In this sex-ed wiki article, we will explore Bisexuality. You will learn what it means, who it describes, and how it fits into the wider spectrum of attraction and identity. Bisexual, also known as bisexuality or shortened simply to bi, is one of the most widely recognised sexual orientations. It describes attraction to both men and women and is a common identity for people whose feelings are not limited to a single gender.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual IdentityBisexual describes a person who is attracted to both men and women. The word itself reflects this, with the prefix bi meaning two. The broader concept is referred to as bisexuality, and the short form bi is often used by bisexual people when talking about themselves. The key idea is that attraction is directed towards both of the two genders rather than being limited to only one.
In simple terms, sexual orientation describes who someone is attracted to. For bisexual people, that attraction includes both men and women, though the balance and nature of that attraction can look different from one person to the next.
For someone who is bisexual, attraction can work in many different ways. Some bi people feel roughly equal attraction to men and women, while others may feel a stronger pull towards one at certain times and the other at different times. Attraction can include physical, sexual, and romantic feelings, though romantic attraction is a separate topic. Bisexuality does not mean attraction is split exactly in half, and it does not mean a bisexual person is attracted to everyone they meet. It simply means that both men and women can be part of who they are drawn to.
Bisexuality sits in the part of the attraction spectrum where attraction is directed towards both sexes. It stands alongside orientations such as heterosexual, which focuses on attraction to the opposite sex, and homosexual, which focuses on attraction to the same sex. Bisexual people may find that their experience overlaps with pansexual or fluidsexual people, since all of these orientations describe attraction that is not limited to one sex. Not everyone fits perfectly into a single label, and many bi people find that the term feels broad enough to reflect their experience while still being clear and familiar.
Sexual orientation describes who someone is attracted to, while attraction types describe how that attraction works. Bisexual is about the who, meaning attraction to both men and women. A bi person can also have a specific attraction type. For example, someone can be bisexual and also demisexual, meaning they only feel attraction after forming a strong emotional bond. The two work together and describe different parts of the same overall experience, giving a fuller picture of how a person relates to attraction and identity.
One common misconception is that bisexual people are confused or cannot make up their minds. This is not accurate. Bisexuality is a clear and recognised orientation, not a state of indecision. Another misconception is that bi people are always equally attracted to both sexes, when in reality attraction can lean more strongly in one direction and still be genuinely bisexual. It is also sometimes assumed that bisexuality is only a phase on the way to being heterosexual or homosexual, but for many people it is a lasting and stable part of who they are. Being in a relationship with one person of a particular sex also does not change someone's bisexuality.
Bisexuality is an orientation where a person is attracted to both men and women. Also known as bisexuality or simply bi, it is one of the most widely recognised orientations and covers a wide range of experiences. Some bi people feel balanced attraction across both sexes, while others feel stronger pulls in different directions, and all of those experiences are valid. Bisexuality sits alongside many other orientations on the wider attraction spectrum and can combine with different attraction types to describe a person's full experience. For anyone whose attraction is not limited to a single sex, bisexual offers a clear and well-understood way to describe that reality.
Want to learn more? Check out other wiki articles under Sexual Orientations for easy-to-read intimate guides, sex-ed facts, and insights.
