What Does Being an Allosexual Look Like?

Allosexual. What a weird word, right? You had no idea what it meant until you looked it up a few days ago. Even after looking it up, you still didn’t quite get it. Some definitions you read said that allosexual means straight or heterosexual. That made you think everyone is allosexual, and then there are many other sexualities that we don’t talk about as much. But that couldn’t be true, could it?

“Allo” means “other, and hetero means “different/disparate,” so what does allosexual mean? Is it different from heterosexual, or is it a type of sexuality itself? If this question has been nagging you for a while, I will try to give you an answer today.

What Does ‘Allosexual’ Mean? 

Allosexual, also known as zedsexual, is a sexual orientation characterized by an attraction to people. Allosexuals may also describe themselves as romantically, emotionally, and sexually attracted to men and women.

They comprise most of the population and are considered the most common sexual orientation. Allosexual people are attracted to others regardless of gender; they may be tempted to a particular gender or multiple genders. Allosexual people can have romantic relationships with each other or with non-allosexual people.

For example, they may also identify with terms like “heterosexual” or “straight,” “gay,” or “lesbian.” They may also identify with other labels, such as “queer,” “pansexual,” or “polyamorous.”

Difference Between Allosexual, Demisexual, Pansexual, Graysexual, Heterosexual, and Asexual

You’re not alone if you’ve ever heard someone say that they’re an ‘allosexual,’ ‘demisexual,’ or ‘pansexual’ and wondered. Many people are unfamiliar with these terms, and for a good reason: They’re precise and complex identities that don’t always fit neatly into a box. Let’s have a quick look at the differences between some sexual identities.

Allosexual vs. Demisexual

Allosexual people experience sexual desire in response to physical, emotional, or intellectual arousal. They may feel attracted to someone because of their physical appearance or personality traits. They can also feel attracted to someone simply because they’re a good kisser or have an interesting conversation with them; allosexuals can experience attraction for anyone at any time, depending on what they find attractive about that person at that particular moment.

Demisexual people don’t experience sexual attraction unless they first form an emotional connection with another person. Demisexuality is defined as having ‘an intrinsic preference for emotionally intimate relationships.’ While allosexuals may experience the attraction without forming this emotional bond, demisexuals cannot do so unless there’s already been some emotional connection established between them and another person beforehand.

Allosexual vs. Pansexual

As discussed above, a person can be allosexual and bisexual, pansexual, or heterosexual. Someone who is allosexual might be attracted to people of the same gender as themselves, or they might be attracted to both men and women or any other combination of genders.

Pansexuality is the attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. Pansexuals may use’ gender blind’ or ‘gender-neutral’ to describe themselves. They may regard pansexuality as an open, inclusive concept of sexuality that rejects the gender binary, but some reject this and maintain that bisexuality is distinct from pansexuality.

Allosexual vs. Graysexual 

The gray area between sexual attraction and lack thereof is not new. Many people identify themselves as graysexual.

Graysexual refers to someone who falls somewhere between allosexuality and aromanticism — they might feel some degree of sexual attraction but not much, or they might feel none. They may also feel some romantic attraction but not much or none.

Allosexual vs. Heterosexual

The main difference between allosexual and heterosexual is that allosexual is an umbrella term that describes being attracted to others regardless of gender. In contrast, heterosexuality describes being attracted to people of the opposite sex. The terms also have slightly different connotations. For example, while allosexual is sometimes used to describe someone attracted to all genders, it can also suggest there’s nothing wrong with being attracted only to one gender or another.

When someone identifies as heterosexual, they may also identify as straight, which means being attracted exclusively to members of the opposite sex.

Related Read: What’s the Difference Between Demisexuality and Pansexuality Anyway?

Allosexual and Asexual Relationship

Allosexuals are people who experience sexual attraction. Asexuals, on the other hand, do not experience sexual attraction. While this is a broad generalization, it’s important to remember that there are many different types of allosexuals and asexuals.

For example, heterosexuals may be romantically attracted to people of the opposite sex or the same sex, and bisexuals may be romantically attracted to both men and women. Some are monogamous and polyamorous; some prefer long-term relationships and short-term flings.

Asexuality is an orientation that differs from sexual orientation in that it is not defined by the gender to who you are attracted — it’s to who you are not attracted. It can be difficult for some people to understand because they assume that sexuality is binary (that there are only two options: gay or straight). But sexuality isn’t always as simple as ‘like’ or ‘love’ regarding romance and sex — many people have preferences that don’t fall into those two categories!

Related Read: Bigamy vs. Polygamy: How Is Bigamy Different Than Polygamy?

Signs You’re an Allosexual

At its core, being allosexual is about the attraction one feels for others. Allosexual people are often called ‘straight’ or ‘heterosexual.’ However, being allosexual may not be as straightforward as it sounds. Many people who identify as allosexual have never had sex and have only had sex with people of the same gender (although this isn’t required).

If you’re an allosexual, you know what it feels like to be sexually attracted to someone. If you’re not, you might have to do some research because you’ve never been there. But if you want to understand your allosexual friends and family, it helps to know what they’re going through. Here are six signs that could indicate that you’re an allosexual:

• You feel sexual attraction for people of the opposite sex (or same-sex).
• You experience romantic attraction as well as sexual attraction.
• You enjoy kissing, cuddling, and other physical affection with your partner(s).
• You experience arousal when thinking about a potential partner or interacting with them physically.
• You enjoy having sex with a partner who turns you on either physically or emotionally — or both!
• You want to get married (or at least have a long-term monogamous relationship) sometime in your life.

Final Thoughts

I hope you are now a bit wiser about the various identity labels. Remember, sexuality is fluid, and no one is limited to just one label. For example, a person can be homosexual or bisexual and still be pansexual, or a person can be heterosexual and still be demiromantic. The point is that we should respect all people regardless of their sexual orientation or identity. There is so much more to people than just their gender and sexuality.

References

• Fandom. (n.d.). Allosexual. LGBTQIA+ Wiki. Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://lgbtqia.fandom.com/wiki/Allosexual