Sexual fluidity in the new millennium

Where do you rate on the scale of sexual fluidity? Also known as elastic sexuality, sexual fluidity is based on Alfred Kinsey’s Kinsey Scale which he created in 1948. This scale rates homosexual or lesbian tendencies of men and women, which could be measured from zero to six.

Since then, the spotlight now on sexual fluidity is about people finding that the line between sexes isn’t as solid as they thought.

The range of sexual fluidity

According to the Wall Street Journal: “Sexual fluidity is the degree to which our sexual preferences can change over time. The more sexually fluid person will have sexual responses that shift, often depending on their situation or environment. They have an inherent sexual orientation, but still might find themselves responding to new, unexpected people or situations, either within or outside their orientation.”

More importantly, sexual fluidity is gaining prominence in a post-gay era as more people become more candid and accepting of the idea that gender could become irrelevant. Note that this shouldn’t be confused with bisexuality, i.e. where being bisexual is considered a sexual orientation label.

It also helps that celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Lily-Rose Depp, and Kristen Stewart identify themselves as sexually fluid. In a recent interview with Nylon Magazine, Stewart said, “I think in three or four years, there are going to be a whole lot more people who don’t think it’s necessary to figure out if you’re gay or straight. It’s like, just do your thing.”

Elasticity in sexual fluidity

But while sexual fluidity applies to both man and woman, the pattern seen in the last few decades is that there is more elasticity in the sexuality of women.

Psychologists, such as lead researcher Dr Elizabeth McClintock from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, believe that, depending on favourable options, women are more flexible in choosing their partners.

Men, on the other hand, have a more concrete preference for partners. There is less tendency for men to fall for both sexes.

According to their research, one big factor is that women follow their emotions when choosing their partner. Because of this, the personality of the person will weigh more than the person’s gender when women are selecting for a relationship.

In conclusion, if we were to follow the Kinsey Scale of Sexual Behaviour, zero would mean exclusively heterosexual while six would mean exclusively lesbian. In between, there would be a wide range of people with varying sexually fluidity.