subject: Is Flexisexual the New Bisexual? [print this page] Is Flexisexual the New Bisexual? Is Flexisexual the New Bisexual?
Now a new word has been coined for the growing number of straight women who flirt with bisexuality. Flexisexual is their new and improved "hip" lifestyle choice. Personally, I think "flexual" rolls off the tongue better than "flexisexual". As a woman who's had romantic attractions and even relationships with people of both genders, it feels like a relief to have this new, more precise term. I really hated "bisexual.
According to the Daily Mail article that announced the term, "women are often more open to alternative experiences when they reach their 40s and are more confident with their sexuality". Divorcees tend to be more adventurous.
"Bisexual" always implied to me a more or less even division of attraction towards the sexes or genders. I'm straight for the ease of labeling, but I've been attracted to women in the past. Though for only 0.5% of the time. And this is part of the reason why I never felt comfortable with "bisexual".
So I am taking this opportunity to interrogate whether we're all conflating sexual and affectional orientation. Psychology proves that women notice personality more than gender and have more fluid patterns of ways of demonstrating affection. We've heard of the argument before that women are already at a disadvantage just because they run the "risk" or procreating.
Also, there seems to be some very solid evidence that (at least in terms of personal identity), there are far fewer genuinely bisexual men than bisexual women. Yet there are many men who have sex with men and women but only have relationships with women.
Whether or not "flexisexual" will last as a "hip" lifestyle choice remains to be seen. After all, we are only one month into the new word's maturity. One thing is certain though. A lot of women who identify as straight but on occasion feel attraction for other women will feel relief, whether they are into their 40's or not. So this new linguistic refinement is welcome. It would be nice if the Daily Mail could write another article and maybe rephrase the new word into "flexual". But even "flexisexual" is better than "bisexual".
