In my Sex, Gender and Disciplines class I learned a new concept: sexual fluidity. Growing up, I thought sexual orientations consisted of three categories: heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual. In my household, I wasn’t allowed to talk about sexual orientations, since it made some of my family members uncomfortable to discuss. It wasn’t until I met one of my best friends who is gay that I started to understand more about the LGBT community and the fact that sexuality can be fluid. I used to think sexual fluidity was another term for bisexual, but it in fact is the opposite. The article, Debunking Myths About Sexual Fluidity, says the difference between bisexuality and sexual fluidity is that bisexuality is the sexual attraction of both sexes, while sexual fluidity is sexual preferences that change over time.

One of my closest friends who identified with being straight in high school started exploring both men and women in college. She began to identify herself more with being bisexual, but now she mostly dates women. Though I’m not sure if she would consider herself lesbian now, I know she was very fluid in exploring her sexuality. It seems sexual fluidity gets a fair amount of controversy, because some people may feel like others have a choice when they identify with being sexually fluid instead of choosing a sexual orientation.

Several celebrities identify with being sexually fluid, such as Kristen Stewart, Miley Cyrus and Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny Depp’s daughter. According to The Wall Street Journal Article, Kristen Stewart, Miley Cyrus and the Rise of Sexual Fluidity, Kristen Stewart does not label her sexuality and nor does Miley Cyrus. Lily-Rose Depp came out as sexually fluid as part of the Self Evident Truths project, which is a “photographic document of 10,000 people in the U.S.A that identify as anything other than 100% straight.” The purpose of the project is to spread awareness about the broader approach to human sexuality by erasing the boundaries of specific sexual orientations.

One of my favorite TV shows, Empire, addressed the topic of sexual fluidity. Jussie Smollett, who plays Jamal Lyon who identifies with being gay on the show, decides to have a brief relationship with a woman played by Alicia Keys. On the show Jamal receives a lot of backlash from the LGBT community, because of his decision to be sexually fluid in his relationships. A short film, Blue Girls Burn Fast, by actress and activist, Amandla Stenberg, addresses sexual fluidity about a teenage girl who tries to make sense of her personal life.

The article, Who Has the More Fluid Sexuality: Men or Women?, discusses a recent study that came out last year from the University of Notre Dame. The study followed over 9,000 participants over a period of 14 years from about 16 years old to 28 years old. Participants over the years were asked questions about their sexual experiences and sexual labels. After the study was conducted, researchers found that women were more likely to report being sexually fluid, while men more likely reported being “100 percent homosexual” or “100 percent heterosexual.” The book, Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women’s Love and Desire, by American Psychologist and feminist, Lisa M. Diamond, explores this topic as she contains examples of women who identified with being straight, but had other relationships with women over time. According to Diamond’s findings, it wasn’t that these women’s sexual orientations changed, but that they developed relationships with either men or women based on romantic or emotional bonding; not romantic attraction or desire.

A new blog called Flexuality tests and educates individuals on sexuality fluidity by allowing individuals to take a test to help better identify their sexual preferences on a broader spectrum, as well as a better understanding of different sexual types that may overlap. Though some people may be surprised or afraid by their results, it provided a lot of clarity for me as it affirmed and questioned by sexuality. As a 20-year-old college woman, I continue to explore my sexuality. Though I identify with being straight, I find myself living in a generation that is more confident and comfortable with living without sexual labels.