What Is Asexuality?
There is a huge sexual movement going on. It's not about gay
pride. It's not about sex among the elderly. It's not even a
hidden Viagra agenda I'm speaking of. Today, it's all about the
asexual a.k.a. the person who has no interest in having sex.
Does this sound like you?
Case Study *Monica is 24-year-old woman who lives a healthy and
vibrant life. She has a satisfying job as a registered nurse,
loves to swim, and is in a new 8-month relationship.
What's unique about her relationship is that neither she or her
boyfriend are interested in having sex with each other or anyone
else for that matter. They are what they describe as "asexuals",
and where many physicians and psychologists would call this a
problem that needs to be addressed - Monica and her boyfriend
feel it is a just a part of who they are and there is nothing
wrong with it.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with us. Me and *Jim have
just never experienced sexual attraction. It's not like I'm a
woman who use to enjoy sex and now I don't. That could very well
be hormonal. In my case, I have never had a sexual attraction
for anyone - male or female. I enjoy snuggling with my
boyfriend, going out with him, and all the other non-sexual
things couples do."
Coming Out Interestingly enough, it seems as if Monica and her
boyfriend are not alone. What was once something that many
people kept to themselves is now coming out of the closet and
members are happy to finally be able to find each other and to
define themselves as asexual. Asexuality is emerging as a new
sexual orientation.
"I'm kind of glad there is a name for this. I didn't feel
broken, just different, and I didn't know what to call it. Now
slowly but surely I'm finding others who are just like me. Like
this guy who started this website -
http://www.asexuality.org/home/ - for people like us."
The Growing Debate Of course there is growing debate in the
mental health and medical community about the term asexual. Some
professionals believe that people who do not care about sex at
all are either experiencing a physical, emotional, or hormonal
problem. There are many who define humans as "sexual beings" who
should normally desire a sexual relationship with their partners.
Positive Proof? People who are asexual feel that this is
incorrect, and that is just the effort of medical professionals
to tell them what is wrong with them in order to fix them. Or it
is just out of ignorance that many professionals don't know
about this community of people. But slowly things are beginning
to change. Concrete research is something most professionals
will accept as proof of recognition.
In a study conducted last year (2004) by Anthony Bogaert, a
psychologist and human sexuality expert at Brock University in
St. Catherines, Ontario-- results concluded that 1 in 100 adults
were asexual. That can be defined as 1% of the population which
is not too far behind the 3% of the population who are gay.
Celibate or Asexual? People who are asexual want it to be known
that there is a concrete difference between celibacy and
asexuality. Someone who is celibate is someone who has chosen to
abstain from sex - Asexuals have not made that choice. Just as
the heterosexual didn't choose to be attracted to the opposite
sex or the homosexual didn't choose to be attracted to the same
gender - neither has the asexual made a choice - it's just the
way they have always been.
Is this a new thing? The only thing new about asexuality is the
fact is that there is finally some scholarly study and research
beginning on the topic and therefore it is receiving more media
and therefore public attention.
"There is quite a bit of circumstantial proof that people who
have lived decades, even centuries, ago were asexual. This is
nothing new - its just getting its fair share of publicity -
finally!"
Learn more about asexuality: http://www.asexuality.org/home/
Find an asexual support group in your area:
http://asexuality.meetup.com/ The next United Asexuality Meetup
Day is on September 3rd.
Famous asexuals: Sir Issac Newton:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton H.P. Lovecraft:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.P._Lovecraft
Would you like to talk about your asexuality? Talk to an advice
expert at http://www.girlshrink.com/advice.html