Page 85 - Cosmopolitan India (January 2020)

23 percent of women ages

18 to 24 are not attracted
strictly to just one sex.

For some fluid women, a
burgeoning attraction is
cut off at the prospect of
actually getting physical.
But for those turned on
by the thought, diving into
intimacy has its rewards. Of
her first time with a woman,
Chandni*, 32, a designer,
says, ‘I was worried it was
going to be terrible and
awkward. It wasn’t. Skills
transfer.’
LASTING ATTRACTIONS
For those of us who grew
up with images of hetero-
only relationships, today’s
fluidity didn’t always
seem like a valid option.
However, attitudes are
evolving. A recent report
found that about 10 percent
of US women ages 18 to
24 identify as something
Photograph: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; *SOME NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED
two-thirds of female she first found herself around women’. other than straight, and 23
participants changed their attracted to women, she was Confusing, sure, but this percent of women in the
sexual identity at least once, surprised—and skeptical: is also exactly why sexual same age-group are not
switching among bisexual, ‘Being gay never even fluidity can be so freeing. attracted strictly to just
unlabelled, lesbian, and crossed my mind, so I It offers the chance to one sex.
heterosexual. thought it was a bit absurd,’ explore, learn about The more we talk about
she admitted. yourself, and break away our own sexual fluidity, the
EXPLORING URGES Aastha*, 32, an from gender expectations. more common and relatable
This is not to say that inside entrepreneur, wondered ‘Dating a woman has made it becomes. As Sara*, 26,
every woman is a lesbian- if her first same-sex me aware of a masculine a techie, says, ‘I came to
in-waiting, but simply relationship was ‘a sexual- energy I have and can play terms with my sexuality by
that female sexuality is orientation thing or a matter into, which is fun,’ says seeing people who were
complicated. Tahira*, 23, of how much easier I find Eram*, 33, a reporter. open about the complexities
a writer, says that when it to be myself when I’m And then there’s the sex. of their own’.” n

Bisexual Cisgender Genderqueer Queer Nonbinary
Someone who is A person who identifies A word that describes A broad term inclusive Anyone who doesn’t
attracted to both with the sex assigned someone whose of anyone who is not identify with the binary
men and women, at birth (example: you gender identity is not straight and/or system (aka the two
or to more than one were born a ‘female’ and just ‘a man’ or cisgender. Now mostly opposing sexes: male
gender identity. still identify that way). ‘a woman’. used in a positive way. and female).

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