The word "bisexual" is derived from Latin bi meaning "two", but can also be understood as being drawn towards both sides or having dual attractions. Bisexuality refers to attraction to more than one gender or sex. It encompasses people who are attracted to men and women, regardless of their sexual orientation. Some people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, or pansexual, while others consider themselves agender or nonbinary. Sexual identity is a complex issue that varies across individuals and cultures. There is no universal definition for it, making bisexuality difficult to define. Nevertheless, the term has been widely used since the 19th century.
Sexual development plays an important role in understanding bisexuality. It begins at birth when babies learn to interact with objects and other people. This process is called object permanence, which allows infants to understand the world around them. They begin to recognize patterns between things they see and touch. As children grow older, they begin to form friendships with peers. These relationships often involve physical contact such as handholding, hugging, and kissing.
By adolescence, teenagers have become aware of their own bodies and those of others. Their sexual feelings tend to deepen due to increased exposure to media, television shows, movies, books, magazines, and music videos. During this period, many teens experience sexual arousal and curiosity. They start exploring different sexual orientations by experimenting with friends or family members. At the same time, they develop close emotional bonds with platonic partners, usually through dating websites like Tinder or OkCupid.
The term "platonic" refers to relationships devoid of romantic or erotic components. Platonic relationships include close ties between friends who share a common interest. They may engage in activities together or discuss personal issues without any expectation of sex. Some people believe that these types of relationships are necessary for healthy development because they provide emotional support and companionship. Others argue that they can be detrimental if one partner becomes emotionally dependent on another.
In my case, intimate relationships helped me understand my sexual orientation. When I was a teenager, I had several girlfriends but also felt attracted to boys. My female friends were open about their sexuality and taught me how to explore it. We shared secrets and exchanged pictures on social networks. This made me realize that my attraction to women was more than just physical. My first boyfriend was also bisexual and introduced me to gay pornography, which opened up new possibilities in my mind. Our relationship lasted two years before ending badly.
Platonic relationships also contributed to my development as a bisexual person. I have always been shy around men and prefer having male friends over male lovers.
I enjoyed spending time with them and felt comfortable doing things we could not do with our significant others. Sometimes we would go out drinking or hiking without making any plans. Other times we would just hang out at home watching movies together. These friendships allowed me to explore different aspects of myself beyond the bedroom. They gave me confidence and boosted my self-esteem, which is essential in today's competitive world.
Intimacy and platonic relationships play an important role in understanding one's sexual identity. For me, they confirmed what I already knew: I am bisexual and proud of it!
How have intimate and platonic relationships contributed to your development, affirmation, and understanding of bisexuality?
Intimacy plays an important role for every individual's identity formation and self-discovery. Thus, for many people with sexual identities outside of heterosexuality, romantic and nonromantic relationship experiences can be especially influential in their exploration of their sexual orientation and gender expression. In this way, intimate and platonic relationships are significant factors that contribute to bisexual individuals' development, affirmation, and understanding of their sexual orientation.