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Asexual

Asexual.png

Asexual (often shortened to Ace) is a sexual orientation defined by a lack of sexual attraction, or a lack of desire for sex. Asexual experiences may also include: not wanting to have sex, not being interested in sex, not experiencing a sex drive/libido, or being repulsed by sex. Sexual attraction is defined as the desire to have sex with, or otherwise perform sexual acts with, another specific person. For non-Asexual people (Allosexuals), sexual attraction is involuntary, and even occurs when someone doesn't know the other person (though one might not act on it). Asexual people do not have an innate desire to have sex with anyone. They might also feel disconnected from the idea of sex.

Asexuality and celibacy/abstinence are different. Those who are abstinent or celibate are not necessarily Asexual; they may still experience sexual attraction but they choose not to act on it, typically for moral or religious reasons. Those who are Asexual are not necessarily sexually abstinent; they may or may not participate in sexual activities. Although some Asexuals do not have sex, there are also many Asexuals who do partake in sexual activities or are in sexual relationships. This could be for many reasons, such as their own pleasure, the pleasure of a partner, or to have children.

Being Asexual does not mean that one is unable to experience romantic attraction. An Asexual person can have any romantic orientation and some Asexuals identify with a romantic orientation to specify who they're interested in romantically, if anyone. They often use prefixes like hetero-, homo-, bi-, pan-, etc. in front of the word romantic to describe who they experience romantic attraction to. For example, a person who is Asexual Heteroromantic is romantically attracted to people of a different gender, but is not sexually attracted to them. For those who are Alloromantic and Asexual, they may identify as Alloace. Some Asexuals are also Aromantic, meaning that they also do not feel romantic attraction. People who are both Asexual and Aromantic may identify as Aroace.

Sexual dispositions among Asexual people can vary. Some Asexuals may still have a sex drive despite not feeling sexual attraction to anyone. They may still masturbate, watch porn, or participate in sexual activities. Other Asexuals lack a sex drive, and some may be repulsed by the concept of sex.

File:Ace Symbol.png

An ace symbol/flag created by user RavenFire803 on June 14 2021

Terms like Sex-Repulsed, Sex-Averse, Sex-Indifferent, Sex-Favorable, or Sex-Ambivalent are commonly used to describe these feelings.[1][2]

The term "Asexual" may also be used as an umbrella term, referring to anyone on the Asexual Spectrum.

Etymology

The term "Asexual" uses the Latin prefix a- which means "not" or "a lack of."

Pronunciation

History

Early uses of the term "Asexual" for human sexuality predate the formation of the Asexual community. One of the first (indirect) references to Asexuality was in 1896 by physician, Magnus Hirschfeld, in his book "Sappho und Sokrates" where he says "There are individuals who are without any sexual desire ('Anästhesia sexualis')."[3] In 1948 and 1953 Dr. Alfred Kinsey added a category "X" to the Kinsey scale, indicating those with "no socio-sexual contacts or reactions.”[4][5] In a study published in 1983, Paula Nurius examined the relationship between mental health and sexual orientation. The study focused on Heterosexuality and Homosexuality but also had options for Bisexual and Asexual.[6]

The contemporary Asexual community originated once the internet enabled small, geographically-dispersed demographics to connect with each other. The earliest Asexual proto-community formed in the comments of a 1997 article by Zoe O'Reilly and published by StarNet Dispatches, entitled "My Life as a Human Amoeba".[7] On October 12, 2000 the Yahoo e-mail group "Haven for the Human Amoeba (HHA)" was founded.[8] The following year, David Jay created the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN).[9] On LiveJournal, the Asexuality community was founded in 2002.[10]

Over the years, Asexuality has been defined in a variety of different ways by different people.[11][12] One of the most popular definitions emphasizes attraction, but there have also been those that emphasize a lack of sex drive or desire.

Asexuality in the DSM

The DSM-5 and ICD-10 currently define low sexual desire as a disorder. The diagnosis has gone under several name changes, the current names being:

  • DSM-5 — Female sexual interest/arousal disorder, Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder
  • ICD-10 — Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD)

In 2013, the DSM-5 was published. Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder and Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder remain listed as disorders, but their criteria exclude individuals who self-identify as Asexual.[13]

Sources

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