I've got some questions about the definitions of genders and sexual orientations..?

Question

What are the genders: androgynous, genderqueer, two spirit?

What are the sexual orientations: omni sexual, pansexual, and queer? (What's the difference between queer and homosexual?)

Answer 1

Androgynous: usually means neither masculine nor feminine in dress/personality/behavior. Sometimes means a combination of both, but not one over the other. They might still identify as a woman or a man (and male or female). A label that an individual may take on or used superficially to describe a look or set of behaviors.

Genderqueer: usually means someone who identifies as neither strictly male nor strictly female, but a combination of both. This is someone who does not want to identify as a woman or a man. Very identity-oriented, this is a label that individuals take on for themselves.

Two spirit: A term used by indigenous Americans to describe people who seem much like the opposite sex in their personality. Some have sexual relationships with the same sex. Many are/were spiritual leaders within indigenous tribes.

Omnisexual: A person who is attracted to other people regardless of their sex/gender. Whether someone is male, female, intersexed or transsexual is simply not a factor in their attraction.

Pansexual: Someone who can be attracted to many different kinds of genders/sexes.

Queer: Strictly, lesbian/gay/bisexual or transgendered. Loosely, anyone who does not fit into the standard gender norms.

Answer 2

Androgynous: Someone who's gender identity and/or expression falls close to the middle of the spectrum between male and female. (This has nothing to do with their genitals, just how they identify or express themselves)

Genderqueer: An identity for someone who doesn't feel that their gender is in sync with their sex. This could mean they want a sex change, it could mean they want no part in gender whatsoever, or that their construct of their gender is completely original.

Twospirit: Native American category for transgender, as I understand it. In some cultures, two spirit people are very highly regarded.

Omnisexual and panssexual refer to the same thing, someone who dates based on who the person is, rather than their sex and/or gender. I identify this way, but prefer the term pansseuxal to omnisexual because "omni" implies "everything", and "pans" implies "across the spectrum". Although sex/gender aren't a factor in who I date, I won't date just anyone!! But thats my personal word preference.

Queer was historically used as a negative word to describe gay men. This word has been re-claimed by the gay commuinity, and has come to encompass much more than just gay men. It's now an umbrella term that includes gays, lesbians, bisexuals, panssexuals, omnisexuals, transgender, transsexual, transvestite, intersex, etc. Sometimes it's easier to just say "I'm queer" than to explain a new word such as panssexual.

Answer 3

some of these terms are evolving. There are good anwers here already! Androgynous means when looking it is hard to determine sex. A two spirit is usually a native American person who is not heterosexual. Newer terms are 'Boi' (a person born female lesbian who is boyish and does not identify as a male, but not really as a female either). Gender queer (not identify self by gender). There are lots of other words people use.

Answer 4

Androgynous: A term referring to one's style, look, and gender presentation. It can also be applied to behavior, but generally it's more in physical characteristics. On the scale of masculinity and femininity, androgynes are said to be smack dab in the middle; oftentimes, the term is used for people whose gender is so neutral that their gender can not be ascertained at first. Androgyny is a way of describing someone as they simply are, but it can also be a choice- someone who chooses a more androgynous style (of clothes, makeup, hair, etc.).

Genderqueer: A term describing someone's gender identity. 'Queer' basically refers to anything non-mainstream, so someone who is genderqueer has a non-mainstream gender. It's somewhat of a blanket term, since there are tons of non-mainstream genders, from feeling like a third sex, to feeling like you have no sex (neither masculine nor feminine), androgyny, from mixing sex and gender (masculine women and feminine men, for example), transgender, cross-dressers, drag performers, some transsexuals . . . the list goes on. Anyone who isn't just a "man's man" or "woman's woman".

Two-spirit: Native-American based term referring to individuals who were believed to literally have two spirits (masculine and feminine) within the body, and often lived as the opposite gender of their sex. They were believed to be holy and have powers. Today, some non-Native American people claim the label to refer to their spiritual (or non-spiritual) feelings of masculinity and femininity within themselves (not something you choose, but something you are).

Omnisexual: basically, another term for 'pansexual'. It sometimes has more connotations of being able to derive sexual pleasure from fetish items, abstract concepts, etc., etc., and not just from people.

Pansexual: a term for those who are capable of sexual attraction to people of all genders. Mostly, this term is used in lieu of or in addition to bisexuality, which leaves out transgender and transsexual individuals. Pansexuals can potentially be sexually attracted to any of these trans people, as well as non-trans. The term is used in many different ways as well, from referring to the ability to love anyone in spite of their sex/gender (versus because of it) to saying that sex and gender don't matter at all to pansexuals.

Queer: A term for anything that is sexually non-mainstream. It's become an umbrella term that lots of different identities have gathered under. I've seen straight leatherfolk and BDSM practitioners, 'queer straights', polyamorists/swingers, nudists, age play afficionados, and a variety of other non-gay people all call themselves queer because they don't do sex the way traditional, mainstream society says they should (missionary position, man on top, in the dark, to make babies). Homosexual just refers to the fact that you are sexually attracted to the same sex; queer encompasses this alternative sexuality and many others. I know it's a vague definition, but so is the concept.

Hope that helps!

Answer 5

genders are male or female .sexual orientations are same gender preference or not . a queer is a slang slur for a homosexual meaning that the gender prefers the same .

Answer 6

androgynous isnt really a gender, its when someone looks like both a male and a female.

Answer 7

Regardless of any thing else they all describe mental abnormalities when it comes to sexual orientation

Answer 8

pansexual means the person will try anyone
bisexual is the person like both sexes
homosexual(queer, lesbian) is a guy who likes guys or girl who likes girls

Answer 9

"gender" is a term that is used to define societal roles. males are taught to be boyish, manly, masculin, etc..

sex is the bioligical characteristic, ie male has penis, female has vagina.

pansexual is a term used to describe bisexuals who are also attracted to transsexuals.