide web came into the limelight in the 1990s. This means that discourse, ideas, and definitions could barely travel faster. This proves that pansexuality was not created based on misconceptions since it emerged between 1970 and 1990, before the internet was available.

Pansexuality's Existence is Harmful to Bisexual Folks

Technically, pansexuality does not have any harm to bisexuality. The misunderstanding of bisexual orientation only harms bisexual folks. This will always affect them, especially if it remains unsolved. Identifying the root cause of the problem and solving it effectively will eliminate any misunderstanding.

How to Identify Pansexuality and Bisexuality

Identifying gender identity or sexual orientation might be challenging to most people. It is challenging and confusing to the young folks who still do not understand different ideas like the spectrum. Generally, understanding different varieties of identifying what works perfectly might take along. However, understanding different sexual orientations and gender identities are essential. Moreover, an individual can identify as a pansexual or bisexual with the sexual orientation that suits their preferences. Also, no one needs to label comfort or sexuality, especially when they do not prefer it.

Subsequently, a person can also be identified using multiple terms and apply them interchangeably when describing themselves. Also, anyone, either pansexual or bisexual, can opt to change their orientation, especially when they experience changes in their attraction capacity. Generally, it is also essential to stop suppressing your thoughts or sexual feelings about sexuality.

Final Thoughts

Pansexuality and bisexuality are sexual orientations with different meanings but identical distinctions. Generally, a wide range of sexual orientations and gender identities will always define your sexuality. Bisexual and pansexual orientations differ since one is attracted to two or more gender, but pansexuality is feeling attracted to multiple or all genders.

References

Gonel, A. H. (2013). Pansexual identification in online communities: Employing a collaborative queer method to study pansexuality. Graduate Journal of Social Science, 10(1), 36-59.

Hayfield, N. (2020). 12 The invisibility of bisexual and pansexual bodies. Bisexuality in Europe: Sexual citizenship, romantic relationships, and bi+ identities, 178.

Savin-Williams, R. C. (2021). Bi: Bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and nonbinary youth. NYU Press.

Galupo, M. P., Henise, S. B., & Mercer, N. L. (2016). “The labels don't work very well”: Transgender individuals' conceptualizations of sexual orientation and sexual identity. International Journal of Transgenderism, 17(2), 93-104.