Asexuality

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Asexuality is having little or no interest in sexual relationships. There is some debate as to whether asexuality is a sexual orientation–groups advocating for the rights of asexual people emphasize that asexuality is a sexual orientation similar to homosexuality or heterosexuality.

What is Asexuality?

As with other sexual orientations, there are a range of ways people express their asexuality. Some asexuals have romantic relationships that do not include sex, while others prefer to avoid intimate relationships altogether and instead focus on friendship and family. Some asexual people feel that they have always known they were asexual, while others find that their sexual orientation dawned on them over time. Some people might be asexual for a brief time and then begin sexual relations.

Asexuality and Mental Health

Asexuality is part of a complex range of behaviors and orientations and is not a mental illness. It should be differentiated from fear of sex or fear of intimacy, although some people have argued that asexuality results from trauma or sexual abuse; there is no evidence that this is actually the case.

Asexuality and Popular Culture

Asexuality has become increasingly visible in recent years, due largely to the Internet. Asexual people are now better able to network with others and to lobby for their own interests and support one another. Asexuality is still a relatively rare sexual orientation, with only about 1% of people identifying as asexual at some point during their lives. Some media commentators have argued that asexuality is increasing in prevalence and that it might even be a trend, but others have argued that it is simply more visible now. There are several organizations dedicated to lobbying on behalf of asexuals, including The Asexual Visibility and Education Network.

References:

  1. Asexuality. (n.d.). The Asexual Visibility and Education Network. Retrieved from http://www.asexuality.org/home/
  2. Smith, S. (2012, August 21). Asexuality always existed, you just didn’t notice it. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/21/asexuality-always-existed-asexual

Last Updated: 08-4-2015