Gynesexual - meaning and definition
Alsogynosexualgynephilicgynesexualitygynephiliaattracted to women
Definition
Describes attraction to women or femininity, without saying anything about the gender of the person who is attracted.
At a glance
- Describes attraction to women or femininity.
- Names the direction of attraction without referring to the attracted person's own gender.
- Helpful for non-binary and genderqueer people and in research.
- The related clinical term is gynephilia.
- The counterpart term is androsexual.
In detail
Gynesexual, and the clinical term gynephilia, name the direction of attraction rather than its relation to one's own gender. It can be helpful for non-binary and genderqueer people and in research.
The counterpart term, for attraction to men or masculinity, is androsexual.
In a sentence
- I'm non-binary and gynesexual, which is simpler than explaining why lesbian or straight don't fit.
- The study grouped participants as gynephilic or androphilic rather than by labels such as gay or straight.
Where the word comes from
From Greek gyne, meaning woman, combined with sexual.
Common questions
Who uses the word gynesexual?
Mostly non-binary and genderqueer people, for whom labels such as lesbian or straight depend on their own gender and may not fit. Researchers also use the related term gynephilia.