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5 commonly misused and misunderstood sexuality terms

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Jan 31, 2023, 01:00 IST
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These are the most common myths

Sex education in India is rare and even if we get it, many things are skipped out or generalised even when they are different. This has led to many misconceptions, misunderstandings and misuse of several sexual terms. So here are 5 such words and a clear explanation of what they truly mean and what you may have been thinking!

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Pansexual

A pansexual person is someone who is physically and emotionally attracted to people of all genders like Miley Cyrus & Cara Delevingne. There is an overlap between bisexuality & pansexuality even amongst the queer community. Pan stands for “all-inclusive” but some still prefer using bisexuality.

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Demisexuality

This term describes a pattern of sexual attraction in which a person is only attracted to people they are emotionally close to. This is not a distinct sexual orientation but more of an add-on to a person’s identity. They can be straight, gay, or may not have a gender preference when it comes to sexual attraction. Demisexuals do not indulge in casual sex.

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Kink

The word kink makes us think about BDSM sexual practices such as whipping, spanking, and choking. However, the word can refer to sexual activity that deviates from the social “norm”. Kinkiness is becoming more and more popular due to movies like “50 Shades…”

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Vulva

The word “vagina” is often referred to the entire female genitalia, but the vagina solely refers to the birth canal. The word vulva refers to the external parts of the female genital, including the clitoris, labia and vaginal opening. As per reports, around 70% of women don’t know where their vulva is located.

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Polyamory

Polyamory is when you practice engaging in multiple simultaneous romantic relationships, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Do not confuse this with being in an open relationship or “swinging” which, in terms of relationships, refers to someone who has casual, non-emotional sex outside of their relationship, but often does not engage in intimate, loving relationships with more than one person.



Read also: His story/Her story: “I found out my husband kissed his cousin”


Read also: Reasons why you may be having recurring dreams of your ex

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