Charts and scales can help better explain many things in life, and sexuality is no different.
What is the Kinsey Scale?
The Kinsey Scale is a visual representation of sexuality along a spectrum ranging from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual.
Originally called the Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale, the Kinsey Scale was created by Drs.
At the time, Kinsey’s research found that most people fell somewhere between the two, Hodder-Shipp notes.
This, and much of Kinsey’s research, was considered subversive and groundbreaking for its time.
The scale runs from zero to six and includes an additional category labeled X, which attempts to representasexuality.
So for example: “Mostly heterosexual and only slightly homosexual.")
How the Kinsey Scale was developed.
This is ahistorical, though.”
Pros & cons of the scale.
Like everything else, it has its pros and cons.
Pros:
It acknowledges the spectrum of sexuality.
The Kinsey Scale does an excellent job of debunking the “either/or” thinking surrounding sexuality.
It highlights bisexuality.
Among women, 13% had a same-sex experience.
This data was groundbreaking for its time and made it clear that human sexuality was vast.
“It really helped make bisexuality visible, as well as helping bring homosexuality out of the closet.
Aids in understanding.
Cons:
Excludes nonbinary folks.
The Kinsey Scale “maintains the sex and gender binary,” Hodder-Shipp points out.
Some trans and intersex people may also find these categories limiting, not fully nuanced enough, or exclusionary.
Focuses on behavior rather than identity.
The Kinsey Scale focuses on behavior rather than identity.
Doesn’t consider romantic attraction.
Oversimplifies sexual orientation.
“Like, what does it mean to be ‘incidentally’ homosexual or heterosexual?
Where do I fall on the Kinsey Scale if I’m not really heterosexual but also definitely not homosexual?
Can pressure people into categories they don’t resonate with.
Some people don’t desire to label their sexual orientation or attraction at all, Menezes points out.
Other scales and variations.
Two of the more popular and inclusive ones are the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid and the Storms Sexuality Axis.
