Sexuality Study Says No One Is 100 Percent Straight Or Gay

Sexuality is a spectrum and there is no such thing as 100 percent straight, according to a study released today.

Researchers at Cornell University in the United States have published findings that show that the traditional heterosexual and homosexual divide is not accurate and that most people who think of themselves as straight might better be described as 'mostly straight'.

The paper studied the reactions of people while watching pornography featuring both heterosexual and homosexual subjects and tracked their eye dilation in reaction to events.

Women were excited by watching porn that featured men with women and women with women, while men's pupils were dilated by watching both female and male masturbation scenes.

Men's pupils were dilated by watching both female and male scenes

Ritch C Savin-WIlliams, Director of Developmental Psychology and the Director of the Sex and Gender Lab in the Department of Human Development at Cornell University explained his study back in 2015.

Speaking to Broadly, he said: "It's basically a study that assesses sexual orientation by looking at the eyes and whether they dilate or not. You can't control your eye dilation.

"Essentially, that's what the whole project attempts to get at, another way of assessing sexuality without relying on self-report.

"Another way, of course, is genital arousal, but that gets a little invasive."

Savin-Williams added: "We've always recognized mostly straight women, that is, women who mostly are straight but if the right woman comes along, well maybe she'll try it out. We used to think that was only a female phenomenon."

"We show straight men a picture of a woman masturbating and they respond just like a straight guy, but then you also show them a guy masturbating and their eyes dilate a little bit. So we're actually able to show physiologically that all guys are not either gay, straight, or bi.

"There are aspects [of male sexuality] along a continuum, just as we have always recognized with women. Men have gotten so much cultural crap put on them that even if a man does have some sexual attraction to guys, they would never say it."

The study shows the potential for a major change in the way that we see ourselves and our own sexuality.

"I do see this loosening of the boundaries," said Savin-Williams, who has now published a book on the subject called "Mostly Straight: Sexual Fluidity Among Men".

Harvard University Press

"I think that's happening for both sexes. It's probably a good thing, because it gives kids growing up more diversity, more options, so they don't feel like they have to fit in [at all costs].

"Straight women and straight men feel much more comfortable than ever before in going into the realm of the other sex in terms of gender role and how they act."

Topics: Study, World News, Smirnoff Free to Be

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]