Beyond Binary: Understanding Sexual Orientation as a Fluid Spectrum

The concept of a "spectrum" in relation to human sexuality and gender identity represents a significant shift in understanding these complex aspects of human experience. Rather than viewing sexuality and gender as binary categories, the spectrum model allows for a more nuanced and flexible interpretation.

Understanding the Sexual Spectrum

First, the "spectrum" mentioned here is a tool (as shown in the image) used to express the division of binary genders. For example, as can be seen from this gender spectrum diagram (different from sexual orientation), the two ends represent male and female genders, while those in the centre position belong to people who are not clearly male or female, i.e., "non-binary gender".

The Kinsey Scale

The most influential is the "Kinsey Scale". This is a measure of sexual orientation developed by American biologist and sexologist Alfred Kinsey in 1948, attempting to use 0-6 to represent a person's sexual orientation positioning. 0 represents completely heterosexual, 6 represents completely homosexual, 3 represents bisexual, and X represents asexual.

As one of the authoritative sexual orientation psychological testing tools in the early years, it changed people's views on sexual orientation, and to this day, there are still different opinions on this.

Although the "Kinsey Scale" is a sexual orientation measure with considerable influence, it is still questioned by different people in society. Some believe that the scale is not applicable to today's society's gender identity and sexual orientation determination. For example, queer sex education scholar Lindsay Amer points out that the "Kinsey Scale" is too "polarized" in its assessment of heterosexuality and homosexuality, and does not include people outside of homosexuality and heterosexuality, and the definition of "asexuality" is too hasty.The "Kinsey Scale" only lists "asexuality" (which is actually a large category) in a single line, and there are those who have sexual tendencies towards both sexes rather than a single sex tendency, Amer says.

Beyond Kinsey

The gender spectrum is not only used for defining gender and sexual orientation, but can also be used to measure romantic orientation (attraction) (asexuality, aromanticism, gray areas, etc.). There are also some specific groups, commonly known as the "sexual fetish spectrum".

SSASE spokesperson Zoe Whitney reveals, "On one side of common sexual fetishes are masochists, while on the other side are sadists, and there's another category where both roles can be switched."

According to Whitney, people with these types of sexual fetishes refer to different people or character relationships playing different roles in the gender spectrum. One type of person tends towards the masochistic side, while another type tends more towards the sadistic side.

At the same time, Whitney also points out that through the "gender spectrum" we can understand multiple aspects of human gender, because they represent every possible gender, sexual orientation, sexual attraction, and sexual expression. This is crucial, as for most people, they are constantly clarifying their own sexual cognition, and the sex spectrum can help them define it, especially for non-binary individuals.

Importance of the Spectrum Model

The gender spectrum is particularly important because the world's recognition of human gender is not just the two extremes of male and female.

To better understand issues of gender and sexual orientation, we might use the example of "you and I preferring certain foods" - for instance, one statement is liking broccoli: "I love eating broccoli"; another statement is "I don't like eating broccoli". You might belong to one of these two types of people, but there are still many people who are between liking and disliking, perhaps they occasionally eat broccoli, or just like eating steamed broccoli or eating pizza with broccoli. So for this group of people, we can't simply classify them into the two categories of liking or disliking.

Similarly, this concept also applies to human gender and sexual orientation issues - humans are complex higher animals and cannot be defined simply by the concept of "binary".

At the same time, there are constantly new spectrums emerging. Creating new spectrums helps us define and clearly recognize our gender identity.

想必大家都有听说过有关“光谱”这一词，它用于表达从色彩到心理健康不同领域。那么，当“光谱”用于表达人类性别与性意识 （取向）时，我们该如何去理解呢？ 随着全球范围内对于“性认同”“性取向”的深入探讨， “性光谱”学说更有助于我们的自我认知，真正了解你我的“性别身份”。同时，借助“光谱学说”，为科研人员与性教育家们向大众普及“性别与性意识（取向）”概念起到了关键作用。

什么是“光谱”？

首先，这里所说的“光谱”是一种工具（如图所示），用于表达二元性别的划分。譬如说，从这一性别光谱图可见（不同于性取向），位于图两端分别代表男、女性别，而位于图中心位置的属非明确男女性别的人，即“非二元性别者”。

金赛量表

其中最具影响力是“金赛量表”。这是由美国生物学家及性学家阿尔弗雷德·金赛 于1948年制定了一个评价性取向的度量——金赛量表，尝试用 0-6 代表人的性取向定位。0 代表完全的异性恋，6 代表完全的同性恋，3 代表双性恋， X代表无性恋。

作为早年权威性取向心理测试工具之一，改变了人们对于性取向的看法，时至今日，仍就对此有着不同的观点。

虽说“金赛量表”是有较大影响力的性取向度量，但仍受到社会不同人士的质疑，有人认为该量表并不适用于现今社会的性别认同与性取向认定。例如，酷儿性学教育学琳赛·阿梅尔指出“金赛量表”对于异性恋同性恋的评定过于“两极化”，并未将同性恋和异性恋以外的人群纳入在内，对于“无性恋”的界定过于草率。

“金赛量表”上只是单一的列出了“无性恋”（其实这是一个大类），不乏有性倾向于双性，而非单一性倾向的，阿梅尔称。

其他量表

性别光谱不仅用于性别与性取向的界定，同时也可用于测量浪漫取向 （吸引力）（无性恋、无浪漫情节、灰色地带之类。）同时还有些特定人群，俗称“性怪癖光谱”。

SSASE宣传机构创始人佐伊·惠特尼透露，“常见性怪癖一方是性受虐者，而另一方是施虐者，还有另一类是双方可以角色互换”。

据惠特尼表示，有这类性怪癖人群，是指不同的人或人物关系在性别光谱中扮演不同角色。 一类人偏向于受虐方，一类人更偏向于施虐方。

同时惠特尼又指出，透过“性别光谱”可以让我们了解人类性别多个层面， 因为他们代表了每种可能的性别，性取向，性吸引力与性表达。这点至关重要 ，对于大多数人而言，都在不断地明确自身的性认知，借助性光谱可以帮助他们去界定，尤其针对非二元性别者。

为何很重要？

性别光谱显得尤为重要，因为世间对于人类性别的认定不仅仅是男与女的两个极端。 为了更好地理解性别与性取向的问题， 不妨用“你我偏爱某种食物”为例——譬如，一种说法是喜爱西兰花的：“我爱吃西兰花”；另一种说法是“我不爱吃西兰花”。可能你属于这两类人的一种，但仍有不少人是处于喜爱与不喜爱之间的，或许他们会偶尔吃西兰花，或者就喜欢吃蒸西兰花或吃配有西兰花的披萨。那对于这类人群，我们就不能单纯性把他们归类为喜欢或不喜欢这两类中了。

同样，该理念也适用于人类的性别与性取向问题——人类是较复杂的高等动物，不能只以简单地“二元性”概念来界定。

与此同时，有源源不断的光谱出现。创造新的光谱来帮助我们去定义并清晰地认知我们的性别认同。