http://kinseyconfidential.org Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:20:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 2006-2007 aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) posts 1440 Just another WordPress weblog Kinsey Confidential Kinsey Confidential aschweig@indiana.edu No no http://kinseyconfidential.org/wp-content/themes/kinsey/images/kinsey-podcast-300.jpg http://kinseyconfidential.org 144 144 http://kinseyconfidential.org/attracted-trans-genetic-women-bisexual/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/attracted-trans-genetic-women-bisexual/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:00:41 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1316 http://kinseyconfidential.org/attracted-trans-genetic-women-bisexual/feed/ 2 http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-masturbate-lesbian/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-masturbate-lesbian/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:41 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1255 http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-masturbate-lesbian/feed/ 0 3:16 Determining Sexual Orientation Great question! Although many people wonder if there is an easy way to know if a person is gay, straight, bisexual or some ... Determining Sexual Orientation Great question! Although many people wonder if there is an easy way to know if a person is gay, straight, bisexual or some other sexual orientation, the fact is that there is not. Many scientists consider a personrsquo;s sexual orientation to reflect a larger pattern of their romantic and sexual attractions such that women who identify as straight tend, for the most part, to be romantically and sexually attracted to men whereas women who identify as lesbian tend to be romantically and sexually attracted to women. Experiences, Thoughts, and Labels Don't Always Match Up Of course, few things in life are cut and dry and neither is sexual orientation. Some women who identify as heterosexual have explored sexually with other women. They may have kissed other women or engaged in oral sex, breast touching or genital touching with other women. Then again, some women who identify as heterosexual have never engaged in sexual activity with women in waking life, but they may have had pleasurable, satisfying sex dreams about women. Or, like you, they may find that their preferred fantasies during masturbation involve women. The fact that you get turned on thinking of other girls doesnrsquo;t minimize the fact that you also get turned on by your boyfriend. By the same token, many lesbian women have had some type of sexual contact with men. Some lesbian identified women may include men in their sexual fantasies or may have also had enjoyable sex dreams involving men. Just because a lesbian woman enjoys thinking about men or masturbating to images of men ndash; or images of men and women having sex together ndash; does not mean that her true orientation is heterosexual. Research About Sexual Attraction Pioneering sexuality researcher Dr. Alfred Kinsey suggested that sexuality was a rather fluid concept. He found that people sometimes experienced different sexual attractions at different points in their lives and that a personrsquo;s sexual behaviors, dreams and fantasies could vary. He also felt that, based on his research, more people would be attracted to both men and women if only society didnrsquo;t suppress these attractions. Labels Can Change Throughout Life Whether you identify as heterosexual, lesbian or bisexual is up to you. You may find that one label suits you well now and, later in life, you may find that a different sexual orientation label better reflects your feelings and attractions. However you decide to label yourself, try to let go of any stress or anxiety about how you ldquo;shouldrdquo; or ldquo;shouldnrsquo;trdquo; feel sexually. What you find arousing and exciting during your partnered sex play as well as during your masturbation fantasies is likely to keep evolving with time. By keeping an open and accepting mind toward your own experience, you can continue to explore your sexuality in positive ways. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Sexual,Orientation aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/test-find-out-bisexual/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/test-find-out-bisexual/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:27 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1245 http://kinseyconfidential.org/test-find-out-bisexual/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-scale-sexual-orientation/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-scale-sexual-orientation/#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:39:02 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=953 http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-scale-sexual-orientation/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-playboy-magazine/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-playboy-magazine/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:18:17 +0000 Natalie Ingraham (M.P.H.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=779 http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-playboy-magazine/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/sexual-orientation-confusion/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/sexual-orientation-confusion/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:00:06 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=480 http://kinseyconfidential.org/sexual-orientation-confusion/feed/ 0 3:41 While we cannot tell you what your sexual orientation is, we can hopefully shed a little light on ways that you might think about your ... While we cannot tell you what your sexual orientation is, we can hopefully shed a little light on ways that you might think about your sexuality so that you can explore it in ways that feel right to you. Sexual Orientation: Sometimes Quite Nuanced Although sexual orientation is often described in ways that make people think one automatically knows if they are heterosexual (also called "straight"), homosexual (also called "gay" when talking about men or "lesbian" when talking about women) or bisexual (also called "bi"), sexual orientation is sometimes quite nuanced. Early Research In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, Dr. Alfred Kinsey and his research team noticed in their interviews with women and men that significant proportions of women and men showed fluid patterns of sexual behavior, dreams and fantasies in regard to the gender of the partner that they thought about or acted sexual with. People also varied in terms of what they did, sexually, or who they thought about in different periods of their lives. Later researchers in the 60s, 70s and 80s paid particular attention to these issues. They found that while some men, for example, might feel sexually attracted mainly to women, that they also sometimes fantasized about or even had sex with other men. Other times people were sexually attracted to members of both sexes, when they thought about who they wanted to spend their lives with, they could only imagine themselves with someone of the same gender, or maybe someone of the other gender. Not Just About Sexual Behavior These are just a couple of examples, the point being that in order to make sense of one's sexual orientation, some people find that it's helpful to think not only in terms of their sexual behavior, but also in terms of their sexual fantasies, their romantic preferences and who they can see themselves being in a relationship with. Though many people find it useful to give themselves a label such as straight, gay, lesbian or bisexual, not everyone does. Some people find that they don't quite fit into any of the standard categories and may label themselves as "queer", indicating that they embrace a more flexible identity that challenges existing labels. Others don't want any labels at all, and decide that - as life goes on - they want to remain open to falling in love, or falling in lust, with people of the same or other gender. Learn More If you're in a stage of self-exploration, you might find it helpful to connect with the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays or the American Institute of Bisexuality. To learn more about the emotional side of relationship with men, as well as sexual aspects of male relationships, you might read The Male Couple. You can learn more about this book and others on our web site. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Sexual,Orientation aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-confidential-daily-vidette/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-confidential-daily-vidette/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:44:24 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/11/19/kinsey-confidential-in-the-daily-vidette/ Daily Vidette has recently begun publishing our Kinsey Confidential column.]]> http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-confidential-daily-vidette/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/sexual-fantasies/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/sexual-fantasies/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:00:34 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2008/02/04/qa-sexual-fantasies/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/sexual-fantasies/feed/ 0 3:15 Letrsquo;s make a distinction, right from the outset, about fantasies that rest in the very personal spaces of our minds and memories, and a destructive ... Letrsquo;s make a distinction, right from the outset, about fantasies that rest in the very personal spaces of our minds and memories, and a destructive delusion where the lines are blurred between fantasy and real life.nbsp; When we talk about sexual fantasies here, wersquo;re talking about the type of sexual thoughts and dreams that most of us experience from time to time either because these thoughts just come to us or because we seek them out, as a means of sexual pleasure or arousal. Having Sexual Fantasies Is Common For most women and men, having sexual fantasies is common and does not necessarily mean that anything is wrong or different about you nor does it mean that you are likely to act out your fantasies in a real life situation.nbsp; Even in the 1940rsquo;s and 50rsquo;s, 89% of males and 69% of women interviewed by Alfred Kinsey and his research team reported having erotic sexual fantasies. Contemporary sex researchers continue to find that most women and men have or enjoy sexual fantasies. These fantasies, and the whole experience of getting into a sexual frame of mind, can even help women and men to experience pleasure or achieve orgasm. Where Do Sexual Fantasies Come From? We donrsquo;t fully understand where our sexual fantasies spring from.nbsp; People construct many stories and situations, including having sex in public, watching others have sex, bondage, or kissing a high school sweetheart. Men and women are sometimes particularly worried about fantasies that are against the rules of their relationship (such as sex with a co-worker, friend or stranger) or thoughts about illegal acts, violent acts or acts that go against onersquo;s personal values. Ironically, the more that we try to suppress thoughts or fantasies, the more likely they are to return. If you feel bothered by your thoughts or fantasies, rather than getting anxious about them, consider mentally labeling them for what they are ndash; for example, ldquo;therersquo;s my stranger-on-the-bus fantasy againrdquo;) and then moving on ndash; either to let yourself enjoy the fantasy or to shrug your shoulders and marvel at the mysteries of the mind. Talk To Friends Or Professionals That said, the lines between fantasy and reality do get blurred for some people.nbsp;nbsp; Donrsquo;t hesitate to seek help from a medical professional or counselor if these thoughts become overwhelming or persistent, if they distress you or if you are worried that you will act on them. Or consider talking with someone you trust about them. Chances are, your friends can relate with a few stories of fantasies or thoughts of their own. Content,Type,,Pleasure,,Orgasm,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-scale-kinsey-test/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-scale-kinsey-test/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2006 22:00:51 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/01/25/qa-the-kinsey-scale-and-test/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/kinsey-scale-kinsey-test/feed/ 0 3:28 We are regularly asked for information about the Kinsey "test" or "quiz" but in fact no such thing exists. The Kinsey Scale The heterosexual-homosexual rating scale, also ... We are regularly asked for information about the Kinsey "test" or "quiz" but in fact no such thing exists. The Kinsey Scale The heterosexual-homosexual rating scale, also known as The Kinsey Scale, is a seven-point scale developed by pioneering sex researcher Dr. Alfred Kinsey in order to illustrate that human beings fall along a continuum in their sexual behaviors and interests in people who are of the same or other sex. Based on the thousands of sex interviews Dr. Kinsey and his research team conducted in the United States, he did not find evidence to suggest that people fell into two neat categories of "heterosexual" and "homosexual" - or as is often said today, "straight" and "gay". Thus, the seven points of the Kinsey scale were identified as: exclusively heterosexual with no homosexual (0) predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual (1) predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual (2) equally heterosexual and homosexual (3) predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual (4) predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual (5) exclusively homosexual (6). That's not to say that placement in these categories is easy to determine. What, after all, makes someone's sexual experiences "predominantly" homosexual or heterosexual? Does this mean that "most" of their encounters were same or opposite sex, or is there a certain percentage of events that one considers as a threshold? Well, what if someone's sexual behaviors are largely with opposite sex individuals even though their sexual desire and arousal is largely in response to same sex individuals? Or what if things changed over the course of one's life, a fact that Dr. Kinsey noted among his research participants. Where Would You Place Yourself? Because there is no "Kinsey Test" or quiz that categorizes people on the Kinsey scale, those who are interested in it can simply take a look at the continuum and consider where they might place themselves, with the understanding that your own placement might change over time. You may feel like a "Kinsey 2" at this point in your life only to find later on that you feel more like a "Kinsey 3". Or something completely different. The Kinsey scale ndash; and other proposed models of sexual orientation ndash; are certainly not the final answer. Instead, they illustrate the complexities of sexual attraction, behaviors and orientation. Contemporary sex researchers continue to work to understand what shapes our sexual orientation, though the scientific debate has since entered more modern day forms of exploration such as the relationship between genetics and sexual orientation. Learn More You can view and read more about the scale on The Kinsey Institute's web site or in "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male," Dr. Kinsey's groundbreaking 1948 book based on his team's interviews with men in the United States. Content,Type,,Include,in,Resources,,Podcast,,Sexual,Orientation,,Special aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/confused-about-same-sex-attraction/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/confused-about-same-sex-attraction/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2004 20:36:21 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2004/12/01/qa-confused-about-same-sex-attraction/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/confused-about-same-sex-attraction/feed/ 0