Demisexuality

This article is about individuals who do not experience primary sexual attraction. For other uses, see Demiromanticism.
Demisexuality
EtymologyLatin: demi, meaning "half"[1]
Definition1: The state of not experiencing primary sexual attraction. 2: Attracted to someone after getting to know them for a certain period of time.
ClassificationSexual identity
Parent categoryAsexual spectrum
Other terms
Associated terms
Flag
Demisexual pride flag
Demisexual pride flag
Flag nameDemisexual pride flag
MeaningBlack chevron represents asexuality, gray represents gray asexuality, white represents sexuality, and purple represents community.[2]

Demisexuality is a sexual orientation in which an individual does not experience primary sexual attraction[3][4] – the type of attraction that is based on immediately observable characteristics such as appearance or smell and is experienced immediately after a first encounter.[1] A demisexual person can only experience secondary sexual attraction – the type of attraction that occurs after the development of an emotional bond.[5][6][1] The amount of time that a demisexual individual needs to know another person before developing sexual attraction towards them varies from person to person.[7] Demisexuality is generally categorized on the asexuality spectrum.[8][9][1]

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference health was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Queer 101". Old Dominion University. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  3. ^ "Explore the spectrum: guide to finding your ace community". GLAAD. 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. ^ "Sexual orientation - APA Style". apastyle.apa.org. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  5. ^ "What Is Demisexuality?". WebMD. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  6. ^ Iqbal, Nosheen (September 7, 2019). "No lust at first sight: why thousands are now identifying as 'demisexual'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "What Is Demisexuality?". Feeld. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  8. ^ Decker, Julie Sondra (2015). "Grayromanticism". The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1510700642. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Kurowicka, Anna; Przybylo, Ela (2020). "Polish Asexualities: Catholic Religiosity and Asexual Online Activisms in Poland". In Buyantueva, Radzhana; Shevtsova, Maryna (eds.). LGBTQ+ Activism in Central and Eastern Europe: Resistance, Representation and Identity. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 297. ISBN 978-3030204013. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.