Asexuality (sometimes referred to as nonsexuality), in its broadest sense, is the lack of sexual attraction and the lack of interest in and desire for sex. Sometimes, it is considered a lack of a sexual orientation. One commonly cited study placed the prevalence of asexuality at 1%.

Asexuality is distinct from abstention from sexual activity and from celibacy, which are behavioral; the latter is usually for a religious reason. A sexual orientation, unlike a behavior, is believed to be "enduring". Some asexuals do have sex, despite lacking a desire for it.

Prevalence

In the mid-twentieth century, Alfred Kinsey rated individuals from 0 to 6 according to their sexual orientation from heterosexual to homosexual, known as the Kinsey scale. He also included a category he called "X" for individuals with "no socio-sexual contacts or reactions". He labeled 1.5% of the adult male population as X. In Kinsey's second book, Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, he reported this breakdown of individuals who are X: unmarried females = 14–19%, married females = 1–3%, previously married females = 5–8%, unmarried males = 3–4%, married males = 0%, and previously married males = 1–2%.

Further empirical data about an asexual demographic appeared in 1994, when a research team in the United Kingdom carried out a comprehensive survey of 18,876 British residents, spurred by the need for sexual information in the wake of the AIDS pandemic. The survey included a question on sexual attraction, to which 1.05% of the respondents replied that they had "never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all." This study of this phenomenon was continued by the Canadian sexuality researcher Dr. Anthony Bogaert in 2004, who explored the asexual demographic in a series of studies. Bogaert believed that the 1% figure was not an accurate reflection of the likely much larger percentage of the population that could be identified as asexual, noting that in the initial survey 30% of people contacted chose not to participate in the survey. Since less sexually experienced people are more likely to refuse to participate in studies about sexuality, and asexuals tend to be less sexually experienced than sexuals, it is likely that asexuals were over-represented in the 30% who did not participate, compared to the 70% who did. The same study found the number of homosexuals and bisexuals combined to be about 1.1% of the population, which is much smaller than other studies indicate. However, Bogaert's sexuality research has been scrutinized in the past, since he was involved in studies that linked race to sexual behaviors as if they had an evolutionary basis. This study was highly debated by the scientific community as potentially constituting a case of scientific racism.

In a 1994 U.S. study that did not include asexuality as a sexual orientation, some people reported having had no sex or no partners in a year: 11.9% of adults, 9.8% of men, and 13.6% of women. In 5 years, the number of partners was zero for 8.0% of adults: 7.1% of men and 8.7% of women. In all of adulthood until the time of surveying (given that surveyed people were of different ages), the number of partners was zero for 2.9% of adults: 3.4% of men and 2.5% of women.

Romantic relationships

Asexuals, while typically lacking in sexual desire for either sex, may engage in purely emotional romantic relationships. Terms concerning this:

aromantic: lack of romantic attraction towards anyone

biromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of either gender

heteroromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of the opposite gender

homoromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of the same gender

panromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of any gender or lack of gender

transromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of variant or ambiguous gender

polyromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of more than one gender or sex but without implying, as biromantic does, that there are only two genders or sexes

Research

The Kinsey Institute sponsored another small survey on the topic in 2007, which found that self-identified asexuals "reported significantly less desire for sex with a partner, lower sexual arousability, and lower sexual excitation but did not differ consistently from non-asexuals in their sexual inhibition scores or their desire to masturbate".

A 1977 paper entitled Asexual and Autoerotic Women: Two Invisible Groups, by Myra T. Johnson, may be the first paper explicitly devoted to asexuality in humans. Johnson defines asexuals as those men and women "who, regardless of physical or emotional condition, actual sexual history, and marital status or ideological orientation, seem to prefer not to engage in sexual activity." She contrasts autoerotic women with asexual women: "The asexual woman [...] has no sexual desires at all [but] the autoerotic woman [...] recognizes such desires but prefers to satisfy them alone." Johnson's evidence is mostly letters to the editor found in women's magazines written by asexual/autoerotic women. She portrays them as invisible, "oppressed by a consensus that they are nonexistent," and left behind by both the sexual revolution and the feminist movement. Society either ignores or denies their existence or insists they must be ascetic for religious reasons, neurotic, or asexual for political reasons.

In a study published in 1979 in Advances in the Study of Affect, vol. 5, and in another article using the same data and published in 1980 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Michael D. Storms of the University of Kansas outlined his own reimagining of the Kinsey scale. Whereas Kinsey measured sexual orientation based on a combination of actual sexual behavior and fantasizing and eroticism, Storms only used fantasizing and eroticism. Storms, however, placed hetero-eroticism and homo-eroticism on separate axes rather than at two ends of a single scale; this allows for a distinction between bisexuality (exhibiting both hetero- and homo-eroticism in degrees comparable to hetero- or homosexuals, respectively) and asexuality (exhibiting a level of homo-eroticism comparable to a heterosexual and a level of hetero-eroticism comparable to a homosexual, namely, little to none). Storms conjectured that many researchers following Kinsey's model could be mis-categorizing asexual subjects as bisexual, because both were simply defined by a lack of preference for gender in sexual partners.

The first study that gave empirical data about asexuals was published in 1983 by Paula Nurius, concerning the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health. Unlike previous studies on the subject, she used the above-mentioned two-dimensional model for sexual orientation. Six hundred eighty-nine subjects—most of whom were students at various universities in the United States taking psychology or sociology classes—were given several surveys, including four clinical well-being scales and a survey asking how frequently they engaged in various sexual activities and how often they would like to engage in those activities. Based on the results, respondents were given a score ranging from 0 to 100 for hetero-eroticism and from 0 to 100 for homo-eroticism. Respondents who scored lower than 10 on both were labeled "asexual." This consisted of 5% of the males and 10% of the females. Results showed that asexuals were more likely to have low self-esteem and more likely to be depressed than members of other sexual orientations; 25.88% of heterosexuals, 26.54% bisexuals (called "ambisexuals"), 29.88% of homosexuals, and 33.57% of asexuals were reported to have problems with self-esteem. A similar trend existed for depression. Nurius did not believe that firm conclusions can be drawn from this for a variety of reasons. Asexuals also reported much lower frequency and desired frequency of a variety of sexual activities including having multiple partners, anal sexual activities, having sexual encounters in a variety of locations, and autoerotic activities.

Another study with both quantitative and qualitative sections has been done recently, but the results have not yet been published, though some of the results can be found online.

Though comparisons with non-human sexuality are problematic, a series of studies done on ram mating preferences at the United States Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho, starting in 2001 found that about 2–3% of the animals being studied had no apparent interest in mating with either sex; the researchers classified these animals as asexual, but found them to be otherwise healthy with no recorded differences in hormone levels.

Etiology

. While the majority of people represent the average value for a given trait, a smaller number lie on either extreme. When describing the sex drive with such a curve, the majority of the population falls in the middle (as is true for any trait). Conversely, a small proportion will naturally represent either extreme - some, shown on the far right, are "hypersexual," while others, on the far left, are asexual.]] Etiology in this context is without implication of disease, disorder, or abnormality. Research on the etiology of sexual orientation when applied to asexuality has the definitional problem that sexual orientation is not consistently defined by all research investigators as including asexuality. Sexual orientation being "enduring" and resistant to change ("[s]exual orientation has proved to be generally impervious to interventions intended to change it") and asexuality being a sexual orientation, asexuality is enduring and resistant to change.

While heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality are usually, but not always, determined during the early years of preadolescent life, it is not known when asexuality is determined. "It is unclear whether these characteristics [viz., "lacking interest in or desire for sex"] are thought to be lifelong, or if they may be acquired."

Nonmeasurement in some areas of sexual orientation is accepted by the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers: "[S]imply to document that a phenomenon occurs, case studies and nonprobability samples are often adequate. . . . Some groups are sufficiently few in number – relative to the entire population – that locating them with probability sampling is extremely expensive or practically impossible. In the latter cases, the use of nonprobability samples is often appropriate." In determining etiologies, when asexuals are a small percentage of a large society, asexuals with a given etiology will compose an even smaller percentage, so that etiological information is available only from some individuals, generally not randomly selected.

Community

A community of self-identified asexuals coalesced in the early 21st century, aided by the popularity of online communities.

Dr. Elizabeth Abbot, author of A History of Celibacy, acknowledges a difference between asexuality and celibacy and posits that there has always been an asexual element in the population but that asexual people kept a low profile. While failure to consummate marriage was seen as "an insult to the sacrament of marriage" in medieval Europe, asexuality, unlike homosexuality, has never been illegal, and asexual people have been able to "fly under the radar". However, in the 21st century the anonymity of online communication and general popularity of social networking online has facilitated the formation of a community built around a common asexual identity.

The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) was founded in 2001 by David Jay with two primary goals: to create public acceptance and discussion of asexuality and to facilitate the growth of an asexual community. Since that time, it has grown to host the world’s largest online asexual community, serving as an informational resource and meeting place for people who are asexual and questioning, their friends and families, academic researchers, and the press. The network has additional satellite communities in ten languages. Members of AVEN have been involved in media coverage spanning television, print, and radio and participate in lectures, conferences, and Pride events around the world.

As an emerging identity with a broad definition, there is an enormous amount of variation among people who identify as asexual. Some asexuals may masturbate as a solitary form of release, while others do not feel a need to. The need or desire for masturbation is commonly referred to as a "sex drive" and is disassociated from sexual attraction; asexuals who masturbate generally consider it to be a normal product of the human body and not a sign of latent sexuality. Asexuals also differ in their feelings towards performing sex acts: some are indifferent and may even have sex for the benefit of a partner, while others are more strongly averse to the idea although they don’t necessarily dislike the other people for having sex as long as it doesn’t involve them .

Legal protections

Currently the US states of Vermont and New York have labeled asexuals as a protected class.

Religious views on asexuality

In some branches of Christianity it has been considered a spiritual discipline to refrain from all sexual activity and desire. The justification for this has been Jesus' statement: "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it" (Matthew 19:12, KJV). Others have noted Jesus' words: "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:6-9, KJV; cf. Matthew 19:1-10). It is pointed out that the context of Jesus' statements concerns divorce in which he confronts the prevalent idea of divorce for any reason. It is maintained that the intent concerned the importance of marital responsibilities rather than spiritual discipline.

In the religion of Islam, Asexuality is acknowledged but was not given a specific name. It makes an appearance in the ruling of marriage where it is said, "One should not marry if he does not possess the means to maintain a wife and future family or if he has no sex drive or if dislikes children, or if he feels marriage will seriously affect his religious obligations. If a person knows for certain that he or she cannot fulfill the duties required in marriage, and there is no fear of his/her falling into sin, then it becomes haraam for such a person to get married. Islam forbids its followers from doing injustice to another person; this would definitely be the case if one were to neglect his/her spousal duties." Where spousal duties also mean being available for their partner when they have desire, and if one knows they can never have desire (i.e. asexual) then it would almost be a sin to get married because you would be unable to do justice to your partner's sexual desires, and you would be unable to do justice onto yourself. One can get married though if one finds a partner who they can support and be with without having sex.

In the religion of Satanism, The Satanic Bible is one of the few texts that acknowledges asexuality by name. Some of the passages from that text include "'In many cases of sexual sublimination (or asexuality), any attempt to emancipate himself sexually would prove devastating to the asexual."(Pg. 69) It is also asserted that, "Asexuals are invariably sexually sublimated by their jobs or hobbies. All the energy and driving interest which would normally be devoted to sexual activity is channelled into other pastimes or into their chosen occupations. If a person favors other interests over sexual activity, it is his right, and no one is justified in condemning him for it." (Pg. 70)

Asexual symbols

Asexuals have no one fixed symbol, and none has ever officially been declared as the primary symbol of the community; however, some have through the years become more prominent and important than others.

One of the symbols most easily associated with the asexual community is the asexual triangle also known as the AVEN triangle due to its origins on the AVEN forum. David Jay, the founder of AVEN, based the asexual triangle on the gay pride pink triangle when he was first starting the forum and before the AVEN community, or any asexual community outside of AVEN had started up proper. The top line of the triangle represents the Kinsey Scale with the third point representing the other dimension of how strongly one is sexually attracted to people. The triangle and the gradient thus depicts the fade between sexual and asexual. However, the triangle is now used more as a metaphor than as an accurate diagram of human sexuality and the asexual community's place in it. It has, at times, been adapted to a gradient filled heart or spade, but the triangle version is by far the more common version.

Other common symbols are the Ace of Spades or the Ace of Hearts playing on words, with 'Ace' also being a shortened word for asexual. There is no fixed choice between which one works better though it has been suggested that the Ace of Hearts works for the romantic asexuals and the Ace of Spades for the aromantic asexuals. This however is not a strict rule by any means nor accepted by all asexuals.

Another common symbol for asexuality is cake, or rather a slice of it. Coming from the idea that 'cake is better than sex' and also as a general feel good welcome, comfort or congratulatory gesture. It has been worn on shirts when AVEN members have marched during Pride along with a mash up of the AVEN triangle and the Ace of Spades.

Some asexuals wear a black ring on the middle finger of their right hand.

In August 2010, after a process of trying to get the word out, even outside AVEN and non-English speaking areas a flag was eventually voted on in a non-AVEN site and then elected. It has since been seen used on tumblr in various LGBTQetc areas, and had in fact been seen alongside other Sexual Orientations flags previous to formal election. The black stripe represents asexuality, the grey stripe grey-sexuality and the demisexuals, the white stripe sexuality and the purple stripe community.

Notable asexuals

Edward Gorey, writer and illustrator. Gorey never married or had any known romantic relationships and responded to an interviewer's questioning of his sexual orientation with, "I'm neither one thing nor the other particularly ... I am apparently reasonably undersexed or something." He agreed with the interviewer's suggestion that the "sexlessness" of his books was "a product of his asexuality". Keri Hulme, author of The Bone People, winner of the 1985 Booker Prize, discussed asexuality and her involvement with AVEN in a 2007 interview. Bradford Cox, American musician, leader of the bands Deerhunter and Atlas Sound. Emilie Autumn, an American singer-songwriter, poet, and violinist who is best known for her wide range of musical styles and her usage of theatrics.

;Fictional characters and persons

Gerald Tippett, character from the New Zealand drama series Shortland Street.

Red Grant from the James Bond novel From Russia, With Love

Rudy Waltz from Kurt Vonnegut novel Deadeye Dick

Poppy, character from Huge

Sheldon Cooper, character from The Big Bang Theory

See also

Androgyny: the mixing of masculine and feminine characteristics, personality, fashion, or culture

Antisexualism: the views of someone who is antagonistic towards sexuality

Affectional orientation: alternative views on attraction not based on sexuality, but more on purely romantic relationships

Erotophobia: psychological fear of sexual intercourse and sexual feelings in general

Genophobia: the fear of sexual intercourse

Hypersexuality

Platonic love: a nonsexual affectionate relationship

Sexless marriage: a marriage in which little or no sex is performed throughout the marriage

Sexual anorexia

References

External links

AVEN: Asexual Visibility and Education Network

Apositive

Asexual Explorations Promoting the Academic Study of Asexuality

Asexual Explorations. Existing Research, an annotated bibliography, as accessed Feb. 23, 2010.

"The Fourth Way", Fyne Times Gay and Lesbian Magazine

Study: One in 100 Adults Asexual

AVENTube, a group of asexuals on youtube with videos about asexuality

Asexual site listing A fairly extensive listing of asexual sites on the web.

"We're married, we just don't have sex", UK Guardian, September 8, 2008

Asexuals leave the closet, find community – SFGate.com

Asexuality: destroying all prejudices , An article uncovering a few things about Asexuality, written by an asexual.

Category:Non-sexuality Category:Sexual orientation Category:Sexual attraction Category:Asexuality

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