27 / 04 / 2020
2 Minute Read

Asexual : what is it exactly?

Did you know that 1% of the world's population is asexual?

Asexuality is the lack of interest in sex. According to AVEN, the Asexual Visibility & Education Network, no less than 86% of asexuals are young people under the age of 30. Women would be much more represented than men since 57% of the asexuals would be women, 12% men, the remaining 31% not registering in the male-female binarity.

The asexual community has also its own flag (see picture above).

 

A sexual orientation like any other.

Even if some specialists argue about it, asexuality is today recognized as a sexual orientation among others. Sexual preferences are indeed multiple and not just straight! You may be attracted to people of the opposite sex - this is called heterosexual orientation - or the same sex - it is a homosexual orientation.

However, you can also change your attractions and be attracted to men and women at some point in your life. One speaks of "fluid preference". Or be attracted to both sexes; this is "bisexuality". Or be seduced by a person regardless of gender; we then speak of "pansexuality". We can also refuse all categories and classifications, concerning identity or orientation; these are "queers". Finally, one may not feel the slightest sexual attraction: it is called "asexuality".

 

Which genetic origin?

How to understand this sexual orientation? Where does it come from ? Studies on the subject estimate that the causes of asexuality are numerous and different from one individual to another, ranging from the emotional lack suffered during childhood to a fusional and romantic vision of love, passing by a very rigid education or a traumatic experience such as a lack of genital development.

Some activists emphasize a genetic origin and insist that asexuality is neither a choice nor a lack or the source of suffering. It is true that one should not mixed asexuality and abstinence. Sexuality is the absence of a desire to have sex with others, but that doesn't mean that you can't fall in love or be attracted to others. This attraction can be sentimental, intellectual, sensual, aesthetic ...

Asexuals say they can be in love and want each other, but do not want to have sex. And because nothing is simple, they also state that erotic pleasure is possible since asexuality is the absence of sexual attraction for others, but not the absence of sexuality with oneself, and in particular masturbation ...

Sexuality is kind of complicated, don't you think so ? ;-)

Janet for TheVelvetRooms

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