Asexual, or "ace",[1] refers to people do not experience sexual attraction toward others. They may experience other forms of attraction, such as romantic, sensual, or aesthetic attraction, but they do not feel a need act upon that attraction sexually and do not have an intrinsic desire for sex. Asexuality is a sexual orientation,[2] not a gender identity, behavior, or medical condition. Some asexual people choose to engage in sexual activities for various reasons despite not experiencing sexual feelings and desire toward any particular person.[3] Asexuality is part of the asexual spectrum (abbreviated "ace-spec"), an umbrella term and a broad community of identities that are closely related to asexuality when placed on a spectrum ranging from asexual to sexual.[1]
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Etymology
The term 'asexual' comes from the negation prefix a-, meaning 'not' or 'without', with the word 'sexual'. Initially used to describe biological organisms that had no sex organs,[4] its use as a label to describe people was first posited in the late 1800s,[source?] and it was further popularized by Alfred Kinsey in his Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale (the Kinsey scale), with X being used to denote people who did not engage in sexual behaviors.[5]
Community
The asexual community is a small but growing one.[6] Asexuality is part of the asexual spectrum and has been broadly categorized, along with aromanticism, as part of the a-spec(trum).[7] The asexual community has close ties to the aromantic community due to their commonalities. The community of people who are both asexual and aromantic is known as the aroace community.[7][8]
Members of the asexual community have noted that "asexual identities make explicit a romantic dimension of sexuality as distinct from a sexual identity based on lack of sexual attraction" as compared with non-asexual identities. In researched cases, this resulted in greater emphasis being put on an individuals' sexual and romantic orientation as contrasted with non-asexual peers.[9]
History
Document the community's most important history, including facts such as key events, breakthroughs in improving the community's wellbeing and rights, or historical figures known to belong to the community.
Flag
The asexual pride flag was voted on by the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) in 2010. It is composed of four horizontal stripes from top to bottom in the colors black, grey, white, and purple. The colors have the following meanings:[10]
- Black: Asexuals[10]
- Grey: Demisexuals and grayasexuals[10]
- White: Sexuals,[10] as in non-asexual partners and allies[11]
- Purple: The community[10]
Distinction
Aromantic
- Main article: Aromantic
Aromantic (or "aro") people do not experience romantic attraction toward others. Some aromantic people experience sexual attraction, while others are both aromantic and asexual.[12]
Celibacy and abstinence
Asexuality is not the same as celibacy or abstinence, which are choices to not engage in sexual behavior based on reasons that are not related to sexual attraction. People who abstain from sex may experience attractions and choose not to act upon them, and they may change their minds and stop being abstinent or celibate.[3] Asexuality is not a personal choice that can be changed. Someone who does choose to practice celibacy, whether for personal or religious beliefs, is not necessarily asexual.[1]
Demisexual
- Main article: Demisexual
Although demisexuality is on the asexual spectrum, it is different from asexuality itself. Asexual people do not experience sexual attraction, regardless of how close they are with someone, whereas demisexual people can and do experience sexual attraction, but only after a close bond is formed with another person.[13]
Perceptions and discrimination
There are a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to asexuality. One of the most common myths is that asexuals are simply choosing to abstain from sex, which is not true. Some asexuals may abstain, while others do have sex, whether it may be to please their partner or to have children. Asexuals simply do not feel sexual attraction.[1] That does not necessarily mean they have an aversion to sex, although some asexuals do.[14]
Another common myth is that people "become" asexual after either being sexually rejected or sexually abused. These are harmful misconceptions. Although certain factors can have an impact on shaping someone's identity, an asexual orientation is not chosen, and it is not exclusively determined based on someone's history. Some asexuals may know their orientation from an early age, while others may not discover they are asexual until after one or more sexual experiences.[14]
Media
Asexuality has been under-represented in the media compared to other sexual minorities. Recently, it has gained some prominence through its inclusion in contemporary television.
Literature
Kerewin, from Keri Hulme's 1986 The Bone People, is asexual, and uses the word to refer to herself.[15]
Television
- Drea from Everything's Gonna Be Okay.[16]
- Florence from Sex Education.[17]
- Greta Moreno from Genera+ion.[18]
- Liv Flaherty from Emmerdale.[19]
- Raphael Santiago from Shadowhunters.[20][21] He may also be aromantic.[22]
- Todd Chavez from Bojack Horseman.[23]
- Valentina "Voodoo" Dunacci from Sirens.[24]
Comic books
- Jughead Jones from the Archie Comics.[25]
Video games
Other people
- Yasmin Benoit, an aromantic and asexual model and activist who co-founded International Asexuality Day.[26]
- Cavetown is an aromantic asexual musician.[27][28]