Asexuality

This article is about humans who lack sexual attraction or interest in sexual activity. For the lack of romantic attraction, see Aromanticism. For the lack of a gender, see Agender. For other uses, see Asexual (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Asexual reproduction.

Asexuality
DefinitionLack of sexual attraction to others; low or absent sexual desire or interest in sexual activity
Abbreviationsace
Subcategories
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Asexuality pride flag
Asexuality pride flag
Flag nameAsexuality pride flag
MeaningBlack for asexuality; gray for gray-asexuality; white for allosexuality; purple for community
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Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others, or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity.[1][2][3] It may be considered a sexual orientation or the lack thereof.[4][5][6] It may also be categorized more widely, to include a broad spectrum of asexual sub-identities.[7][8]

Asexuality is distinct from abstention from sexual activity and from celibacy,[9][10] which are behavioral and generally motivated by factors such as an individual's personal, social, or religious beliefs.[11] Sexual orientation, unlike sexual behavior, is believed to be "enduring".[12] Some asexual people engage in sexual activity despite lacking sexual attraction or a desire for sex, for a number of reasons, such as a desire to physically pleasure themselves or romantic partners, or a desire to have children.[9][13]

Acceptance of asexuality as a sexual orientation and field of scientific research is still relatively new,[2][13] as a growing body of research from both sociological and psychological perspectives has begun to develop.[13] While some researchers assert that asexuality is a sexual orientation, other researchers disagree.[4][5] Asexual individuals may represent about one percent of the population.[2]

Various asexual communities have started to form since the impact of the Internet and social media in the mid-1990s. The most prolific and well-known of these communities is the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, which was founded in 2001 by David Jay.[4][14]

  1. ^ Robert L. Crooks; Karla Baur (2016). Our Sexuality. Cengage Learning. p. 300. ISBN 978-1305887428. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Katherine M. Helm (2015). Hooking Up: The Psychology of Sex and Dating. ABC-CLIO. p. 32. ISBN 978-1610699518. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  3. ^ Kelly, Gary F. (2004). "Chapter 12". Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 401 (sidebar). ISBN 978-0-07-255835-7. Asexuality is a condition characterized by a low interest in sex.
  4. ^ a b c Marshall Cavendish, ed. (2010). "Asexuality". Sex and Society. Vol. 2. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-7614-7906-2. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Bogaert, AF (April 2015). "Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters". The Journal of Sex Research. 52 (4): 362–379. doi:10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713. PMID 25897566. S2CID 23720993.
  6. ^ Bella DePaulo (September 5, 2016). "Sexual Orientation, Not a Sexual Dysfunction".
  7. ^ Scherrer, Kristin (2008). "Coming to an Asexual Identity: Negotiating Identity, Negotiating Desire". Sexualities. 11 (5): 621–641. doi:10.1177/1363460708094269. PMC 2893352. PMID 20593009.
  8. ^ "The 'Q' in LGBTQ: Queer/Questioning". American Psychiatric Association.
  9. ^ a b Margaret Jordan Halter; Elizabeth M. Varcarolis (2013). Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 382. ISBN 978-1-4557-5358-1. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  10. ^ DePaulo, Bella (September 26, 2011). "ASEXUALS: Who Are They and Why Are They Important?". Psychology Today. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  11. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (3d ed. 1992), entries for celibacy and thence abstinence.
  12. ^ "Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality". American Psychological Association. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Prause, Nicole; Cynthia A. Graham (2007). "Asexuality: Classification and Characterization" (PDF). Archives of Sexual Behavior. 36 (3): 341–356. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9142-3. PMID 17345167. S2CID 12034925. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  14. ^ Swash, Rosie (February 25, 2012). "Among the asexuals". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2013.