[ **up: [[Sexual orientation]]** ] --- # Asexuality (Sexual orientation) > A sexual orientation generally characterized by a lack of sexual attraction \[…][^1] [[2024-0727. 'Asexuality isn't a complex. It's not a sickness. It's not an automatic sign of trauma. It's not a behaviour. It's not the result of a decision. ... We aren't calling ourselves asexual as a statement of purity or moral superiority.'|'Asexuality isn't a complex. It's not a sickness. It's not an automatic sign of trauma. It's not a behaviour. It's not the result of a decision. ... We aren't calling ourselves asexual as a statement of purity or moral superiority.']][^2] * *See also:* [[Demisexuality]] --- ## Asexual ≠ no engagement with sex [[2024-0727. Asexuality is defined as the absence of sexual attraction; this definition correctly leaves space for asexual people to be experiencing other forms of attraction, feel sexual arousal, be sexually active, etc.|'Asexuality is standardly defined as the absence of sexual attraction to other people. This definition leaves open the possibility that, free from contradiction, asexual people could experience other forms of attraction, feel sexual arousal, have sexual fantasies, masturbate, or have sex with other people, not to mention nurture romantic relationships.']][^3] [[2024-0727. 'Sexual attraction to people is not a prerequisite of sexual desire.'|'Sexual attraction to people is not a prerequisite of sexual desire.']][^3] [[2024-0727. AVEN describes some asexual people as 'sex-favourable'.|AVEN describes some asexual people as 'sex-favourable'.]][^4] ### Sex [[2024-0727. 'There are many ways for sexual activity to be good, and not all of them rest on the experience of distinctly sexual attraction, or distinctly sexual pleasure.'|'There are many ways for sexual activity to be good, and not all of them rest on the experience of distinctly sexual attraction, or distinctly sexual pleasure.']][^5] [[2024-0727. Someone can want to have sex with another person, and take pleasure in having sex with them, but not necessarily take sexual pleasure from having sex with them (at least, if sexual pleasure must involve sexual attraction).|Someone can want to have sex with another person, and take pleasure in having sex with them, but not necessarily take sexual pleasure from having sex with them (at least, if sexual pleasure must involve sexual attraction).]][^6] [[2024-0727. 'It seems plausible that good sex involves attraction; we just deny it must involve sexual attraction'|'It seems plausible that good sex involves attraction; we just deny it must involve sexual attraction']][^7] ### Masturbation [[2024-0727. A study of the masturbatory experiences of asexual people, for instance, suggests that in some cases their desire is ‘non-directed’, i.e, it does not focus on anyone.|'A study of the masturbatory experiences of asexual people, for instance, suggests that in some cases their desire is ‘non-directed’, ie, it does not focus on anyone.']][^8] [[2024-0727. Upon studying the sexual fantasies of asexual people, Anthony Bogaert of Brock University coined the term 'autochorissexualism' (identity-less sexuality).|Upon studying the sexual fantasies of asexual people, Anthony Bogaert of Brock University coined the term 'autochorissexualism' (identity-less sexuality).]][^9] --- ## Asexual ≠ aromantic [[2024-0727. Only about a quarter of asexual people experience no interest in romantic life (and identify as aromantic).|Only about a quarter of asexual people experience no interest in romantic life (and identify as aromantic).]][^10][^11] --- - *See:* - [[Allosexuality]] - [[Queerplatonic relationships]] [^1]: ‘Asexuality’, [['Homosaurus - An International LGBTQ+ Linked Data Vocabulary' (website)|Homosaurus: An International LGBTQ+ Linked Data Vocabulary]], updated 29 September 2021, https://homosaurus.org/v2/asexuality. [^2]: Julia Sondra Decker, in: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^3]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^4]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^5]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^6]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^7]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^8]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^9]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^10]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance.Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^11]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance.