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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Asexual}} |
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[[File:Aceflag.png|thumb|220x220px|The asexual flag.]] |
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<b>Asexual</b> (often shortened to <b>ace</b>) is a sexuality defined by a lack of sexual attraction. |
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Sexual attraction is defined as the desire to have sex with, or otherwise perform sexual acts with, another person. |
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While a [[straight|heterosexual]] person is sexually attracted to people of another gender, but not to people of the same gender, and a [[bisexual]] person is sexually |
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attracted to people of the same and other genders, an asexual person is sexually attracted to no genders. For non-asexual people ([[allosexual|allosexuals]]), sexual |
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attraction is involuntary, and even occurs when someone doesn't know the other person. |
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Being asexual does not mean that one is unable to experience romantic attraction. Asexuals can have any romantic orientation. Asexuals often use the prefixes like |
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hetero-, homo-, bi-, and pan- in front of the word romantic to describe who they experience romantic attraction to. For example, a person who is asexual heteroromantic is |
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romantically attracted to people of another gender, but is not sexually attracted to them. Some asexuals are also [[aromantic]], meaning they do not feel romantic |
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attraction; they may identify as [[aroace]] |
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It is important to note the difference between asexuality and celibacy/abstinence. Those who are abstinent or celibate are not necessarily sexual; they may still experience |
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sexual attraction but they choose not to act on it for moral or religious reasons. Asexuals do not experience sexual attraction but they may or may not participate in sexual |
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activities. Although some asexuals do not take part in sexual activities there are also many asexuals who do partake in sexual activities or are in sexual relationships. This |
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could be for many reasons, such as, their own pleasure, the pleasure of a partner, or to have children. Some asexuals masturbate as well, as they still have a sex drive |
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despite not feeling sexual attraction to anyone. |
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Asexuals who seek out sexual relationship may be [[sex positive]]. Asexuals can also be [[sex repulsed]] or [[sex indifferent]]. |
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The term 'asexual' can also be used as an umbrella term to describe someone on the [[asexual spectrum]]. |
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== History == |
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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 |
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who are without any sexual desire (“Anästhesia sexualis”)...". |
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<ref>www.asexuality.org/en/topic/98639-indirect-mentions-of-asexuality-in-magnus-hirschfelds-books/</ref> |
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In 1948 and 1953 Dr. Alfred Kinsey added a category "X" to the Kinsey scale, indicating those with "no socio-sexual contacts or reactions.” |
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<ref>Kinsey, Alfred C. (1948). Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. W.B. Saunders. ISBN 0-253-33412-8</ref> |
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<ref>Kinsey, Alfred C. (1953). Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. W. B. Saunders ISBN 025333411X</ref> |
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In a study published in 1983 Paula Nurius examined the relationship between mental health and sexual orientation. The study focused on heterosexuality and |
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homosexuality but had options for bisexual and asexual. |
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<ref>Nurius, Paula. (1983). "Mental Health Implications of Sexual Orientation" The Journal of Sex Research 19 (2) pp.119-136.</ref> |
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One of the first instances of an asexual community on the internet was the comment of a 1997 article by Zoe O'Reilly and published by StarNet Dispatches, entitled "My |
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Life as a Human Amoeba". |
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<ref>web.archive.org/web/20030210212218/ dispatches.azstarnet.com/zoe/amoeba.htm</ref> |
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On October 12, 2000 the Yahoo e-mail group "Haven for the Human Amoeba (HHA)" was founded. |
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<ref>wiki.asexuality.org/Haven_for_the_Human_Amoeba</ref> |
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The founder of the group, David Jay, later made a page on his university webspace in March 2001. It was originally going to be called the Human Asexual Visibility and |
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Education Network (HAVEN), but was shortened to the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN). However, at the time it's purpose was mostly to define |
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asexuality and to collect the e-mail address of those who wished to join the e-mail group. As the membership of the Haven for the Human Amoeba increased there was an |
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increased demand for a website on asexuality with a better structure. Several websites popped up, each with different views of asexuality. AVEN was restructured, hoping |
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to be a more inclusive option for all asexuals. On May 29, 2002, the AVEN forum was started. One day later AVEN changed its domain name to asexuality.org. It soon |
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became the most popular website for asexuals. |
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== Asexuality in the DSM == |
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The DSM-5 and ICD-10 currently define asexuality as a disorder. The diagnosis has gone under several name changes, the current names being |
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*DSM-5 — Female sexual interest/arousal disorder, Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder |
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*ICD-10 — Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) |
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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 |
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exclude individuals who self-identify as asexual. |
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<ref>www.asexualityarchive.com/asexuality-in-the-dsm-5/</ref> |
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== Flag and Symbols == |
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In the summer of 2010 AVEN and several other asexual websites held a contest to design an asexual flag. The current asexual flag was designed by the AVEN user |
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Standup and was uploaded on June 30th, 2010. |
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<ref>asexualagenda.wordpress.com/2018/02/21/the-ace-flag-a-history-and-celebration/</ref> |
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Stripes represent the following: black for asexuals, grey for [[greyasexual|greyasexuals]] and [[demisexual|demisexuals]], white for [[allosexual|allosexuals]], |
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and purple for community. |
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[[File:Aventriangle.jpg|thumb|220x220px|The AVEN triangle.]] |
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The asexual community has many other symbols that represent asexuality. Purple was associated with asexuality long before the flag, because that is the color of the |
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AVEN website. Another common symbol is a spade, particularly the ace of spades, due to the fact that asexual is often shortened to ace, and because a spade is seen |
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as the opposite of a heart in a deck of cards. Another symbol is a black ring worn on the middle finger of the right hand, used to subtly identify oneself as asexual is public. |
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Cake is an informal symbol of asexuality, originating from a joke that asexuals would rather eat cake than have sex. An older asexual symbol is the AVEN triangle which |
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was most commonly used before the asexual flag was made. |
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== Etymology == |
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The term asexual uses the Latin prefix a- which means 'a lack of'. Sexual refers to sexual attraction. |
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Asexual is also a biology term, used to describe plants and some animals that can reproduce without a partner, by creating a genetic copy of themselves. |
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== Resources == |
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<references/> |
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Revision as of 22:21, 20 February 2020
This page is for making test edits.