Compares and contrasts heterosexuality, homosexuality, asexuality, and bisexuality.
In the past, heterosexuality was seen as the normal sexual orientation for most people. All other types of sexuality, such as bisexuality, asexuality, and homosexuality were seen as deviant forms of sexual behavior. However, in recent years, these lifestyles have become more accepted by society. This paper illustrates the lifestyles and possible explanations for different sexual orientations for the purpose of comparing and contrasting them with heterosexuality.
“Bisexuality is defined as being the “sexual attraction to people of both sexes” (Macionis 2002:202). Kinsey believed that almost everyone, regardless of sexual orientation has had some sort of both heterosexual and homosexual experiences and that there were very few people who were exclusively heterosexual or homosexual. McWhirter (1990) suggests that a person is not attracted to two different sexes at the same time, but goes through phases in which he or she will be attracted to different sexes at different times, depending on what pleases their present mood or sexual desires. So, in theory, bisexualism is neither just homosexual nor heterosexual, but it is both types of sexual orientation, just apparent at different times (McWhirter 1990:255-256).”