As interpretations of sexual orientation and gender shift in society, numerous new concepts pop up. One of these is "skoliosexual".
This post explores what it means, where it comes from, and how you might use it.
Meaning
Explore the world of gender identities and sexual orientations in the twenty-first century, and you will quickly discover that nearly every word has multiple meanings.
The term skoliosexual is generally used with one of three meanings:
- Skoliosexual can refer to people who are sexually attracted to transgender people.
- Skoliosexual can mean sexual attraction to people who identify as non-binary, roughly meaning they see themselves as neither male nor female, or as both male and female.
- Skoliosexual can also mean sexual attraction to both transgender and non-binary individuals.
In some cases, the word skoliosexual is also used to describe a sexual attraction gender non-conformity as a general concept. People who identify as skoliosexual may or may not also be attracted to people who do not fall within this concept.
Example Usage
Are you curious about the ways in which you might be able to use the word skoliosexual in a sentence? These examples may help you out:
- All my previous partners were androgynous, and most were non-binary. I think I might be skoliosexual.
- Pansexual, demisexual, and skoliosexual are all among the newer terms people may use to describe their sexual orientations.
- Some people might say that the term skoliosexual fetishizes non-binary people, but I'm only attracted to those outside of the binary, so I think skoliosexual probably fits me best.
Origin
The term skoliosexual was likely coined in 2010, namely for an infographic meant to "explain sexual attraction" called Sexual Attraction V2, by someone using the online handle Nelde on the platform Deviant Art.
The creator believed "skolio" to be the Greek word for "queer". However, the precise meaning of the equivalent Greek word, σκόλιον, is closer to "bent" or "curved" — which is why the spinal deformation scoliosis used the same prefix (albeit with a different spelling).
The term nonetheless continued to be used in internet communities where people, especially those who are exploring the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, discuss human sexual attraction. Today, the word doesn't just remain confined to places such as Urban Dictionary or LGBTQIA+ platforms, but is also discussed in mainstream platforms such as WebMD and Healthline.
Skoliosexual remains controversial, in part because of the meaning of the Greek prefix and in part because some people believe that it fetishizes transgender or non-binary people. In other words, skoliosexual might give the impression of someone who is only interested in others because of a specific gender identity, rather than having a serious romantic interest.
Words Similar to Skoliosexual
Similar words include:
- Allotroposexual — which seeks to correct the wrongly interpreted meaning of the Greek "skolio", as "allotropo" means "different".
- Ceterosexual — also meaning sexual attraction to non-binary people.
- Transromantic — another word to denote sexual and romantic interest in transgender people.
Words Opposite to Skoliosexual
One might think that the more familiar terms "homosexual" (gay or lesbian), "bisexual" (attracted to people of both sexes" and "heterosexual" are all opposite to skoliosexual. This is not necessarily the case, as people within any of these categories may also be attracted to transgender or non-binary indviduals.
What Is the Correct Word?
The correct word is skoliosexual, which some people spell as scoliosexual.
Ways People May Say Skoliosexual Incorrectly
There being much controversy surrounding this term, there are numerous ways to use the word skoliosexual incorrectly. It appears that the predominant meaning of this word is "attraction to non-binary people" right now, but that could change in the future.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Skoliosexual
You can choose to use the word skoliosexual to refer to your own sexuality if you like the word and are predominantly attracted to people who identify as transgender or non-binary. You can also use the word to describe someone else's sexual orientation, if they themselves identify as such.
It is generally advised to stay away from labeling others' sexual orientations.