Asexuality - Wikipedia

Asexuality - Wikipedia



Asexuality
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Jump to navigationJump to search
This article is about humans who lack sexual attraction or interest in sexual activity. For the lack of romantic attraction, see Aromantic. For the lack of a gender, see Agender. For other uses, see Asexual.
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientations

Asexual
Bisexual
Heterosexual
Homosexual
Related terms

Androphilia and gynephilia
Bi-curious
Gray asexuality
Non-heterosexual
Pansexuality
Queer
Research

Biological
Birth order
Epigenetic
Neuroscientific
Prenatal hormones
Demographics
Environment
Human female sexuality
Human male sexuality
Kinsey scale
Klein Grid
Queer studies
Sexology
Timeline of sexual orientation and medicine
Animals

Animal sexual behavior
Non-reproductive sexual behavior in animals
Homosexual behavior in animals (list)
Related topics

Romantic orientation

Category


v
t
e

Part of a series on
LGBT topics



lesbian
gay
bisexual
transgender

show
Sexual orientation

show
History

show
Culture

show
Rights

show
Health

show
Social attitudes

show
Issues

show
Academic fields and discourse
LGBT portal


v
t
e

Part of a series on
Asexuality topics

Related orientations

Aromanticism
Demisexuality
Gray asexuality
Non-heterosexual
Questioning
General topics

Asexuality and religion
Representation in fiction
In the media
Timeline of asexual history
Studies

Kinsey scale
Klein grid
Prevalence of asexuality
Attitudes and discrimination

Acephobia
Amatonormativity
Asexual erasure
Coming out
Heteronormativity
Inclusion in LGBT spaces
Asexual community

Ace Week
AVEN
Sounds Fake But Okay
Symbols
Lists

Asexual people
Fictional asexual characters
Portals

Sexuality
LGBT


v
t
e


Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others, or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity.[1][2][3] It may be considered a sexual orientation or the lack thereof.[4][5] It may also be categorized more widely to include a broad spectrum of asexual sub-identities.[6]

Asexuality is distinct from abstention from sexual activity and from celibacy,[7][8] which are behavioral and generally motivated by factors such as an individual's personal, social, or religious beliefs.[9] Sexual orientation, unlike sexual behavior, is believed to be "enduring".[10] Some asexual people engage in sexual activity despite lacking sexual attraction or a desire for sex, due to a variety of reasons, such as a desire to pleasure themselves or romantic partners, or a desire to have children.[7][11] 

Acceptance of asexuality as a sexual orientation and field of scientific research is still relatively new,[2][11] as a growing body of research from both sociological and psychological perspectives has begun to develop.[11] While some researchers assert that asexuality is a sexual orientation, other researchers disagree.[4][5] Asexual individuals may represent about 1 percent of the population.[2]

Various asexual communities have started to form since the impact of the Internet and social media in the mid-90’s. The most prolific and well-known of these communities is the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, which was founded in 2001 by David Jay.[4][12]


Contents
1Definition, identity and relationships
2Research
2.1Prevalence
2.2Sexual orientation, mental health and cause
2.3Sexual activity and sexuality
2.4Feminist research
2.5Intersections with race and disability
2.6Bogaert's psychological work and theories
3Community
3.1General
3.2Symbols
3.3Ace Week
3.4International Asexuality Day
4Religion
5Discrimination and legal protections
6In the media
7See also
8References
9Further reading
10External links
Definition, identity and relationships
See also: Romantic orientation

Asexuality is sometimes called ace (a phonetic shortening of "asexual"[13]), while the community is sometimes called the ace community, by researchers or asexuals.[14][15] Because there is significant variation among people who identify as asexual, asexuality can encompass broad definitions.[16] Researchers generally define asexuality as the lack of sexual attraction or the lack of sexual interest,[4][11][17] but their definitions vary; they may use the term "to refer to individuals with low or absent sexual desire or attractions, low or absent sexual behaviors, exclusively romantic non-sexual partnerships, or a combination of both absent sexual desires and behaviors".[11][18] Self-identification as asexual may also be a determining factor.[18]

The Asexual Visibility and Education Network defines an asexual as "someone who does not experience sexual attraction" and stated, "[a]nother small minority will think of themselves as asexual for a brief period of time while exploring and questioning their own sexuality" and that "[t]here is no litmus test to determine if someone is asexual. Asexuality is like any other identity – at its core, it's just a word that people use to help figure themselves out. If at any point someone finds the word asexual useful to describe themselves, we encourage them to use it for as long as it makes sense to do so."[19]

Asexual people, though lacking sexual attraction to any gender, might engage in purely romantic relationships, while others might not.[4][20] There are asexual-identified individuals who report that they feel sexual attraction but not the inclination to act on it because they have no true desire or need to engage in sexual or non-sexual activity (cuddling, hand-holding, etc.), while other asexuals engage in cuddling or other non-sexual physical activity.[7][8][11][16] Some asexuals participate in sexual activity out of curiosity.[11] Some may masturbate as a solitary form of release, while others do not feel a need to do so.[16][21][22]

With regard to sexual activity in particular, the need or desire for masturbation is commonly referred to as sex drive by asexuals and they disassociate it from sexual attraction and being sexual; asexuals who masturbate generally consider it to be a normal product of the human body and not a sign of latent sexuality, and may not even find it pleasurable.[11][23] Some asexual men are unable to get an erection and sexual activity by attempting penetration is impossible for them.[24] Asexuals also differ in their feelings toward performing sex acts: some are indifferent and may have sex for the benefit of a romantic partner; others are more strongly averse to the idea, though they do not typically dislike people for having sex.[11][16][22]

Many people who identify as asexual also identify with other labels. These other identities include how they define their gender and their romantic orientation.[25] They will oftentimes integrate these characteristics into a greater label that they identify with. Regarding romantic or emotional aspects of sexual orientation or sexual identity, for example, asexuals may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer,[19][20] or by the following terms to indicate that they associate with the romantic, rather than sexual, aspects of sexual orientation:[16][20]
aromantic; lack of romantic attraction towards anyone
biromantic; by analogy to bisexual
heteroromantic; by analogy to heterosexual
homoromantic; by analogy to homosexual
panromantic; by analogy to pansexual

People may also identify as a gray-A (such as a gray-romantic, demiromantic, demisexual or semisexual) because they feel that they are between being aromantic and non-aromantic, or between asexuality and sexual attraction. While the term gray-A may cover anyone who occasionally feels romantic or sexual attraction, demisexuals or semisexuals experience sexual attraction only as a secondary component, feeling sexual attraction once a reasonably stable or large emotional connection has been created.[16][26]

Other unique words and phrases used in the asexual community to elaborate identities and relationships also exist. One term coined by individuals in the asexual community is friend-focused, which refers to highly valued, non-romantic relationships. Other terms include squishes and zucchinis, which are non-romantic crushes and queer-platonic relationships, respectively. Terms such as non-asexual and allosexual are used to refer to individuals on the opposite side of the sexuality spectrum.[27] Some asexuals use ace playing card suits as identities of their romantic orientation, such as the ace of spades for aromanticism and the ace of hearts for non-aromanticism.[13]
Research
Prevalence

Kinsey scale of sexual responses, indicating degrees of sexual orientation. The original scale included a designation of "X", indicating a lack of sexual behavior.[28]

Asexuality is not a new aspect of human sexuality, but it is relatively new to public discourse.[29] In comparison to other sexualities, asexuality has received little attention from the scientific community, with quantitative information pertaining to the prevalence of asexuality low in numbers.[30][31] S. E. Smith of The Guardian is not sure asexuality has actually increased, rather leaning towards the belief that it is simply more visible.[29] 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."[32][33] Although, in modern times, this is categorized as representing asexuality,[34] scholar Justin J. Lehmiller stated, "the Kinsey X classification emphasized a lack of sexual behavior, whereas the modern definition of asexuality emphasizes a lack of sexual attraction. As such, the Kinsey Scale may not be sufficient for accurate classification of asexuality."[28] Kinsey labeled 1.5% of the adult male population as X.[32][33] In his 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%.[33]

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".[35] The study of this phenomenon was continued by Canadian sexuality researcher Anthony Bogaert in 2004, who explored the asexual demographic in a series of studies. Bogaert's research indicated that 1% of the British population does not experience sexual attraction, but he 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 30% of people contacted for the initial survey 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 under-represented in the responding participants. 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.[17][36]

Contrasting Bogaert's 1% figure, a study by Aicken et al., published in 2013, suggests that, based on Natsal-2 data from 2000-2001, the prevalence of asexuality in Britain is only 0.4% for the age range 16–44.[18][37] This percentage indicates a decrease from the 0.9% figure determined from the Natsal-1 data collected on the same age-range a decade earlier.[37] A 2015 analysis by Bogaert also found a similar decline between the Natsal-1 and Natsal-2 data.[38] Aicken, Mercer, and Cassell found some evidence of ethnic differences among respondents who had not experienced sexual attraction; both men and women of Indian and Pakistani origin had a higher likelihood of reporting a lack of sexual attraction.[37]

In a survey conducted by YouGov in 2015, 1,632 British adults were asked to try to place themselves on the Kinsey scale. 1% of participants answered "No sexuality". The breakdown of participants was 0% men, 2% women; 1% across all age ranges.[39]
Sexual orientation, mental health and cause

There is significant debate over whether or not asexuality is a sexual orientation.[4][5] It has been compared and equated with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), in that both imply a general lack of sexual attraction to anyone; HSDD has been used to medicalize asexuality, but asexuality is generally not considered a disorder or a sexual dysfunction (such as anorgasmia, anhedonia, etc.), because it does not necessarily define someone as having a medical problem or problems relating to others socially.[8][20][40] Unlike people with HSDD, asexual people normally do not experience "marked distress" and "interpersonal difficulty" concerning feelings about their sexuality, or generally a lack of sexual arousal; asexuality is considered the lack or absence of sexual attraction as a life-enduring characteristic.[17][20] One study found that, compared to HSDD subjects, asexuals reported lower levels of sexual desire, sexual experience, sex-related distress and depressive symptoms.[41] Researchers Richards and Barker report that asexuals do not have disproportionate rates of alexithymia, depression, or personality disorders.[20] Some people, however, may identify as asexual even if their non-sexual state is explained by one or more of the aforementioned disorders.[42]

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.[43] 689 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. 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.[43][44]

In a 2013 study, Yule et al. looked into mental health variances between Caucasian heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals, and asexuals. The results of 203 male and 603 female participants were included in the findings. Yule et al. found that asexual male participants were more likely to report having a mood disorder than other males, particularly in comparison to the heterosexual participants. The same was found for female asexual participants over their heterosexual counterparts; however, non-asexual, non-heterosexual females had the highest rates. Asexual participants of both sexes were more likely to have anxiety disorders than heterosexual and non-heterosexual participants, as were they more likely than heterosexual participants to report having had recent suicidal feelings. Yule et al. hypothesized that some of these differences may be due to discrimination and other societal factors.[45]

With regard to sexual orientation categories, asexuality may be argued as not being a meaningful category to add to the continuum, and instead argued as the lack of a sexual orientation or sexuality.[5] Other arguments propose that asexuality is the denial of one's natural sexuality, and that it is a disorder caused by shame of sexuality, anxiety or sexual abuse, sometimes basing this belief on asexuals who masturbate or occasionally engage in sexual activity simply to please a romantic partner.[5][22][24] Within the context of sexual orientation identity politics, asexuality may pragmatically fulfill the political function of a sexual orientation identity category.[27]

The suggestion that asexuality is a sexual dysfunction is controversial among the asexual community. Those who identify as asexual usually prefer it to be recognized as a sexual orientation.[4] Scholars who argue that asexuality is a sexual orientation may point to the existence of different sexual preferences.[5][7][24] They and many asexual people believe that the lack of sexual attraction is valid enough to be categorized as a sexual orientation.[46] The researchers argue that asexuals do not choose to have no sexual desire, and generally start to find out their differences in sexual behaviors around adolescence. Because of these facts coming to light, it is reasoned that asexuality is more than a behavioral choice and is not something that can be cured like a disorder.[24][47] There is also analysis on whether identifying as asexual is becoming more popular.[48]

Research on the etiology of sexual orientation when applied to asexuality has the definitional problem of sexual orientation not consistently being defined by researchers as including asexuality.[49] Sexual orientation is defined as "enduring" and resistant to change, proving to be generally impervious to interventions intended to change it,[10] and asexuality may be defined as a sexual orientation because it is enduring and consistent over time.[2] 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."[11]
Sexual activity and sexuality

While some asexuals masturbate as a solitary form of release or have sex for the benefit of a romantic partner, others do not (see above).[11][16][21] Fischer et al. reported that "scholars who study the physiology around asexuality suggest that people who are asexual are capable of genital arousal but may experience difficulty with so-called subjective arousal." This means that "while the body becomes aroused, subjectively – at the level of the mind and emotions – one does not experience arousal".[18]

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".[11]

A 1977 paper titled Asexual and Autoerotic Women: Two Invisible Groups, by Myra T. Johnson, is explicitly devoted to asexuality in humans.[50] 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 non-existent," and left behind by both the sexual revolution and the feminist movement. Johnson argued that society either ignores or denies their existence or insists they must be ascetic for religious reasons, neurotic, or asexual for political reasons.[50][51]

In a study published in 1979 in volume five of Advances in the Study of Affect, as well as 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 used only 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). This type of scale accounted for asexuality for the first time.[52] 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.[53][54]

In a 1983 study by Paula Nurius, which included 689 subjects (most of whom were students at various universities in the United States taking psychology or sociology classes), the two-dimensional fantasizing and eroticism scale was used to measure sexual orientation. 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 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.[43][44]
Feminist research

The field of asexuality studies is still emerging as a subset of the broader field of gender and sexuality studies. Notable researchers who have produced significant works in asexuality studies include KJ Cerankowski, Ela Przybylo, and CJ DeLuzio Chasin.

A 2010 paper written by KJ Cerankowski and Megan Milks, titled New Orientations: Asexuality and Its Implications for Theory and Practice, suggests that asexuality may be somewhat of a question in itself for the studies of gender and sexuality.[55] Cerankowski and Milks have suggested that asexuality raises many more questions than it resolves, such as how a person could abstain from having sex, which is generally accepted by society to be the most basic of instincts.[56] Their New Orientations paper states that society has deemed "[LGBT and] female sexuality as empowered or repressed. The asexual movement challenges that assumption by challenging many of the basic tenets of pro-sex feminism [in which it is] already defined as repressive or anti-sex sexualities." In addition to accepting self-identification as asexual, the Asexual Visibility and Education Network has formulated asexuality as a biologically determined orientation. This formula, if dissected scientifically and proven, would support researcher Simon LeVay's blind study of the hypothalamus in gay men, women, and straight men, which indicates that there is a biological difference between straight men and gay men.[57]

In 2014, Cerankowski and Milks edited and published Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives, a collection of essays intended to explore the politics of asexuality from a feminist and queer perspective.[56] It is broken into the introduction and then six parts: Theorizing Asexuality: New Orientations; The Politics of Asexuality; Visualizing Asexuality in Media Culture; Asexuality and Masculinity; Health, Disability, and Medicalization; and Reading Asexually: Asexual Literary Theory. Each part contains two to three papers on a given aspect of asexuality research. One such paper is written by Ela Przybylo, another name that is becoming common in asexual scholarly literature. Her article, with regard to the Cerankowski and Milks anthology, focuses on accounts by self-identified male asexuals, with a particular focus on the pressures men experience towards having sex in dominant Western discourse and media. Three men living in Southern Ontario, Canada, were interviewed in 2011, and Przybylo admits that the small sample-size means that her findings cannot be generalized to a greater population in terms of representation, and that they are "exploratory and provisional", especially in a field that is still lacking in theorizations.[58] All three interviewees addressed being affected by the stereotype that men have to enjoy and want sex in order to be "real men".[58]

Another of Przybylo's works, Asexuality and the Feminist Politics of "Not Doing It", published in 2011, takes a feminist lens to scientific writings on asexuality. Pryzyblo argues that asexuality is made possible only through the Western context of "sexual, coital, and heterosexual imperatives".[59] She addresses earlier works by Dana Densmore, Valerie Solanas, and Breanne Fahs, who argued for "asexuality and celibacy" as radical feminist political strategies against patriarchy.[59] While Przybylo does make some distinctions between asexuality and celibacy, she considers blurring the lines between the two to be productive for a feminist understanding of the topic.[59] In her 2013 article, "Producing Facts: Empirical Asexuality and the Scientific Study of Sex", Przybylo distinguishes between two different stages of asexual research: that of the late 1970s to the early 1990s, which often included a very limited understanding of asexuality, and the more recent revisiting of the subject which she says began with Bogaert's 2004 study and has popularized the subject and made it more "culturally visible". In this article, Przybylo once again asserts the understanding of asexuality as a cultural phenomenon, and continues to be critical of its scientific study.[60] Pryzblo published a book, Asexual Erotics, in 2019. In this book, she argued that asexuality poses a "paradox" in that is a sexual orientation that is defined by the absence of sexual activity entirely. She distinguishes between a sociological understanding of asexuality and a cultural understanding, which she said could include "the open mesh of possibilities, gaps, overlaps, dissonances and resonances".[61]

CJ DeLuzio Chasin states in Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential that academic research on asexuality "has positioned asexuality in line with essentialist discourses of sexual orientation" which is troublesome as it creates a binary between asexuals and persons who have been subjected to psychiatric intervention for disorders such as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.[40] Chasin says that this binary implies that all asexuals experience a lifelong (hence, enduring) lack of sexual attraction, that all non-asexuals who experience a lack of sexual desire experience distress over it, and that it pathologizes asexuals who do experience such distress.[40] As Chasin says such diagnoses as HSDD act to medicalize and govern women's sexuality, the article aims to "unpack" problematic definitions of asexuality that are harmful to both asexuals and women alike. Chasin states that asexuality has the power to challenge commonplace discourse of the naturalness of sexuality, but that the unquestioned acceptance of its current definition does not allow for this. Chasin also argues there and elsewhere in Making Sense in and of the Asexual Community: Navigating Relationships and Identities in a Context of Resistance that it is important to interrogate why someone might be distressed about low sexual desire. Chasin further argues that clinicians have an ethical obligation to avoid treating low sexual desire per se as pathological, and to discuss asexuality as a viable possibility (where relevant) with clients presenting clinically with low sexual desire.[27]
Intersections with race and disability

Scholar Ianna Hawkins Owen writes that "Studies of race have revealed the deployment of asexuality in the dominant discourse as an ideal sexual behavior to justify both the empowerment of whites and the subordination of blacks to uphold a racialized social and political system."[62] This is partly due to the simultaneous sexualization and de-sexualization of black women in the Mammy archetype, as well as by how society de-sexualizes certain racial minorities, as part of a bid to claim superiority by Whites.[62] This is co-existent with the sexualization of black female bodies in the Jezebel archetype, both utilized to justify slavery and enable further control.[62] Owen also criticizes the "...investment in constructing asexuality upon a white racial rubric (who else can claim access to being just like everyone else?)".[63] Eunjung Kim illuminates the intersections between disability/Crip theory and asexuality, pointing out that disabled people are more frequently de-sexualized.[64] Kim compares the idea of frigid women to asexuality and analyzes its history from a queer/crip/feminist angle.
Bogaert's psychological work and theories

Bogaert argues that understanding asexuality is of key importance to understanding sexuality in general.[38] For his work, Bogaert defines asexuality as "a lack of lustful inclinations/feelings directed toward others," a definition that he argues is relatively new in light of recent theory and empirical work on sexual orientation. This definition of asexuality also makes clear this distinction between behavior and desire, for both asexuality and celibacy, although Bogaert also notes that there is some evidence of reduced sexual activity for those who fit this definition. He further distinguishes between desire for others and desire for sexual stimulation, the latter of which is not always absent for those who identify as asexual, although he acknowledges that other theorists define asexuality differently and that further research needs to be done on the "complex relationship between attraction and desire".[38] Another distinction is made between romantic and sexual attraction, and he draws on work from developmental psychology, which suggests that romantic systems derive from attachment theory while sexual systems "primarily reside in different brain structures".[38]

Concurrent with Bogaert's suggestion that understanding asexuality will lead to a better understanding of sexuality overall, he discusses the topic of asexual masturbation to theorize on asexuals and "'target-oriented' paraphilia, in which there is an inversion, reversal, or disconnection between the self and the typical target/object of sexual interest/attraction" (such as attraction to oneself, labelled "automonosexualism").[38]

In an earlier 2006 article, Bogaert acknowledges that a distinction between behavior and attraction has been accepted into recent conceptualizations of sexual orientation, which aids in positioning asexuality as such.[65] He adds that, by this framework, "(subjective) sexual attraction is the psychological core of sexual orientation", and also addresses that there may be "some skepticism in [both] the academic and clinical communities" about classifying asexuality as a sexual orientation, and that it raises two objections to such a classification: First, he suggests that there could be an issue with self-reporting (i.e., "a 'perceived' or 'reported' lack of attraction", particularly for definitions of sexual orientation that consider physical arousal over subjective attraction), and, second, he raises the issue of overlap between absent and very low sexual desire, as those with an extremely low desire may still have an "underlying sexual orientation" despite potentially identifying as asexual.[65]
Community
General
LGBT symbols

Flags

Rainbow
Lesbian
Gay men
Bisexual
Transgender
Pansexual
Asexual
Intersex
Gay pride flag of South Africa
Bear
Leather
Other symbols

Pink triangle
Black triangle
Labrys
Handkerchief code
White Knot


v
t
e


An asexual pride flag

Some members of the asexual community opt to wear a black ring on the middle finger of their right hand as a form of identification.[66]



An academic work dealing with the history of the asexual community is presently lacking.[67] Although a few private sites for people with little or no sexual desire existed on the Internet in the 1990s,[68] scholars state that a community of self-identified asexuals coalesced in the early 21st century, aided by the popularity of online communities.[69][70] Volkmar Sigusch stated that "Groups such as 'Leather Spinsters' defended asexual life against the pressure of culture" and that "Geraldin van Vilsteren created the 'Nonlibidoism Society' in the Netherlands, while Yahoo offered a group for asexuals, 'Haven for the Human Amoeba.'"[68] The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) is an organization founded by American asexuality activist David Jay in 2001 that focuses on asexuality issues.[4] Its stated goals are "creating public acceptance and discussion of asexuality and facilitating the growth of an asexual community".[4][12]

For some, being a part of a community is an important resource because they often report having felt ostracized.[25] Although online communities exist, affiliation with online communities vary. Some question the concept of online community, while others depend on the online asexual community heavily for support. Elizabeth Abbott posits that there has always been an asexual element in the population, but that asexual people kept a low profile. While the failure to consummate marriage was seen as an insult to the sacrament of marriage in medieval Europe, and has sometimes been used as grounds for divorce or to rule a marriage void, asexuality, unlike homosexuality, has never been illegal, and it has usually gone unnoticed. 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.[71]

Communities such as AVEN can be beneficial to those in search of answers to solve a crisis of identity with regard to their possible asexuality. Individuals go through a series of emotional processes that end with their identifying with the asexual community. They first realize that their sexual attractions differ from those of most of society. This difference leads to questioning whether the way they feel is acceptable, and possible reasons for why they feel this way. Pathological beliefs tend to follow, in which, in some cases, they may seek medical help because they feel they have a disease. Self-understanding is usually reached when they find a definition that matches their feelings. Asexuality communities provide support and information that allows newly identified asexuals to move from self-clarification to identifying on a communal level, which can be empowering, because they now have something to associate with, which gives normality to this overall socially-isolating situation.[72]

Asexual organizations and other Internet resources play a key role in informing people about asexuality. The lack of research makes it difficult for doctors to understand the causation. Like with any sexual orientation, most people who are asexual are self-identified. This can be a problem when asexuality is mistaken for an intimacy or relationship problem or for other symptoms that do not define asexuality. There is also a significant population that either does not understand or does not believe in asexuality, which adds to the importance of these organizations to inform the general population; however, due to the lack of scientific fact on the subject, what these groups promote as information is often questioned.

On June 29, 2014, AVEN organized the second International Asexuality Conference, as an affiliate WorldPride event in Toronto. The first was held at the 2012 World Pride in London.[73] The second such event, which was attended by around 250 people, was the largest gathering of asexuals to date.[74] The conference included presentations, discussions, and workshops on topics such as research on asexuality, asexual relationships, and intersecting identities.
Symbols
Main article: LGBT symbols

In 2009, AVEN members participated in the first asexual entry into an American pride parade when they walked in the San Francisco Pride Parade.[75] In August 2010, after a period of debate over having an asexual flag and how to set up a system to create one, and contacting as many asexual communities as possible, a flag was announced as the asexual pride flag by one of the teams involved. The final flag had been a popular candidate and had previously seen use in online forums outside of AVEN. The final vote was held on a survey system outside of AVEN where the main flag creation efforts were organized. The flag colors have been used in artwork and referenced in articles about asexuality.[76] The flag consists of four horizontal stripes: black, grey, white, and purple from top to bottom. The black stripe represents asexuality, the grey stripe representing the grey-area between sexual and asexual, the white stripe sexuality, and the purple stripe community.[77][78][79]
Ace Week

Ace Week (formerly Asexual Awareness Week) occurs on the last full week in October. It is an awareness period that was created to celebrate and bring awareness to asexuality (including grey asexuality).[80][81] It was founded by Sara Beth Brooks in 2010.[82][83]
International Asexuality Day

International Asexuality Day (IAD) is an annual celebration of the asexuality community that takes place on 6 April.[84] The intention for the day is "to place a special emphasis on the international community, going beyond the anglophone and Western sphere that has so far had the most coverage".[85] An international committee spent a little under a year preparing the event, as well as publishing a website and press materials.[86] This committee settled on the date of 6 April to avoid clashing with as many significant dates around the world as possible, although this date is subject to review and may change in future years.[85][87]

The first International Asexuality Day was celebrated in 2021 and involved asexuality organisations from at least 26 different countries.[84][88][89] Activities included virtual meetups, advocacy programs both online and offline, and the sharing of stories in various art-forms.[90]
Religion

Studies have found no significant statistical correlation between religion and asexuality,[91] with asexuality occurring with equal prevalence in both religious and irreligious individuals.[91] Nonetheless, asexuality is not uncommon among celibate clergy, since others are more likely to be discouraged by vows of chastity.[92] In Aicken, Mercer, and Cassell's study, a higher proportion of Muslim respondents than Christian ones reported that they did not experience any form of sexual attraction.[91]

Because of the relatively recent application of the term asexuality, most religions do not have clear stances on it.[93] In Matthew 19:11–12, Jesus mentions "For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others – and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs to the sake of the kingdom of heaven."[94] Some biblical exegetes have interpreted the "eunuchs who were born that way" as including asexuals.[94][95]

Christianity has traditionally revered celibacy (which is not the same as asexuality);[93] the apostle Paul, a lifelong unmarried celibate, has been described by some writers as asexual.[93][96] He writes in 1 Corinthians 7:6–9,


I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.[93]

Nonetheless, some Christians regard asexuality as imaginary or even immoral.[93] The Jesuit priests David Nantais and Scott Opperman write: "Asexual people do not exist. Sexuality is a gift from God and thus a fundamental part of our human identity. Those who repress their sexuality are not living as God created them to be: fully alive and well. As such, they're most likely unhappy."[93][97]
Discrimination and legal protections
Main article: Discrimination against asexual people

Asexuals marching in a pride parade in London

A 2012 study published in Group Processes & Intergroup Relations reported that asexuals are evaluated more negatively in terms of prejudice, dehumanization and discrimination than other sexual minorities, such as gay men, lesbians and bisexuals. Both homosexual and heterosexual people thought of asexuals as not only cold, but also animalistic and unrestrained.[98] A different study, however, found little evidence of serious discrimination against asexuals because of their asexuality.[99] Asexual activist, author, and blogger Julie Decker has observed that sexual harassment and violence, such as corrective rape, commonly victimizes the asexual community.[100] Sociologist Mark Carrigan sees a middle ground, arguing that while asexuals do often experience discrimination, it is not of a phobic nature but "more about marginalization because people genuinely don't understand asexuality."[101]

Asexuals also face prejudice from the LGBT community.[46][100] Many LGBT people assume that anyone who is not homosexual or bisexual must be straight[46] and frequently exclude asexuals from their definitions of queer.[46] Although many well-known organizations devoted to aiding LGBTQ communities exist,[46] these organizations generally do not reach out to asexuals[46] and do not provide library materials about asexuality.[46] Upon coming out as asexual, activist Sara Beth Brooks was told by many LGBT people that asexuals are mistaken in their self-identification and seek undeserved attention within the social justice movement.[100] Other LGBT organizations, such as The Trevor Project and the National LGBTQ Task Force, explicitly include asexuals because they are non-heterosexual and can therefore be included in the definition of queer.[102][103] Some organizations now add an A to the LGBTQ acronym to include asexuals; however, this is still a controversial topic in some queer organizations.[104]

In some jurisdictions, asexuals have legal protections. While Brazil bans since 1999 whatever pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals through the national ethical code,[105] the US state of New York has labeled asexuals as a protected class.[106] However, asexuality does not typically attract the attention of the public or major scrutiny; therefore, it has not been the subject of legislation as much as other sexual orientations have.[36]
In the media
Main article: Media portrayal of asexuality

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intentionally portrayed his character Sherlock Holmes as what would today be classified as asexual.[92]

Asexual representation in the media is limited and rarely openly acknowledged or confirmed by creators or authors.[107] In works composed prior to the beginning of the twenty-first century, characters are generally automatically assumed to be sexual[108] and the existence of a character's sexuality is usually never questioned.[108] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle portrayed his character Sherlock Holmes as what would today be classified as asexual,[92] with the intention to characterize him as solely driven by intellect and immune to the desires of the flesh.[92] The Archie Comics character Jughead Jones was likely intended by his creators as an asexual foil to Archie's excessive heterosexuality, but, over the years, this portrayal shifted, with various iterations and reboots of the series implying that he is either gay or heterosexual.[92][109] In 2016, he was confirmed to be asexual in the New Riverdale Jughead comics.[109] The writers of the 2017 television show Riverdale, based on the Archie comics, chose to depict Jughead as a heterosexual despite pleas from both fans and Jughead actor Cole Sprouse to retain Jughead's asexuality and allow the asexual community to be represented alongside the gay and bisexual communities, both represented in the show.[110] This decision sparked conversations about deliberate asexual erasure in the media and its consequences, especially on younger viewers.[111]

Gilligan, the eponymous character of the 1960s television series Gilligan's Island, is classified as asexual.[92] The producers of the show likely portrayed him in this way to make him more relatable to young male viewers of the show who had not yet reached puberty and had therefore presumably not yet experienced sexual desire.[92] Gilligan's asexual nature also allowed the producers to orchestrate intentionally comedic situations in which Gilligan spurns the advances of attractive females.[92] Films and television shows frequently feature attractive, but seemingly asexual, female characters who are "converted" to heterosexuality by the male protagonist by the end of the production.[92] These unrealistic portrayals reflect a heterosexual male belief that all asexual women secretly desire men.[92]

Asexuality as a sexual identity, rather than as a biological entity, became more widely discussed in the media in the beginning of the twenty-first century.[107] The Fox Network series House represented an "asexual" couple in the episode "Better Half". However, this representation has been questioned by members of the asexual community (including AVEN founder, David Jay) due to the episode concluding in the reveal that the man simply had a pituitary tumor that reduced his sex drive, and the woman was only pretending to be asexual to please him.[112] This led to controversy over the representation and a change.org petition for Fox Network to reconsider how it represents asexual characters in the future, stating it "represented asexuality very poorly by attributing it to both medical illness and deception."[112] Children's animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants was under speculation (2002) and later controversy (2005) because of claims that SpongeBob and his best friend, Patrick, are gay.[113][114] This prompted the creator, Stephen Hillenburg, to clarify on both occasions that he does not consider them gay or heterosexual, but rather asexual.[115][116][117] He also linked SpongeBob's ability to reproduce asexually by "budding" to further explain that the character doesn't necessarily need relationships.[118]

The character Evan Waxman proclaims his asexual identity upon his first appearance in a 2013 episode of the web series High Maintenance; the character, portrayed by Avery Monsen, reappears in several episodes, including the series' subsequent continuation on HBO.[119][120][121]

The Netflix series BoJack Horseman revealed in the end of the third season that Todd Chavez, one of the primary characters, is asexual. This has been further elaborated in the 4th season of the series and has been generally well accepted by the asexual community for its methods of positive representation.[122]

On the British soap opera Emmerdale, 15-year-old character Liv Flaherty revealed that she fancies neither boys nor girls, leading to speculation that she might be asexual.[123]

The television series Shadowhunters, based on the book series The Mortal Instruments, includes the asexual character Raphael Santiago.[124]
See also

Human sexuality portal
Asociality: a lack of interest in social relationships in general
Antisexualism: the views of someone who is antagonistic towards sexuality
Media portrayal of asexuality
Platonic love: a non-romantic/non-sexual affectionate relationship
Sexless marriage: a marriage in which little or no sex is performed
Sexual anorexia: a loss of "appetite" for romantic-sexual interaction
The Bone People: a 1984 novel with an asexual protagonist, which explicitly makes reference to the subject of asexuality
Timeline of asexual history
References

^ Robert L. Crooks; Karla Baur (2016). Our Sexuality. Cengage Learning. p. 300. ISBN 978-1305887428. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Katherine M. Helm (2015). Hooking Up: The Psychology of Sex and Dating. ABC-CLIO. p. 32. ISBN 978-1610699518. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Kelly, Gary F. (2004). "Chapter 12". Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective (7 ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 401. ISBN 978-0-07-255835-7Asexuality is a condition characterized by a low interest in sex.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i Marshall Cavendish, ed. (2010). "Asexuality". Sex and Society. 2. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-7614-7906-2. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Bogaert, AF (April 2015). "Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters". The Journal of Sex Research. 52 (4): 362–379. doi:10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713. PMID 25897566. S2CID 23720993.
^ Scherrer, Kristin (2008). "Coming to an Asexual Identity: Negotiating Identity, Negotiating Desire". Sexualities. 11 (5): 621–641. doi:10.1177/1363460708094269. PMC 2893352. PMID 20593009.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Margaret Jordan Halter; Elizabeth M. Varcarolis (2013). Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 382. ISBN 978-1-4557-5358-1. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
^ Jump up to:a b c DePaulo, Bella (September 26, 2011). "ASEXUALS: Who Are They and Why Are They Important?". Psychology Today. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (3d ed. 1992), entries for celibacy and thence abstinence.
^ Jump up to:a b "Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality". American Psychological Association. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l Prause, Nicole; Cynthia A. Graham (August 2004). "Asexuality: Classification and Characterization" (PDF). Archives of Sexual Behavior. 36 (3): 341–356. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9142-3. PMID 17345167. S2CID 12034925. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
^ Jump up to:a b Swash, Rosie (February 25, 2012). "Among the asexuals". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
^ Jump up to:a b Julie Sondra Decker (2015). The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781510700642. Retrieved April 20, 2019.[page needed]
^ Meg Barker (2012). Rewriting the Rules: An Integrative Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 978-0415517621. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
^ Shira Tarrant (2015). Gender, Sex, and Politics: In the Streets and Between the Sheets in the 21st Century. Routledge. pp. 254–256. ISBN 978-1317814764. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. pp. 89–93. ISBN 978-1-134-69253-8. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
^ Jump up to:a b c Bogaert, Anthony F. (2006). "Toward a conceptual understanding of asexuality". Review of General Psychology. 10(3): 241–250. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.10.3.241. S2CID 143968129.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Nancy L. Fischer; Steven Seidman (2016). Introducing the New Sexuality Studies. Routledge. p. 183. ISBN 978-1317449188. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b "Overview". The Asexual Visibility and Education Network. 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Christina Richards; Meg Barker (2013). Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide. SAGE. pp. 124–127. ISBN 978-1-4462-9313-3. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
^ Jump up to:a b Westphal, Sylvia Pagan. "Feature: Glad to be asexual". New Scientist. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
^ Jump up to:a b c Bridgeman, Shelley (August 5, 2007). "No sex please, we're asexual". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved September 16,2011.
^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2014). "Sexual fantasy and masturbation among asexual individuals". The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. 23 (2): 89–95. doi:10.3138/cjhs.2409. S2CID 4091448.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Carrigan, Mark (August 2011). "There's More to Life Than Just Sex? Difference and Commonality Within the Asexual Community". Sexualities. 14 (4): 462–478. doi:10.1177/1363460711406462. S2CID 146445274.
^ Jump up to:a b MacNeela, Pádraig; Murphy, Aisling (December 30, 2014). "Freedom, Invisibility, and Community: A Qualitative Study of Self-Identification with Asexuality". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 44 (3): 799–812. doi:10.1007/s10508-014-0458-0. ISSN 0004-0002. PMID 25548065. S2CID 23757013.
^ Adler, Melissa (2010). "Meeting the Needs of LGBTIQ Library Users and Their Librarians: A Study of User Satisfaction and LGBTIQ Collection Development in Academic Libraries". In Greenblatt, Ellen (ed.). Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users. North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-4894-4.
^ Jump up to:a b c Chasin, CJ DeLuzio (2015). "Making Sense in and of the Asexual Community: Navigating Relationships and Identities in a Context of Resistance". Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 25 (2): 167–180. doi:10.1002/casp.2203. ISSN 1099-1298.
^ Jump up to:a b Justin J. Lehmiller (2017). The Psychology of Human Sexuality. John Wiley & Sons. p. 250. ISBN 978-1119164708. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Smith, S. E. (August 21, 2012). "Asexuality always existed, you just didn't notice it". The Guardian. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
^ LeBreton, Marianne E. (2014). Bogaert, Anthony F. (ed.). "Understanding Asexuality". QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking. 1 (3): 175–177. doi:10.14321/qed.1.3.0175. ISSN 2327-1574. JSTOR 10.14321/qed.1.3.0175.
^ Poston, Dudley L.; Baumle, Amanda K. (2010). "Patterns of asexuality in the United States". Demographic Research. 23: 509–530. doi:10.4054/DemRes.2010.23.18. ISSN 1435-9871. JSTOR 26349603.
^ Jump up to:a b Kinsey, Alfred C. (1948). Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. W.B. Saunders. ISBN 978-0-253-33412-1.
^ Jump up to:a b c Kinsey, Alfred C. (1953). Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. W.B. Saunders. ISBN 978-0-253-33411-4.
^ Mary Zeiss Stange; Carol K. Oyster; Jane E. Sloan (February 23, 2011). Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. SAGE Publications. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-4129-7685-5. Retrieved July 27,2013.
^ Wellings, K. (1994). Sexual Behaviour in Britain: The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. Penguin Books.
^ Jump up to:a b Bogaert, Anthony F. (2004). "Asexuality: prevalence and associated factors in a national probability sample". Journal of Sex Research. 41 (3): 279–87. doi:10.1080/00224490409552235. PMID 15497056. S2CID 41057104.
^ Jump up to:a b c Aicken, Catherine R. H.; Mercer, Catherine H.; Cassell, Jackie A. (May 1, 2013). "Who reports absence of sexual attraction in Britain? Evidence from national probability surveys". Psychology & Sexuality. 4 (2): 121–135. doi:10.1080/19419899.2013.774161. ISSN 1941-9899. S2CID 62275856.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e Bogaert, A. F. (2015). "Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters". Journal of Sex Research. 52 (4): 362–379. doi:10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713. PMID 25897566. S2CID 23720993.
^ "1 in 2 young people say they are not 100% heterosexual"(PDF). August 16, 2015. See the full poll results. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b c Chasin, CJ DeLuzio (2013). "Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential" (PDF). Feminist Studies. 39 (2): 405. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
^ Brotto, L. A.; Yule, M. A.; Gorzalka, B..B. (2015). "Asexuality: An Extreme Variant of Sexual Desire Disorder?". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 12 (3): 646–660. doi:10.1111/jsm.12806. PMID 25545124. S2CID 30504509.
^ Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. p. 246. ISBN 978-1-134-69253-8. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
^ Jump up to:a b c Elisabetta Ruspini; Megan Milks (2013). Diversity in family life. Policy Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-1447300939. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Nurius, Paula (1983). "Mental Health Implications of Sexual Orientation". The Journal of Sex Research. 19 (2): 119–136. doi:10.1080/00224498309551174.
^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2013). "Mental Health and Interpersonal Functioning in Self-Identified Asexual Men and Women". Psychology & Sexuality. 4 (2): 136–151. doi:10.1080/19419899.2013.774162. S2CID 147120909.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Decker, Julie Sondra (2015). The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. New York City, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5107-0064-2.
^ Over, Ray; Koukounas, Eric (1995). "Habituation of Sexual Arousal: Product and Process". Annual Review of Sex Research. 6(1): 187–223. doi:10.1080/10532528.1995.10559905 (inactive January 19, 2021).
Cited from: Kelly, Gary F. (2004). Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective (7 ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 401. ISBN 978-0-07-255835-7.
^ Meyer, Doug (2017). "The Disregarding of Heteronormativity: Emphasizing a Happy Queer Adulthood and Localizing Anti-Queer Violence to Adolescent Schools". Sexuality Research & Social Policy. 14 (3): 331–344. doi:10.1007/s13178-016-0272-7. S2CID 151482192.
^ Garcia-Falgueras, A; Swaab, DF (2010). Sexual hormones and the brain: an essential alliance for sexual identity and sexual orientation. Endocr Dev. Endocrine Development. 17. pp. 22–35. doi:10.1159/000262525. ISBN 978-3-8055-9302-1. PMID 19955753.
^ Jump up to:a b Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. p. 244. ISBN 978-1-134-69253-8. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ "Asexual and Autoerotic Women: Two Invisible Groups" found in ed. Gochros, H. L.; J. S. Gochros (1977). The Sexually Oppressed. Associated Press. ISBN 978-0-8096-1915-3
^ Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-134-69253-8. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Storms, Michael D. (1980). "Theories of Sexual Orientation"(PDF). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 38 (5): 783–792. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.38.5.783.
^ Storms, M. D. (1979). Sexual orientation and self-perception. ed. Pliner, Patricia et al. Advances in the Study of Communication and Affect. Volume 5: Perception of Emotion in Self and Others Plenum Press
^ Aleksondra Hultquist; Elizabeth J. Mathews (2016). New Perspectives on Delarivier Manley and Eighteenth Century Literature: Power, Sex, and Text. Routledge. p. 123. ISBN 978-1317196921. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. pp. 1–410. ISBN 978-1-134-69253-8. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^ Myers, David G. (2010). Psychology (9th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers. p. 474. ISBN 978-1-4292-1597-8.
^ Jump up to:a b Przybylo, Ela. "Masculine Doubt and Sexual Wonder: Asexually-Identified Men Talk About Their (A)sexualities" from Karli June Cerankowski and Megan Milks, eds., Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives (Routledge, 2014), 225-246.
^ Jump up to:a b c Przybylo, Ela (2011). Asexuality and the Feminist Politics of "Not Doing It" (MA thesis). Edmonton, Alberta: University of Alberta. doi:10.7939/R3RB04.
^ Przybylo, Ela (2013). "Producing Facts: Empirical Asexuality and the Scientific Study of Sex". Feminism & Psychology. 23 (2): 224–242. doi:10.1177/0959353512443668. S2CID 144394132.
^ Przybylo, Ela (2019). Asexual erotics : intimate readings of compulsory sexuality. Columbus: Ohio State University. pp. 1–32. ISBN 978-0-8142-1404-6. OCLC 1096288008.
^ Jump up to:a b c Hawkins Owen, Ianna (2014). Asexualities : feminist and queer perspectives. Cerankowski, Karli June., Milks, Megan. New York. ISBN 978-0-415-71442-6. OCLC 863044056.
^ Owen, Ianna Hawkins (November 2018). "Still, nothing: Mammy and black asexual possibility". Feminist Review. 120 (1): 70–84. doi:10.1057/s41305-018-0140-9. ISSN 0141-7789. S2CID 149999756.
^ Kim, Eunjung (2014). Asexualities : feminist and queer perspectives. Cerankowski, Karli June., Milks, Megan. New York. ISBN 978-0-415-71442-6. OCLC 863044056.
^ Jump up to:a b Bogaert, Anthony F (2006). "Toward a Conceptual Understanding of Asexuality". Review of General Psychology. 10(3): 241–250. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.10.3.241. S2CID 143968129.
^ Chasin, CJ DeLuzio (2013). "Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential". Feminist Studies. 39 (2): 405–426.
^ Carrigan, Mark; Gupta, Kristina; Morrison, Todd G. (2015). Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-73132-4.
^ Jump up to:a b Volkmar Sigusch. "Sexualitäten: Eine kritische Theorie in 99 Fragmenten". 2013. Campus Verlag [de].
^ Elżbieta H. Oleksy; Aleksandra M. Różalska; Marek M. Wojtaszek (2015). The Personal of the Political: Transgenerational Dialogues in Contemporary European Feminisms. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 978-1443884457. Retrieved October 5,2017. The emergence of asexual community at the cusp of the twenty-first century came as a surprise for social scientists. Asexuals, people who experience no sexual attraction, have started to build an online community and form a cohesive sexual identity inspired by the emancipation of other LGBTQ movements. [...] The socio-cultural circumstances conducive to the constitution of asexual identity at the dawn of the twenty-first century.
^ Abbie E. Goldberg (2016). The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies. SAGE Publications. p. 92. ISBN 978-1483371290. Retrieved October 5, 2017. [...] The sociological literature has stressed the novelty of asexuality as a distinctive form of social identification that emerged in the early 21st century.
^ Duenwald, Mary (July 9, 2005). "For Them, Just Saying No Is Easy". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
^ Carrigan, Mark (2011). "There's more to life than sex? Differences and commonality within the asexual community". Sexualities. 14(4): 462–478. doi:10.1177/1363460711406462. S2CID 146445274.
^ Shira Tarrant (June 19, 2015). Gender, Sex, and Politics: In the Streets and Between the Sheets in the 21st Century. Taylor & Francis. pp. 278–. ISBN 978-1-317-81475-7.
^ "World Pride Toronto: Asexuals march in biggest numbers yet". thestar.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
^ Anneli, Rufus (June 22, 2009). "Stuck. Asexuals at the Pride Parade". Psychology Today. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
^ "Asexuality – Redefining Love and Sexuality". recultured. January 9, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
^ Bilić, Bojan; Kajinić, Sanja (2016). Intersectionality and LGBT Activist Politics: Multiple Others in Croatia and Serbia. Springer. pp. 95–96.
^ Decker, Julie. The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. Skyhorse.
^ "Asexual". UCLA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource center. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
^ Kumar, Shikha (March 18, 2017). "Meet India's newest sexual minority: The asexuals". Hindustan Times. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
^ "AAW – About Us". asexualawarenessweek.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
^ Exton, Robyn (November 14, 2016). "Aces Show Their Hand – What Is Asexuality And Why You Should Know About It". HuffPost UK. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
^ "About [prerelease]". asexualawarenessweek.com. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b "International Asexuality Day". International Asexuality Day (IAD).
^ Jump up to:a b "FAQ". International Asexuality Day (IAD).
^ "Redefining Perceptions Of Asexuality With Yasmin Benoit". noctismag.com.
^ Flood, Rebecca (April 6, 2021). "Asexual Meaning as First International Asexuality Day Celebrated Around the World". Newsweek. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
^ Waters, Jamie (March 21, 2021). "'I don't want sex with anyone': the growing asexuality movement". The Guardian. Archivedfrom the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
^ O'Dell, Liam (April 6, 2021). "What is International Asexuality Day?". The Independent. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
^ "In Nepal's growing queer movement, here's how asexuals are trying to amplify their voice". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
^ Jump up to:a b c Aicken, Catherine R. H.; Mercer, Catherine H.; Cassell, Jackie A. (September 7, 2015). "Who reports absence of sexual attraction in Britain? Evidence from national probability surveys". In Carrigan, Mark; Gupta, Kristina; Morrison, Todd G. (eds.). Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology. New York City, New York and London, England: Routledge. pp. 22–27. ISBN 978-0-415-73132-4.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j Bogaert, Anthony (2012). Understanding Asexuality. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc. pp. 36–39. ISBN 978-1-4422-0099-9.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f "Asexuality and Christianity" (PDF). asexualawarenessweek.com. Asexual Awareness Week. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b Kaoma, Kapya (2018). Christianity, Globalization, and Protective Homophobia: Democratic Contestation of Sexuality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Boston, Massachusetts: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 159–160. ISBN 978-3-319-66341-8.
^ Cole, William Graham (2015) [1955]. Sex in Christianity and Psychoanalysis. Routledge Library Editions: Psychoanalysis. New York City, New York and London, England: Routledge. p. 177. ISBN 978-1138951792.
^ Zuckerman, Phil (2003). An Invitation to Sociology of Religion. New York City, New York and London, England: Routledge. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-415-94125-9.
^ Natais, David; Opperman, Scott. "Eight myths about religious life". vocationnetwork.org.[dead link]
^ MacInnis, Cara C.; Hodson, Gordon (2012). "Intergroup bias toward "Group X": Evidence of prejudice, dehumanization, avoidance, and discrimination against asexuals". Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. 15 (6): 725–743. doi:10.1177/1368430212442419. S2CID 3056711.
^ Gazzola, Stephanie B, and Melanie A. Morrison. "Asexuality: An emergent sexual orientation". Sexual Minority Research in the New Millennium.
^ Jump up to:a b c Mosbergen, Dominique (June 20, 2013). "Battling Asexual Discrimination, Sexual Violence, and Corrective Rape". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
^ Wallis, Lucy (January 17, 2012). "What is it like to be asexual?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^ The Trevor Project - FAQ about asexuality, The Trevor Projectwebsite. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
^ "The a is Here to Stay". April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
^ Mosbergen, Dominique (June 21, 2013). "LGBT, Asexual Communities Clash over Ace Inclusion". Huffington Post.
^ Psychiatrist Jairo Bouer talks about the "collateral effects" of "gay cure" bill Archived January 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (in Portuguese)
^ The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act ("SONDA") (State of New York, Office of the Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau, 2008) (possibly written after stated copyright date, Attorney General being stated as Eric T. Schneiderman)
^ Jump up to:a b Kelemen, Erick. "Asexuality". Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender. Ed. Fedwa Malti-Douglas. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 103. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. May 2, 2016.
^ Jump up to:a b Jackson, Stevi, and Sue Scott. Theorizing Sexuality. Maidenhead: Open UP, 2010. Web. May 2, 2016.
^ Jump up to:a b "Archie Comic Reveals Jughead Is Asexual". Vulture. February 8, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
^ "Cole Sprouse Is Bummed That RIVERDALE's Jughead Isn't Asexual | Nerdist". Nerdist. January 27, 2017. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^ Revanche, Jonno. "'Riverdale's' Asexual Erasure Can Be More Harmful Than You Think". Teen Vogue. Retrieved September 9,2018.
^ Jump up to:a b Clark-Flory, Tracy (January 31, 2012). ""House" gets asexuality wrong". salon. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
^ "US right attacks SpongeBob video". January 20, 2005. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "The long and speculative history of gay characters on children's TV shows". The Telegraph. January 28, 2016. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "Camp cartoon star 'is not gay'". October 9, 2002. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "SpongeBob Asexual, Not Gay: Creator". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "SpongeBob is asexual, says creator". Asexual Visibility and Education Network. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ Writers: Jay Lender, William Reiss, David Fain (March 8, 2001). "Pressure". SpongeBob SquarePants. Season 2. Episode 32a. Nickelodeon.
^ Terry, Josh (September 14, 2016). "10 'High Maintenance' episodes that prove it's the best web series ever". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
^ Kornhaber, Spencer (February 15, 2020). "How 'High Maintenance' Creates Ethical Tension". The Atlantic. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
^ Winchester, Beth (February 17, 2020). "High Maintenance 4x02 Review: "Trick"". The Young Folks. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
^ Kliegman, Julie. "Todd's Asexuality On 'BoJack' Isn't A Perfect Depiction, But It's Made Me Feel Understood". Bustle. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
^ "Is teenager Liv asexual in new Emmerdale storyline?". October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
^ "'Shadowhunters' Confirms Raphael Is Asexual, Stays in Canon with Book Series". Hidden Remote. March 7, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
Further reading
Bogaert, Anthony F. (August 9, 2012). Understanding Asexuality. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-0101-9. Retrieved July 27, 2013This timely resource is one of the first books written on the topic for general readers, and the first to look at the historical, biological, and social aspects of asexuality.
Asexuality Archive (June 27, 2012). Asexuality: A Brief Introduction. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1-4774-2808-5. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
Decker, Julie (September 2, 2014). The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. Carrel Books. ISBN 978-1631440021. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
"Can you imagine a life without sex?", Jamye Waxman The Stir, October 12, 2011, yourtango.com
"We're married, we just don't have sex", UK Guardian, September 8, 2008
Asexuals leave the closet, find community – SFGate.com
"Asexuality", article by Mark Carrigan, in: The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies 1 (A-G).
Rle Eng. 'Leather Spinsters and Their Degrees of Asexuality' St.Mary Pub. Co. of Houston, 1998.
Geraldine Levi Joosten-van Vilsteren, Edmund Fortuin, David Walker, and Christine Stone, Nonlibidoism: The Short Facts. United Kingdom. ISBN 1447575555
Asexuality: a distinct and valid sexual orientation. VCH Research Institute, (October 6, 2016).
Chen, Angela (September 15, 2020). Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807013793
External links

Media related to Human asexuality at Wikimedia Commons



show

v
t
e
Asexuality


show
Links to related articles


Authority control

GND: 7572447-9
LCCN: sh2016000238
MA: 2777336675

Categories:
Asexuality
Non-sexuality
Sexual attraction
Sexual orientation




==
무성애
위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전.


둘러보기로 가기검색하러 가기

성적 지향

성적 지향

여성애
남성애
범성애
다성애
이성애
동성애
양성애
무성애
독점연애
다자연애
퀘스처닝
관련 연구

생물학
여성의 성
남성의 성
통계
환경
킨제이 척도
클라인 격자
신경과학
비이성애
성과학
퀴어학
의약학
관련 정신 장애

자아 이질적 성적 지향
분류
위키프로젝트 인간의 성


v
t
e


무성애 깃발

무성애(無性愛, 영어: asexuality)[1][2][3]란 누구에게도 성적 끌림을 느끼지 않거나, 또는 성생활에 대한 관심이 적거나 완전히 없는 것을 말한다.[4][5][6] 무성애를 자신의 정체성으로 삼는이를 무성애자(無性愛者, asexual)라 한다. 성애의 결여로 이해되기도 하고, 또는 이성애, 동성애, 양성애와 같은 성애의 한형태로 이해되기도 한다.[7][8][9] 2004년 이루어진 연구에 따르면 영국인구중 1%가 무성애자였다.[7][10]

무성애는 각개인의 개인적 또는 종교적신념에 의해 이루어지는 성적행동인[11] 순결이나 금욕과는 구분된다.[12][13] 성적지향은 성적행동과 달리 "지속적"이다.[14] 일부 무성애자는 성욕이나 성애가 결여되어 있음에도 여러가지이유로 성행위를 할 수있다. 이러한 이유로는 동반자를 만족시키기 위하여, 또는 자녀를 갖기위하여 등이있다.[6][12]

무성애를 성적지향의 한 형태로 받아들이고 과학적 연구의 대상이된것은 비교적 최신의 일로서,[4][6][8][15] 사회학적 심리학적 측면에서의 연구들이 발전하기 시작하고 있는단계이다.[6] 어떤 연구자들은 무성애가 실존하는 성적지향의 일종이라고 주장하는데 비해 어떤 연구자들은 동의하지않는다.[8][9]


목차
1정의
1.1정체성과 관계
1.2성적지향과 원인론
2연구
2.1성행위 및 성생활
3공동체
4차별
5같이 보기
6각주
7외부 링크
정의[편집]
정체성과 관계[편집]

스스로를 무성애자로 정체화하는 사람들 사이에도 편차가 매우 크기 때문에, "무성애"의 정의는 매우 넓은 의미를 망라한다.[16] 연구자들은 대개 무성애를 누군가에게 성적 끌림을 느끼지 못하거나 성적 욕구를 느끼지 못하는 것으로 정의하지만,[4][6][9] 그 사이에서도 정의가 달라질 수 있다. "무성애자"란 “성욕 또는 성적 매력 감각이 매우 낮거나 부재하는 사람, 또는 성행위가 결여된 사람, 또는 비(非)성적 연애 관계만을 유지하는 사람, 또는 성욕과 성행위가 모두 결여된 사람”을 가리킬 수 있다.[6]

무성애자 가시성 및 교육 네트워크(AVEN)는 무성애자를 “성적 매력을 경험하지 않는 사람”으로 정의하고, “일부 소수 사람은 자신의 성정체성에 대해 의문하고 탐구하는 과정에서 스스로를 무성애자로 생각할 수 있”으며, “누군가 무성애자인지 여부를 알 수 있는 리트머스 시험지는 존재하지 않는다. 무성애는 다른 정체성들과 마찬가지로 - 사람들이 자신을 표현하는 것을 도와주는 낱말일 뿐이다. 만약 누군가 무성애자라는 말이 자신을 설명하기에 적합하다고 생각하게 된다면, 그것이 말이 되는 한 우리는 그들이 그 낱말을 사용하도록 독려한다”고 말한다.[15]

무성애자는 어떠한 성별에게도 성적 매력을 느끼지는 않으나, 일부는 순전한 연애 관계를 가질 수 있다. 물론 다른 일부는 그렇지 않다.[9][17][18] 스스로를 무성애자로 정체화하는 사람 중 일부는 자신이 성적 매력은 느끼지만 성행위 또는 비성적 행동(포옹, 손잡기 등)을 할 욕망 또는 필요성을 느끼지 않기에 그러지 않는다고 말한다. 한편 다른 무성애자는 포옹이나 손잡기 같은 비성적 신체활동은 한다고 한다.[6][12][13][16] 일부 무성애자들은 욕구가 아닌 호기심의 발로로 성행위를 한다고 한다.[6] 어떤 이들은 자위행위는 하지만 어떤 이들은 그마저도 할 필요가 없다고 한다.[16][19][20]
성적지향과 원인론[편집]

<무성애를 말하다>(2012)에서 앤서니 보케트는 무성애의 상태가 보통 다음의 4가지로 나타난다고 말한다. i)성적인 매혹을 느끼지 않음, ii)지속적으로 성 충동이 결핍되어 있음, iii)성적 파트너와 배타적 관계를 유지하지 않음, iv)자신이 성행위의 주체라는 관념이 없음.
연구[편집]
성행위 및 성생활[편집]

모든 무성애자들이 성관계를 맺지 않는 것은 아니다. 단지 그 사람에 대한 호감이 생기지 않는 상태이기에 보통의 무성애자들은 단지 원나잇 상대 정도로만 생각을 하는 경우가 없잖아 있다.
공동체[편집]

월드와이드웹과 소셜 미디어가 나타나면서 다양한 무성애자 공동체가 만들어졌다. 가장 잘알려진 것은 2001년 데이비드 제이가 설립한 무성애자 가시성및 교육네트워크(Asexual Visibility and Education Network; AVEN)이다.[9][21]
차별[편집]

무성애는 양성애나 범성애, 동성애 등의 유성애에 비해서는 거의 가시화되어 있지 않기에 차별에 대하여도 지속적인 연구가 필요한 상태이다.
같이 보기[편집]
무사회성
양성성
반성애주의
플라토닉 러브
섹스리스 결혼
성욕감퇴
손쓰임과 성적지향
각주[편집]

↑ “Asexual”. TheFreeDictionary.com. 2011년 12월 3일에 확인함.
↑ “Nonsexual”. TheFreeDictionary.com. 2011년 12월 3일에 확인함.
↑ Harris, Lynn (2005년 5월 26일). “Asexual and proud!”. 《Salon》. 2011년 12월 3일에 확인함.
↑ 이동:가 나 다 Bogaert, Anthony F. (2006). "Toward a conceptual understanding of asexuality". Review of General Psychology 10 (3) 241–250. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
↑ Kelly, Gary F. (2004). 〈Chapter 12〉. 《Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective》 7판. McGraw-Hill. 401쪽. ISBN 978-0-07-255835-7 Asexuality is a condition characterized by a low interest in sex.
↑ 이동:가 나 다 라 마 바 사 아 Prause, Nicole; Cynthia A. Graham (August 2004). “Asexuality: Classification and Characterization” (PDF). Archives of Sexual Behavior 36 (3): 341–356. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9142-3. PMID 17345167. 2007년 9월 27일에 원본 문서 (PDF)에서 보존된 문서. 2007년 8월 31일에 확인함.
↑ 이동:가 나 Bogaert, Anthony F. (2004). “Asexuality: prevalence and associated factors in a national probability sample”. Journal of Sex Research 41 (3): 279–87. doi:10.1080/00224490409552235. PMID 15497056.
↑ 이동:가 나 다 Melby, Todd (November 2005). “Asexuality gets more attention, but is it a sexual orientation?”. Contemporary Sexuality 39 (11): 1, 4–5. ISSN 1094-5725. 2015년 11월 6일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2011년 11월 20일에 확인함 The journal currently does not have a website
↑ 이동:가 나 다 라 마 Marshall Cavendish, 편집. (2010). “Asexuality”. Sex and Society 2. Marshall Cavendish. 82–83쪽. ISBN 978-0-7614-7906-2. 2013년 7월 27일에 확인함.
↑ “Study: One in 100 adults asexual”. CNN. 2004년 10월 15일. 2007년 10월 27일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2007년 11월 11일에 확인함.
↑ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (3d ed. 1992), entries for celibacy and thence abstinence
↑ 이동:가 나 다 Margaret Jordan Halter, Elizabeth M. Varcarolis (2013). Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. 382쪽. ISBN 1-4557-5358-0. 2014년 5월 7일에 확인함.
↑ 이동:가 나 DePaulo, Bella (2011년 9월 26일). “ASEXUALS: Who Are They and Why Are They Important?”. Psychology Today. 2011년 12월 13일에 확인함.
↑ “Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality”. American Psychological Association. 2013년 3월 30일에 확인함.
↑ 이동:가 나 “Overview”. The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN). 2008. 2011년 10월 10일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2011년 10월 14일에 확인함.
↑ 이동:가 나 다 Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). 《Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives》. Routledge. 89–93쪽. ISBN 1-134-69253-6. 2014년 7월 3일에 확인함.
↑ Christina Richards, Meg Barker (2013). Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide. SAGE. 124–127쪽. ISBN 1-4462-9313-0. 2014년 7월 3일에 확인함.
↑ Relationship FAQ Archived 2009년 8월 27일 - 웨이백 머신 The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
↑ Westphal, Sylvia Pagan (2004). “Feature: Glad to be asexual”. 《New Scientist》. 2007년 12월 19일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2007년 11월 11일에 확인함.
↑ Bridgeman, Shelley (2007년 8월 5일). “No sex please, we're asexual”. 《The New Zealand Herald》. 2011년 9월 16일에 확인함.
↑ Swash, Rosie (2012년 2월 25일). “Among the asexuals”. The Guardian. 2013년 2월 2일에 확인함.
외부 링크[편집]
AVEN - 무성애자 커뮤니티 AVEN

접기

v
t
e
성정체성과 성적 지향
성정체성

젠더

여성
남성
안드로진
바이젠더
트라이젠더
시스젠더
크로스드레서
젠더퀴어
논바이너리
인터젠더
뉴트로이스
젠더플루이드
팬젠더
트랜스젠더
트랜스여성
트랜스남성
트랜스섹슈얼
기타

환자
환관
갈리
제3의 성
파파피네
마후
파칼레이티
페미니엘로
히즈라
트라베스티
카토이
두 개의 영혼
코엑추치


성적지향 정체성

성적지향

남성애와 여성애
무성애
양성애
동성애
이성애
다성애
범성애
기타

게이
레즈비언
킨제이 척도
폴리아모리
사물성애
퀴어
퀘스처닝
연애성향


참조 사항

성 역할
간성
중성

분류:
성적 지향
사랑
비성애
무성애










==
無性愛
出典: フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』


ナビゲーションに移動検索に移動

性的指向
指向
異性愛 · 同性愛 · 両性愛 · 無性愛 ·
多性愛 · 全性愛 · 対物性愛[要出典]
性の他の概念
女性の性的能力（英語版）
男性の性的能力（英語版） ·
半陰陽 · 第3の性 ·
トゥー・スピリット（英語版）
研究
生物学と性的指向（英語版） ·
性的指向の人口統計（英語版） ·
環境と性的指向（英語版） ·
キンゼイスケール ·
クライン・グリッド（英語版） ·
神経科学と性的指向（英語版） · 非異性愛（英語版） ·
同性愛と心理学（英語版） · クィア研究（英語版） ·
性科学 · 恋愛的指向 · 性的流動性 ·
性的指向に関する医学の年表（英語版）
人間を除いた動物：
動物の同性愛（一覧）


表
話
編
歴

LGBT関連シリーズ
LGBTのトピック

レズビアン ∙ ゲイ ∙ バイセクシュアル ∙ トランスジェンダー

性的指向[表示]

歴史（英語版）[表示]

文化[表示]

権利[表示]

医療[表示]

社会的な態度（英語版）[表示]

問題[表示]

学問とディスクール[表示]
LGBTポータル


表
話
編
歴


無性愛（むせいあい、英: asexuality）とは、他者に対する性的な惹かれ（sexual attraction; 性的魅力を感じること）の欠如、すなわち性的な行為への関心や欲求が少ないか、あるいは存在しないことである[1][2][3]。無性愛の性質を持っている人のことをアセクシュアル[4]、Aセクシュアル[5]、無性愛者[6]（英: asexual エイセクシュアル /eɪsɛkʃʊəl/[7]、アセクシュアル /æsɛkʃʊəl/[8]）という[注釈 1]。


目次
1概要
2定義
3コミュニティとシンボル
3.1コミュニティ
3.2シンボル
4研究
4.1無性愛のモデル化と人口
4.2性的指向・HSDDとの関係
4.3精神衛生
4.4発生要因
5差別と法的保護
6メディアでの扱い
7無性愛の著名人
8日本における無性愛
8.1用法
8.2コミュニティ
8.3人口
8.4研究・メディア
8.5邦語文献
9脚注
9.1注釈
9.2出典
10関連項目
11外部リンク
概要[編集]

無性愛は、性欲自体がない無性欲や、性的行為に嫌悪感を抱く性嫌悪、性的欲求低下障害（HSDD）（英語版）とは異なる。また純潔運動や不淫（禁欲）も、意識的な行動であり、一般に個人の信条や宗教的信念などの要因に動機づけられる点で、無性愛とは異なる[9][10][11]。

無性愛は、異性愛、同性愛、両性愛に並ぶ性質であると言われている。また、より幅広い領域にわたる、様々な無性愛的なアイデンティティ（グレーアセクシュアル）を分類するための包括的用語としても用いうる[12]。ブロック大学のアンソニー・ボガードは「世界人口の1%が無性愛者に当てはまる」と自身の著書に記している[13]。

性的指向や科学研究の分野としての無性愛の受容はまだ比較的新しく[2][14][15]、社会学・心理学的知見からの研究の蓄積は始まったばかりである[14]。無性愛は性的指向であると主張する研究者もいれば、これに同意しない研究者もいる[15][16]。

WWWとソーシャルメディアの出現以来、様々な無性愛者のコミュニティが形成され始めている。これらのコミュニティの中で最も充実し、かつよく知られているのは、2001年にデヴィッド・ジェイ（英語版）によって設立されたAsexual Visibility and Education Network（AVEN; 無性愛認知教育ネットワーク）である[16][17]。

他の性的指向に比べるとメディアでの紹介や法的保護の動きは遅れているが、英語圏では徐々に性的アイデンティティとしての地位を獲得しつつある[18][19]。日本でも2000年代初頭からコミュニティ形成の動きが進んでいる[20]一方で、研究やメディアへの露出は英語圏ほど活発にはなっていない。
定義[編集]
「恋愛的指向」も参照

本節では英語圏の文脈での定義について説明する。日本独自の用語等については「#日本における無性愛」を参照。

無性愛であると自認する人々にはたくさんの種類がいるため、無性愛は幅広い定義を包摂しうる[21]。研究者は一般的に無性愛を「性的な惹かれや性的関心の欠如」と定義するが[16][14][22]、無性愛者らの定義は様々である。「性的な欲求が少ないか、もしくはない人」、「性的な行為が少ないか、もしくはしない人」、「恋愛的な関係・性愛的でない関係のみを持つ人」、または「性的な欲求および行為の両方がない人」を示す用語として無性愛は用いられることがある[14][23]。また、無性愛であるという自認（帰属意識）も定義上の要素となりうる[23]。

AVENでは無性愛者を「性的な惹かれを経験しない人」として定義し、次のように述べる。


我々の皆が、無性愛であると気付いた時から無性愛という用語やコミュニティを必ずしも知っていたわけではないが、ほとんどの無性愛者は生涯にわたって無性愛である。（…）一方、無性愛者のコミュニティにも少数ながら、自らのセクシュアリティを探究したり疑問を抱く中で、束の間だけ無性愛と自認する人もいる。（…）無性愛識別基準[24]によって研究を補助する学術的試みはなされているが、その人が無性愛であるかどうかを定義するための検査は存在しない。無性愛は他のあらゆる性自認と同様に、本質的には、人々が自分自身を理解し、その一面を他人に伝える上での一助として用いる言葉にすぎない。その人が自己表現のうえで無性愛という言葉を有用と思えば、確かに無性愛者と自認してもよいだろうし、あとで無性愛者でないことを示すようなことがらを経験したなら、それでもまた構わない。[25]

無性愛の人々は、いかなるジェンダーの人々にも性的に惹かれないが、純粋な恋愛関係になる場合もあるし、ならないこともある[16][26]。無性愛を自認する人で、性的な魅力は感じるが、性的あるいは恋愛的行為（抱きしめる、手を握るなど）を心からは望んでいない、または必要とはしていないために、行動に移す気がないと述べる人もいる。一方では抱きしめたり、他の恋愛的な身体行為を行う無性愛者もいるし[9][10][14][21]、好奇心から性的な行為を試みる者もいる[14]。一人での処理の形として自慰行為をする者もあれば、その必要がないと感じる者もいる[21][27][28]。

特に性的な行為に関しては、自慰行為の必要性または欲求は、無性愛者からは一般に性衝動（sex drive）と呼ばれ、性的な惹かれや性的なものとは切り離して考えられる。自慰行為をしている無性愛者は一般的に、それが人体の正常な営みであり、潜在的なセクシュアリティを持つしるしではないと考え、快感を覚えないこともある[14][29]。無性愛者の男性には勃起を経験しない人もおり、そうした人にとっては試しに挿入するといった性的な行為は不可能である[30]。

無性愛者は、性行為を行うことに対する感情についても様々である。無関心で、恋愛パートナーのためにセックスをする人もいれば、一般に人がセックスをすることを嫌うわけではないが、性行為をすることには強い嫌悪感を抱く人もいる[14][21][28]。

無性愛者と自認する多くの人は、自らを他の性的アイデンティティにも属していると考える。例えば、性的指向や性的アイデンティティの恋愛的・感情的側面に関しては、無性愛者は異性愛、レズビアン、ゲイ、バイセクシュアル、クィアと自認することがある[25][26]。あるいは性的指向の性的でない、恋愛的な側面と関係があることを示すために、以下のような用語で自らを定義することもある[21][26]。
アロマンティック（aromantic） - 恋愛的に他人に惹かれない
バイロマンティック（biromantic） - 恋愛的に両性に惹かれる（が、性的な魅力を感じない）
ヘテロロマンティック（heteroromantic） - 恋愛的に異性に惹かれる
ホモロマンティック（homoromantic） - 恋愛的に同性に惹かれる
パンロマンティック（panromantic） - 恋愛的にあらゆる性に惹かれる

アロマンティックと非アロマンティックの間、または無性愛とそうでない状態との間（アロマンティック・スペクトラム）にいると感じるため、グレーA（グレーロマンティック、デミロマンス、デミセクシュアルまたはセミセクシュアルなど）を自認することもありうる。グレーAという用語が、「場合によって恋愛的な魅力や性的な魅力を感じる人」全てを指すのに対して、デミセクシュアルやセミセクシュアルは、性的な惹かれを2次的な要素として経験する、すなわち、「ある程度安定的な、あるいは強い感情的なつながりを生じて初めて性的な惹かれを感じる人」のことを言う[21][31]。
コミュニティとシンボル[編集]

無性愛コミュニティのメンバーは、帰属を表すために右手中指に黒い指輪をつけることもある[32]。
コミュニティ[編集]

無性愛者のコミュニティに関する学術研究は今のところ不足している[33]。海外の研究者及び当事者の間では、無性愛者は「エース（ace）」、そのコミュニティは「エースコミュニティ」と呼ばれることもある[34][35]。

1990年代にはインターネット上に性的欲求がほとんどまたは全くない人々のための私的なサイトがいくつかあった[36]が、学者の述べるところでは、オンラインコミュニティの普及を追い風に、21世紀初頭に無性愛を自認する人々のコミュニティが合体したという [37][38]。「Leather Spinsters」のなどのグループは、文化の圧力に対して無性愛的な生き方を擁護し、ジェラディン・ヴァン・ヴィルステレンはオランダで「Nonlibidoism Society」を創設し、Yahoo!は無性愛者に「Haven for the Human Amoeba」というコミュニティを提供した[36]。AVENは、2001年にアメリカの無性愛活動家デビッド・ジェイによって設立された組織で、無性愛者の問題に焦点を当てている[16]。その目標は、「無性愛の周知と議論の創出、および無性愛コミュニティの形成の促進」である[16][17]。また、日本では「asexual.jp」などのコミュニティが活動している（後述）。

2014年の6月29日、AVENはワールドプライド（英語版）との提携の下、トロントで2度目となる無性愛者の国際会議を主宰した。1度目は、2012年のロンドンにおけるワールドプライドで開催されている[39]。2回目のこのイベントには約250人が参加したが、これは今日に至るまで最大の無性愛者の集いである[40]。会議では、無性愛に関する研究や無性愛者の人間関係、様々なアイデンティティとの交わりなどの話題に関するプレゼンテーションやディスカッション、ワークショップなどが行われた。
シンボル[編集]

よく用いられる無性愛者のプライド・フラッグ
「LGBTQのシンボル」も参照

2009年、AVENのメンバーらが初めてアメリカでのプライド・パレードに参加し、サンフランシスコでのプライド・パレードで行進した[41]。2010年8月、無性愛者の旗を作ること、およびそのためのシステムの立ち上げ方についての議論が交わされたのち、できる限りの無性愛者コミュニティと連絡を取りあった末に、参加団体から1本の旗を無性愛者のプライド・フラッグとする旨が宣言された。最終的に決まった旗は有力な候補の1つで、元々はAVEN以外のオンライン掲示板で使われていたものであった。最終投票は、旗を作る運動の本丸であったAVENからは独立した調査システムの下で行われた。旗の色を使ったグッズも作られ、セクシュアリティに関する記事の中でも取り上げられた[42]。
研究[編集]
無性愛のモデル化と人口[編集]

性的指向の程度を示すキンゼイ指標。元のスケールでは性的な行為の欠如を示す「X」が含まれている[43]。

無性愛は人間のセクシュアリティの新しい形態ではないが、公の議論に表れたのは比較的最近のことである[44]。

アルフレッド・キンゼイは、異性愛者から同性愛者への性的指向について、0から6の段階で評価した（キンゼイ指標）が、「社会的な性的接触や反応がない」人々について「X」という分類も設けた[45][46]。現代では、これは無性愛を表すものと分類されている[47]。キンゼイは成人男性の1.5%をXと分類した[45][46]。また彼の2冊目の著書『人間の女性の性的な行為』では、Xに分類される人の内訳について、未婚女性の14～19%、既婚女性の1～3%、結婚経験のある女性の5～8%、未婚男性の3～4%、既婚男性の0%、結婚経験のある男性の1～2%と報告している[46]。

ただし学者のジャスティン・J・レーミラーは、「キンゼイのXの分類は性的な行為の欠如を強調していたが、現代の無性愛の定義は性的な惹かれの欠如に重きを置いている。とすれば、キンゼイ指標は無性愛の正確な分類には不十分かもしれない」[43]と述べている。

1979年、1980年に掲載された2つの論文では、カンザス大学のミシェル・D・ストームズがキンゼイ指標の再モデル化について概説している。キンゼイは実際の性的な行為と性的妄想（sexual fantasizing）や性欲（ertoicism）に基づいて性的指向を測定したが、ストームズは妄想や性欲のみを使用し、また単一スケールの2つの端ではなく2軸上に異性愛と同性愛を置いた。これは、両性愛（異性・同性両方への性欲を異性愛者・同性愛者と同程度に示す）と無性愛（異性への性欲を同性愛者程度に、同性に対する性欲を異性愛者程度に示す、つまり性欲がほとんどない人）の区別を可能にする。このタイプのスケールは初めて無性愛を説明したものであった[48]。ストームズは、「キンゼイのモデルでは無性愛と両性愛両方が性的パートナーについてのジェンダー選好の欠如によって定義されていたので、このモデルに従う多くの研究者が、無性愛の被験者を誤って両性愛者に分類する可能性がある」と懸念した[49][50]。

ポーラ・ヌリウスによる1983年の調査では、妄想と性欲の2次元スケールを用いて性的指向を測定した。回答者には結果に基づいて、異性愛・同性愛について0〜100のスコアが与えられ、両者とも10点未満の得点を挙げた者は「無性愛」と分類された。この群には男性の5%と女性の10%が該当した。調査では無性愛者が、複数のパートナーとの交際、肛門性交、様々な場所での性的接触、自己性愛的活動などの様々な性的な行為の頻度がはるかに低く、その欲求が起こる頻度も低いという結果を示した[51][52]。

無性愛者の人口統計に関するより経験的なデータが1994年に発表されている[注釈 2]。これは英国の研究チームが英国人18,876人を対象に行った包括的な調査で、エイズ流行に伴って性に関する情報収集の必要に駆られたものであった。この調査には性的な惹かれに関する質問が含まれており、1.05%の回答者が「誰に対しても性的に惹かれたことはない」[53]と回答した。

この現象についての研究は、カナダのセクシュアリティ研究者アンソニー・ボガートによって引き継がれ、彼は2004年に一連の研究で無性愛者の統計的人口を調査した。ボガートの研究では、英国の人口の1%が性的な惹かれを経験していないことが示唆されたが、先の調査のために接触した人々の30%が調査に参加しない選択をしたことを指摘した上で、「この1%という数字は、無性愛者と自認する可能性のある人口を正確に反映したものではなく、その割合はおそらくずっと大きい」という確信を述べた。性的経験が少ない人はセクシュアリティに関する研究への参加を拒否する可能性が高く、無性愛者は性愛者よりも性的な経験が少ない傾向にあるため、回答した参加者には反映されていない可能性が高いからである。同じ調査によると、同性愛者と両性愛者の人数の合計は、人口の約1.1%であり、他の調査よりもはるかに小さいことが分かった[22][19]。

ボガートの1%という数字とは対照的に、2013年に出版されたアイケンらの調査によれば、2000〜2001年のNatsal-2[注釈 2]のデータに基づくと、英国における無性愛者の割合は16〜44歳の年齢層でわずか0.4%である[23][54]。この割合は、10年前の同じ年齢層で収集されたNatsal-1のデータから決定された0.9%という数字からの減少を示す[54]。ボガートによる2015年の分析でも、Natsal-1とNatsal-2のデータの間に同様の低下が指摘された[55]。

アイケン、マーサー、キャッセルは、いくつかの証拠から、性的魅力を感じたことのない回答者に民族的差異があることを見出だした。インドとパキスタンに出自がある男性と女性の両方が、性的な惹かれがないと報告する傾向が強かった[54]。また、ムスリムの被験者のほうがキリスト教徒よりも高い割合で、いかなる形でも性的に惹かれを経験したことがないと答えている[56]。信仰の有無と無性愛との間には何らはっきりとした統計的相関は見つかっておらず、無性愛は信仰を持つ人・持たない人のいずれにも同じように見られる[56]。にもかかわらず、無性愛は禁欲を誓う聖職者の間にはよく見られる。これは、無性愛でない人々のほうが禁欲の誓いを守れない可能性が高いからである[57]。
性的指向・HSDDとの関係[編集]

無性愛が性的指向であるかどうかについてはかなりの議論がある[15][16]。どちらも性的欲求の全般的な欠如を意味するという点において、無性愛は性的欲求低下障害（HSDD）と比較され、同一であると考えられている。HSDDは無性愛を医療化するために使用されてきたが、無性愛はその人が医療上の問題や他者と社会的に結びつく問題を抱えていると定義するものでは必ずしもないため、障害または性機能不全（無オルガスム症や冷感症など）とは一般的にみなされていない[10][26][58]。HSDDの人々とは違って、無性愛者は通常、自分の性的な感情や性的興奮のないことについて、「感情的苦痛」や「対人的な困難」を経験していない。無性愛は、永続的特性としての性的な惹かれの欠如または不在とみなされる[22][26]。ある研究では、HSDD被験者と比較して、無性愛者は性的欲求、性的経験、性に関連する苦痛および抑鬱症状が低レベルだったことが明らかになった[59]。研究者リチャーズとバーカーは、無性愛者はアレルギー、鬱病、または人格障害の割合が不相応であると報告している[26]。しかし、無性欲的な状態が前述の障害のいずれかによって説明できる場合でも、無性愛であると自認している人もいる[60]。

無性愛がHSDDであるという見解については、無性愛者のコミュニティ内で議論を呼んでいる。無性愛を自認する人はふつう、性的指向として認識されることを好む[16]。通常の性衝動があると報告しながらも自慰行為のできない無性愛者もいることから、「無性愛は性的指向である」と様々な学者が述べており、また多様な性的嗜好がある中に無性愛も含めるべきだと主張している[9][15][30]。彼ら研究者や多くの無性愛者は、性的な惹かれの欠如は性的指向に分類するには十分妥当であると考えている[61]。

これらの研究者は、「無性愛者は自ら選んで性的欲求を持たないのではなく、一般に思春期ごろ性的な行為の違いに気付き始めるのだ」と主張する。こうした事実が明るみに出たことで、無性愛は選択的行動などではなく、また障害のように治癒できるものでもないと断言されている[30][62]。無性愛が一般的になりつつあるか否かも分析されており、実際により多くの人々が無性愛を自認するようになっている[63]。

性的指向のカテゴリーに関しては、無性愛は、一連のカテゴリーに追加する意義のあるものではなく、むしろ性的指向やセクシュアリティの欠如であると主張されることもある。別の議論では、無性愛者が自慰したり単に恋愛パートナーを喜ばせるために性的な行為を行うことを踏まえたうえで、「無性愛は自然なセクシュアリティの否定であり、セクシュアリティへの羞恥心や不安、性的虐待によって引き起こされる障害である」と指摘されている。性的指向をめぐるアイデンティティ・ポリティクスの文脈の中で、無性愛は性的指向のアイデンティティに関する1つのカテゴリーとして実践的な政治的機能を果たす可能性がある[64]。
精神衛生[編集]

無性愛に関する経験的データを提供した最初の研究は、1983年にポーラ・ヌリウスによって発表された、性的指向と精神衛生の関係についてのものである[51]。米国のさまざまな大学の心理学または社会学の授業を受講している学生を主とする689人の被験者に、4つの臨床的幸福尺度を含むいくつかの調査がなされた。結果は、無性愛者が他の性的指向のメンバーよりも自己評価が低く抑鬱の可能性が高いことを示した。ここでは異性愛者の25.88%、両性愛者（ambisexual）の26.54%、同性愛者の29.88%、および無性愛者の33.57%が自己評価に問題があると報告されている。鬱病についても同様の傾向がみられた。ただしヌリウスは、様々な理由から、この結果からは確固たる結論は導けないと考えた[51][52]。

2013年の研究では、ユールらが白人の異性愛者・同性愛者・両性愛者・無性愛者の精神衛生上の違いを調査した。男性203人と女性603人の結果が所見に含まれていた。ユールらの研究では、無性愛の男性被験者は、他の男性、特に異性愛者よりも気分障害を有すると報告する傾向が強いことが分かった。女性でも、異性愛者との比較で同じ結果が得られた（ただし最も高い割合を示したのは同性愛・両性愛の女性だった）。無性愛の男女ともに、他の被験者よりも不安障害を有することが多く、異性愛者の参加者よりも最近自殺したい気持ちが芽生えたことを報告する傾向があった。ユールらは、こうした差の一部は差別やその他の社会的要因によるものかもしれない、との仮説を立てている[65]。
発生要因[編集]

性的指向との関連が指摘される神経発達学的形質として、利き手・兄弟姉妹の数・指比が挙げられる。ユールらは2014年に無性愛の性自認をもつ人々とこれらの性質の関係を調査している。この研究では、右利きでない無性愛者の割合が異性愛者と比較して2.4～2.5倍にのぼること、無性愛および非異性愛の男性は異性愛の男性に比べて年少の兄弟である割合が高く、無性愛の女性は非異性愛の女性に比べて年長の姉妹である傾向が強いことが明らかにされた。一方で、指比については無性愛との有意な関連性は認められなかった。この研究は、性的指向の欠如という無性愛の特徴を神経発達学的側面から説明するための経験的根拠を与える初めての試みの1つであった[66]。

ただし、性的指向の成因に関する研究を無性愛に適用することは、性的指向に無性愛を含めるか研究者によって一貫した定義がないという問題を孕んでいる[67]。性的指向は「永続的」で変化しないものと定義され、一般にそれを変更しようとする介入は通用しないことが証明されているが[68]、無性愛は永続的で持続するから、性的指向と定義できるかもしれない[2]。しかし異性愛、同性愛および両性愛は、必ずではないが通常、前思春期の早い段階で決定されるのに対し、いつ無性愛であると決定するかは分からない。性的関心あるいは性的欲求を持たないという特性が、生涯にわたり続くものである、あるいは後天的であると考えてよいかは判然としない[14]。
差別と法的保護[編集]

プライド・パレードにおける無性愛者の行進

2012年の研究によれば、無性愛者はゲイやレズビアン、バイセクシュアルなどの他の性的マイノリティに比べて、より不当な偏見や人間性の抹殺（英語版）、差別にさらされているという。同性愛と異性愛の人々の両方が、無性愛者のことを冷血で動物的な、抑制されていない人々と考えている[69]。無性愛の活動家であり著述家・ブロガーであるジュリー・デッカーは、もっぱら無性愛者のコミュニティを標的にするセクシュアル・ハラスメントや暴力、矯正レイプ（英語版）を目にしてきた[70]。しかし別の研究では、彼らが無性愛であるがゆえの深刻な差別を受けているとする証拠はほとんど見出せなかった[71]。社会学者のマーク・カーリガンは、中立的地点から、「無性愛者はしばしば差別を経験しているが、それは嫌われるなどというよりはむしろ『人々が本当の意味で無性愛を理解しないことによる周縁化』の問題である」と論じている[72]。

無性愛はまた、LGBTコミュニティからも偏見にさらされている[70][73]。多くのLGBTの人々は、同性愛者でも両性愛者でもない人々はストレートに違いないと主張し、しばしば無性愛者をクィアの定義から排除しようとする。LGBTQのコミュニティを支援する名の知れた組織は数多く存在するが、これらの組織は一般に無性愛者には手を差し伸べず、無性愛に関する文献資料も提供していない[73]。活動家のサラ・ベス・ブルックスは、無性愛者であることをカミングアウトするにあたって、「無性愛者は性自認をはき違え、社会正義の運動の中で不相応な注目を浴びている」と多くのLGBTの人々から言われている[70]。他方では「The Trevor Project」や「The National LGBTQ Task Force」のように、異性愛ではない以上クィアの定義に含まれるという理由から、はっきりと無性愛を受容しているLGBT組織もある[74][75]。今ではLGBTQという略語の中にAを付け加えている組織もあれば、いまだ議論の俎上にある組織も存在する[76]。

いくつかの司法制度の下では、無性愛は法的保護を受けている。ブラジルは1999年から、国の倫理規定に基づいて、精神科医によるあらゆる性的指向の病理化や治療の試みを禁じており[77][78]、またアメリカのニューヨーク州では無性愛者を保護すべき人々として扱っている[79]。しかし、無性愛は大衆や研究者の目をさほど引き付けていないため、他の性的指向ほどには法制化の対象にはなっていない[19]。
メディアでの扱い[編集]

シャーロック・ホームズ

メディアにおける無性愛的な表現は限られており、作品の中で公に知らされたり、確たることが述べられることはほとんどない[18]。21世紀初頭以前の作品の中では、登場人物はたいていおのずから性的であることが前提とされており、セクシュアリティの有無に関してはふつう疑問を挟まれない[80]。

コナン・ドイルの作品に登場するシャーロック・ホームズは、知性にのみ駆り立てられる肉体の欲望とは無縁の人物として意図的にキャラクター化されており、今日であれば無性愛に分類されるであろう人物として描かれている[57]。アーチー・コミックのキャラクター、ジェグヘッド・ジョーンズは、アーチーの過度な異性愛の引き立て役としてわざと無性愛的に描かれている可能性が高いが、何年間もシリーズを繰り返すうちに、彼がゲイか異性愛者であるとほのめかす方向に描写を変えつつある[57][81]。

1960年代のテレビシリーズギリガン君SOSに登場する同名のキャラクター、ギリガンも、今日では無性愛と位置付けられる。ドラマの製作者はおそらくそうすることで、性徴を迎えておらず性的欲求を経験したことのない少年層の視聴者により親しみやすくしようとしたのだと考えられる。ギリガンが無性愛的であることで同時に、製作者としては、歩み寄ってくる魅力的な異性をギリガンがはねつけるというコメディ的な展開をわざと描くことができる[57]。

また、アンソニー・ボガートは以下のような見方を示している。映画やテレビではよく、魅力的だが無性愛的な女性のキャラクターが、物語終盤で男の主人公に異性愛に「変えられる」さまを描く。こうした非現実的な描写は、どんな無性愛的な女性もひそかに男性のことを欲しているものだという異性愛の男性の妄信を反映したものである[57]。

21世紀初頭から無性愛は、生物学的な存在というよりも一種の性的アイデンティティとして、欧米のメディアで徐々に論じられるようになってきた[18]。フォックス放送のDr.HOUSEシリーズの1エピソード「良き伴侶」では無性愛のカップルが描かれているが、この描写にはAVENの創設者デヴィッド・ジェイを含め無性愛者のコミュニティからは疑問の声が上がった。というのも最終的に、男は性衝動が減退する脳腫瘍に冒かされており、女は男を喜ばせるために無性愛のふりをしていただけだったことが分かって幕が引かれるのである[82]。このことが表現をめぐる議論を呼び、フォックス放送に今後の無性愛的キャラクターの表現の仕方に対する反省を求める署名がchange.orgで申請されるに至った。署名では「無性愛を病気や欺瞞とみなしている最低な表現だ」と述べられた[82]。

Netflixのアニメ、ボージャック・ホースマンは第3シーズンの終盤に、主要人物の1人であるトッド・チャベスが無性愛者であることを明らかにした。第4シーズンではそれがさらに緻密に描かれており、この表現に関しては無性愛者コミュニティからも概ね好意的な反応を受けている。イギリスのソープオペラ、エメデールでは、15歳のキャラクターのリヴ・ファラーティが、男の子にも女の子にも靡かないことを打ち明け、無性愛者ではないかという憶測を呼んでいる[83]。ベストセラー小説シャドウハンターシリーズのドラマ版では、登場人物の1人であるラファエル・サンティアゴが無性愛者であることが確定している[84]。

2011年にはアンジェラ・タッカー監督の下で、無性愛をめぐる問題を描いたドキュメンタリー映画「(A)sexual」が公開されている。2014年の関西クィア映画祭にて、日本でも字幕付き上映されている[85]。
無性愛の著名人[編集]
エドワード・ゴーリー（絵本作家。代表作『うろんな客』）
ケリ・ヒューム（作家。代表作『骨の民』）
中山咲月（モデル、俳優。代表作『仮面ライダーゼロワン』[86]）
東友美（町田市議会議員）[87]
華京院レイ（漫画家。代表作『女だけど女装してキャバ嬢してみた！～ヒゲ女子のいる店～』）
日本における無性愛[編集]
用法[編集]

無性愛の定義や分類については、日本の無性愛者コミュニティでは独自の発展を遂げてきた部分もある。

日本のコミュニティで用いられる用語として非性愛者またはノンセクシュアル（和製英語: nonsexual）[注釈 1]が挙げられる。これは「性的な惹かれを感じないが恋愛感情を持つ人」を指す。海外のロマンティック・アセクシュアルと重なる用語ではあるが、無性愛が（性的感情ではなく）恋愛感情の欠如によって定義されることのある日本においては、非性愛は当然ながらロマンティック・アセクシュアルとは異なる文脈に位置づけられる。無性愛のサブカテゴリーとして「性的な惹かれの欠如」と必ず関連付けられるよりはむしろ、非性愛者は恋愛的魅力を感じうるが様々な理由により性的関係を望まない人々として理解される[88]。駒澤大学による2017年の東京レインボープライド参加者およびイベントサイト上でのアンケートでは、「性的指向」の選択肢中に「ノンセクシュアル」「アセクシュアル」が用意され、全回答のうち「ノンセクシュアル」が2.7%・「アセクシュアル」が1.6%という結果となった[89]。

一方、性的指向と恋愛指向の混同に反対する当事者も存在する。2021年1月4日アセクシャルを含む性・恋愛・ジェンダー少数者の当事者団体である日本SRGM連盟は「性的指向と恋愛指向の混同は人権侵害である」とする声明を出した[90][91]。日本SRGM連盟は法務省が性的指向を「人の恋愛・性愛がどういう対象に向かうのかを示す概念」としていることについて「広義の性的少数者への人権侵害を助長しかねない」としている[91]。また、法務省が性的指向の具体例を異性愛・同性愛・両性愛に限定していることについて「Aceスペクトラムの人たちについては、その存在すら認めていない」と非難している[90]。同様の声明は従来のLGBT団体からは出されていなかったという[91]。
コミュニティ[編集]

asexual.jpによれば、日本の無性愛コミュニティの立ち上げは2002年1月の「INNOCENT KINGDOM」が最初である。同年には「asexual.jp」や「IS THE ASEXUALITY KNOWN?」などのネットコミュニティが次々に運用を開始している。また、この年には2ちゃんねるでも無性愛者に関するスレッドが初めて立てられた。翌2003年には「asexual-japan.net」が開設され、2004年にはmixiにもコミュニティが立てられた[20]。

2000年代前半にはこれらのコミュニティを通じて活発に情報交換や議論がなされたが、その後2008年までに多くが閉鎖している。現在では過去に閉鎖した「asexual.jp」のドメインを再構築する形で新しいコミュニティが作られ、国内最大の交流拠点となっている[20]。
人口[編集]

2016年の博報堂DYホールディングス・LGBT総合研究所が実施した10万人を対象とするスクリーニング調査において、有効回答を得た20～50代の89,366名のうち、651人（0.73%）が無性愛者であると回答している[92]。なお同調査で、ゲイと回答した者は1,731人（1.94%）、レズビアンは1,522人（1.70%）、両性愛者は1,557人（1.74%）であった。国立社会保障・人口問題研究所による大阪市での性的少数者に関する無作為調査では、有効回答4,285件のうち33人（0.8%）が自分の性的指向をアセクシュアル・無性愛者と回答している。出生時の性別に分類した場合、男性の無性愛者の比率は0.3%、女性では1.1%であった[93]。
研究・メディア[編集]

日本での研究やメディアではLGBTの話題の中で稀に取り上げられてきたが、中心的に扱った紹介事例が出始めたのは2010年代に入ってからのことである。

柿沼・布施木らの2011年の論文[94]では、Aセクシャルという用語を紹介するとともに、Aセクシャル研究の現状と問題点を論じたヒンダーリター（2009）Methodological Issuer for Studying Asexuality にレビューを加えている。ここでは、（1）Aセクシャルの定義の問題（現状として、ボガートの「性的な惹かれのないこと」、ヌリウスの「性的指向のないこと」、プラウスとグラハムの「Aセクシャルであるというアイデンティティ」の3つに分裂している）、（2）サンプリングにあたっての協力者獲得や質問方法をめぐる問題、（3）アイデンティティとの関連性の問題の3点に触れており、特に定義とアイデンティティをどのようにすり合わせていくかが重要であるとコメントしている。また2013年には同じく柿沼・布施木が、量的研究からAセクシャルの発生要因に迫ったボガート（2004）Asexuality: Prevalence and Associated Factors in a National Probability Sample を紹介している[95]。ここで柿沼らは先天性のAセクシャルを「狭義のAセクシャル」、後天的な要因（健康・薬理・年齢など）によるAセクシャルを「広義のAセクシャル」として分離しており、ボガートの調査研究からはこれらの判別が難しいことを指摘している。

2016年には、フォタケが日本における「草食系」の言説と無性愛との関連性について論じた英語論文を発表している[6]。ここでは、本質主義的視点と構成主義視点の双方において草食系は無性愛というカテゴリーの傘下に含みうるものであるとしている。またプルジビロらが無性愛について、異性愛中心主義的な文化に抵抗する可能性を秘めていると指摘したように、草食系も「男性らしさ」の言説を再定義しうるものであると述べる。

メディアでの過去の紹介事例としては、2012年にTBS系列「私の何がイケないの？」で無性愛者が出演したほか、2013年に北陸中日新聞、2014年に朝日新聞で取り上げた記事などがある[96][97]。2018年にはAbemaTV「Wの悲喜劇～日本一過激なオンナのニュース～」で、セクシュアリティ研究者の清水晶子が出演しコメントを述べている[98]。また、無性愛（クエスチョニング）の主人公を題材にした漫画『桐生先生は恋愛がわからない。』が2016年から裏サンデーで連載されている[99]。
邦語文献[編集]
綾部六郎、池田弘乃『クィアと法：性規範の解放／開放のために』日本評論社、2019年。ISBN 978-4-535-52426-2。
『セクシュアリティ基本用語事典』イーディー・ジョー、金城克哉訳、明石書店、2006年。ISBN 9784750324531。
柿沼賢治、布施木誠「性的マイノリティにおける無性（Aセクシャル）概念の可能性：Aセクシャル論文のレビュー」『聖マリアンナ医学研究誌』第11巻第86号、聖マリアンナ医学研究所、2011年、 21-25頁、 NAID 40018754057。
柿沼賢治、布施木誠「Aセクシャルにおける量的研究について：Aセクシャル論文のレビューⅡ」『聖マリアンナ医学研究誌』第13巻第88号、聖マリアンナ医学研究所、2013年、 45-53頁、 NAID 40019664040。
染谷泰代「女ふたりという関係『子供の時間』にみる「ロマンティックでasexualな関係性」試論」『女性学年報』第25巻、2004年、 1-19頁、 ISSN 03895203、 NAID 40006599480。
原口祥典、國武裕、山田茂人「女性的な仕草が見られた無性愛の男性摂食障害の1例」『九州神経精神医学』第55巻第3号、2009年、 145-150頁、 ISSN 00236144、 NAID 40017075455。
伏見憲明「〈性〉のミステリー」『本』第22巻第5号、講談社、1997年、 54-56頁、 ISSN 03850366、 NAID 40004101690。
三宅大二郎 「asexualのドラマトゥルギー―AVENにおける定義の変遷に着目して」、藤川信夫編 『人生の調律師たち：動的ドラマトゥルギーの展開』 春風舎、2017年。ISBN 9784861105401。
ユンジュン・キム 「セックスは健康のために必要か？：無性愛という悦び」、ジョナサン・M・メツル、アンナ・カークランド編 『不健康は悪なのか：健康をモラル化する世界』 みすず書房、2015年。ISBN 9784622078944。
Decker, Julie Sondra『見えない性的指向 アセクシュアルのすべて：誰にも性的魅力を感じない私たち』上田勢子訳、明石書店、2019年。ISBN 9784750348148。
脚注[編集]
[脚注の使い方]

注釈[編集]

^ a b セクシュアルの部分はセクシャルとも表記。
^ a b The National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles（Natsal; 性に関する態度とライフスタイルに関する全国調査）。イギリスで1990～1991年と2000～2001年の2回にわたって実施されており、それぞれNatsal-1とNatsal-2と呼ぶ。
出典[編集]

^ Robert L. Crooks, Karla Baur (2016). Our Sexuality. Cengage Learning. p. 300. ISBN 1305887425. 2017年1月4日閲覧.
^ a b c Katherine M. Helm (2015). Hooking Up: The Psychology of Sex and Dating. ABC-CLIO. p. 32. ISBN 1610699513. 2017年1月4日閲覧.
^ Kelly, Gary F. (2004). "Chapter 12". Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective (7 ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 401. ISBN 978-0-07-255835-7 Asexuality is a condition characterized by a low interest in sex.
^ Decker, Julie Sondra『見えない性的指向 アセクシュアルのすべて：誰にも性的魅力を感じない私たち』上田勢子訳、明石書店、2019年。ISBN 9784750348148。OCLC 1105994734。
^ 綾部六郎、池田弘乃『クィアと法：性規範の解放／開放のために』日本評論社、2019年。ISBN 978-4-535-52426-2。
^ a b フォタケ・イワナ「肉を避ける人々 : 草食男子と無性愛」 (pdf) 『ジェンダー&セクシュアリティ』第11号、国際基督教大学ジェンダー研究センター、2016年、 175-204頁。
^ Oxford English Dictionary オンライン版。2019年8月25日閲覧。
^ 『ジーニアス英和大辞典』大修館書店。ISBN 9784469041316。
^ a b c Margaret Jordan Halter; Elizabeth M. Varcarolis (2013). Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 382. ISBN 1-4557-5358-0. 2014年5月7日閲覧.
^ a b c DePaulo, Bella (September 26, 2011). "ASEXUALS: Who Are They and Why Are They Important?". Psychology Today. 2011年12月13日閲覧.
^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (3d ed. 1992), entries for celibacy and thence abstinence.
^ Scherrer, Kristin (2008). "Coming to an Asexual Identity: Negotiating Identity, Negotiating Desire". Sexualities. 11 (5): 621–641. doi:10.1177/1363460708094269. PMC 2893352 . PMID 20593009.
^ Anthony F. Bogaert,Understanding Asexuality,Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc ,2012/8/9
^ a b c d e f g h i Prause, Nicole; Cynthia A. Graham (August 2004). "Asexuality: Classification and Characterization" (PDF). Archives of Sexual Behavior. 36 (3): 341–356. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9142-3. PMID 17345167. Archived from the original アーカイブ 2007年9月27日 - ウェイバックマシン(PDF) on September 27, 2007. 2007年8月31日閲覧.
^ a b c d Melby, Todd (November 2005). "Asexuality gets more attention, but is it a sexual orientation?". Contemporary Sexuality. 39 (11): 1, 4–5. ISSN 1094-5725. Archived from the original アーカイブ 2015年11月6日 - ウェイバックマシンon November 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2016 – via the Wayback Machine The journal currently does not have a website
^ a b c d e f g h Marshall Cavendish, ed. (2010). "Asexuality". Sex and Society. 2. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-7614-7906-2. 2013年7月27日閲覧.
^ a b Swash, Rosie (February 25, 2012). "Among the asexuals". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013年2月2日閲覧.
^ a b c Kelemen, Erick. "Asexuality". Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender. Ed. Fedwa Malti-Douglas. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 103. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. May 2, 2016.
^ a b c Bogaert, Anthony F. (2004). "Asexuality: prevalence and associated factors in a national probability sample". Journal of Sex Research. 41 (3): 279–87. doi:[doi:10.1080/00224490409552235 10.1080/00224490409552235]. PMID 15497056.
^ a b c asexual.jp “日本でのAセクシャルの過去” 2018年3月17日閲覧。
^ a b c d e f Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. pp. 89–93. ISBN 1-134-69253-6. 2014年7月3日閲覧.
^ a b c Bogaert, Anthony F. (2006). "Toward a conceptual understanding of asexuality". Review of General Psychology. 10 (3): 241–250. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.10.3.241.
^ a b c Nancy L. Fischer, Steven Seidman (2016). Introducing the New Sexuality Studies. Routledge. p. 183. ISBN 1317449185. 2014年1月4日閲覧.
^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2015-03). “A validated measure of no sexual attraction: The Asexuality Identification Scale.” (英語). Psychological Assessment 27 (1): 148–160. doi:10.1037/a0038196. ISSN 1939-134X.
^ a b “Overview”. The Asexual Visibility and Education Network. 2019年11月23日閲覧。
^ a b c d e f Christina Richards; Meg Barker (2013). Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide. SAGE. pp. 124–127. ISBN 1-4462-9313-0. 2014年7月3日閲覧.
^ Westphal, Sylvia Pagan. "Feature: Glad to be asexual". New Scientist. Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007年11月11日閲覧.
^ a b Bridgeman, Shelley (5 August 2007). "No sex please, we're asexual". The New Zealand Herald. 2011年9月16日閲覧.
^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2014). "Sexual fantasy and masturbation among asexual individuals". The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. 23 (2): 89–95. doi:10.3138/cjhs.2409.
^ a b c Carrigan, Mark (August 2011). "There's More to Life Than Just Sex? Difference and Commonality Within the Asexual Community". Sexualities. 14 (4): 462–478. doi:10.1177/1363460711406462.
^ Adler, Melissa (2010). "Meeting the Needs of LGBTIQ Library Users and Their Librarians: A Study of User Satisfaction and LGBTIQ Collection Development in Academic Libraries". In Greenblatt, Ellen. Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users. North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-4894-4.
^ Chasin, CJ DeLuzio (2013). "Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential". Feminist studies. 39 (2): 405–426.
^ Carrigan, Mark; Gupta, Kristina; Morrison, Todd G. (2015). Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-73132-4.
^ Meg Barker (2012). Rewriting the Rules: An Integrative Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 0415517621. 2016年2月8日閲覧.
^ Shira Tarrant (2015). Gender, Sex, and Politics: In the Streets and Between the Sheets in the 21st Century. Routledge. pp. 254–256. ISBN 1317814762. 2016年2月8日閲覧.
^ a b Volkmar Sigusch. "Sexualitäten: Eine kritische Theorie in 99 Fragmenten". 2013. Campus Verlag[de].
^ Elżbieta H. Oleksy, Aleksandra M. Różalska, Marek M. Wojtaszek (2015). The Personal of the Political: Transgenerational Dialogues in Contemporary European Feminisms. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 1443884456. 2017年10月15日閲覧.
^ Abbie E. Goldberg (2016). The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies. SAGE Publications. p. 92. ISBN 1483371298. 2017年10月5日閲覧.
^ Shira Tarrant (June 19, 2015). Gender, Sex, and Politics: In the Streets and Between the Sheets in the 21st Century. Taylor & Francis. pp. 278–. ISBN 978-1-317-81475-7.
^ "World Pride Toronto: Asexuals march in biggest numbers yet". thestar.com. 2014年10月6日閲覧.
^ Anneli, Rufus (June 22, 2009). "Stuck. Asexuals at the Pride Parade". Psychology Today. 2013年7月15日閲覧.
^ Money & Politics (9 January 2012). "Asexuality – Redefining Love and Sexuality". recultured. 2012年8月7日閲覧.
^ a b Justin J. Lehmiller (2017). The Psychology of Human Sexuality. John Wiley & Sons. p. 250. ;ISBN 1119164702. 2017年11月29日閲覧.
^ Smith, S. E. (August 21, 2012). "Asexuality always existed, you just didn't notice it". The Guardian. 2013年5月11日閲覧.
^ a b Kinsey, Alfred C. (1948). Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. W.B. Saunders. ;ISBN 0-253-33412-8.
^ a b c Kinsey, Alfred C. (1953). Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. W.B. Saunders. ;ISBN 0-253-33411-X.
^ Mary Zeiss Stange; Carol K. Oyster; Jane E. Sloan (February 23, 2011). Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. SAGE Publications. p. 158. ;ISBN 978-1-4129-7685-5. 2013年7月27日閲覧.
^ Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. p. 113. ISBN 1-134-69253-6. 2017年1月4日閲覧.
^ Storms, Michael D. (1980). "Theories of Sexual Orientation" (PDF). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 38 (5): 783–792. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.38.5.783.
^ Storms, M. D. (1979). Sexual orientation and self-perception. ed. Pliner, Patricia et al. Advances in the Study of Communication and Affect. Volume 5: Perception of Emotion in Self and OthersPlenum Press
^ a b c Elisabetta Ruspini; Megan Milks (2013). Diversity in family life. Policy Press. pp. 35–36. ;ISBN 1447300939. 2017年1月4日閲覧.
^ a b Nurius, Paula (1983). "Mental Health Implications of Sexual Orientation". The Journal of Sex Research. 19 (2): 119–136. doi:10.1080/00224498309551174.
^ Wellings, K. (1994). Sexual Behaviour in Britain: The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. Penguin Books.
^ a b c Aicken, Catherine R. H.; Mercer, Catherine H.; Cassell, Jackie A. (2013-05-01). [doi:10.1080/19419899.2013.774161 "Who reports absence of sexual attraction in Britain? Evidence from national probability surveys"]. Psychology & Sexuality. 4 (2): 121–135. doi:10.1080/19419899.2013.774161. ISSN 1941-9899.
^ Bogaert, A. F. (2015). "Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters". Journal of Sex Research. 52 (4): 362–379. doi:10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713.
^ a b Aicken, Catherine R. H.; Mercer, Catherine H.; Cassell, Jackie A. (2015-09-07). "Who reports absence of sexual attraction in Britain? Evidence from national probability surveys". In Carrigan, Mark; Gupta, Kristina; Morrison, Todd G. Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology. New York City, New York and London, England: Routledge. pp. 22–27. ISBN 978-0-415-73132-4.
^ a b c d e Bogaert, Anthony (2012). Understanding Asexuality. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc. pp. 36–39. ISBN 978-1-4422-0099-9.
^ Chasin, CJ DeLuzio (2013). "Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential" (PDF). Feminist Studies. 39(2): 405. 2014年4月29日閲覧.
^ Brotto, L. A., Yule, M. A., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2015). "Asexuality: An Extreme Variant of Sexual Desire Disorder?". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 12 (3): 646–660. doi:10.1111/jsm.12806.
^ Karli June Cerankowski; Megan Milks (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. p. 246. ;ISBN 1-134-69253-6. 2014年7月3日閲覧.
^ Decker, Julie Sondra (2014). The Invisible Orientation: an Introduction to Asexuality. New York: Carrel Books.
^ Over, Ray; Koukounas, Eric (1995). "Habituation of Sexual Arousal: Product and Process". Annual Review of Sex Research. 6 (1): 187–223. doi:10.1080/10532528.1995.10559905 (inactive 2018-01-27) Cited from: Kelly, Gary F. (2004). Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective (7 ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 401. ;ISBN 978-0-07-255835-7.
^ Meyer, Doug (2017). "The Disregarding of Heteronormativity: Emphasizing a Happy Queer Adulthood and Localizing Anti-Queer Violence to Adolescent Schools". Sexuality Research & Social Policy. 14 (3): 331. doi:10.1007/s13178-016-0272-7.
^ Chasin, CJ DeLuzio (2015). "Making Sense in and of the Asexual Community: Navigating Relationships and Identities in a Context of Resistance". Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 25(2): 167–180. doi:10.1002/casp.2203. ISSN 1099-1298.
^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2013). "Mental Health and Interpersonal Functioning in Self-Identified Asexual Men and Women". Psychology & Sexuality. 4 (2): 136–151. doi:10.1080/19419899.2013.774162.
^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2013-09-18). “Biological Markers of Asexuality: Handedness, Birth Order, and Finger Length Ratios in Self-identified Asexual Men and Women” (英語). Archives of Sexual Behavior 43 (2): 299–310. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0175-0. ISSN 0004-0002.
^ Garcia-Falgueras, A; Swaab, DF (2010). "Sexual hormones and the brain: an essential alliance for sexual identity and sexual orientation". Endocr Dev. Endocrine Development. 17: 22–35. doi:10.1159/000262525. ;ISBN 978-3-8055-9302-1. PMID 19955753.
^ "Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality". American Psychological Association. 2013年5月30日閲覧.
^ MacInnis, Cara C.; Hodson, Gordon (2012). "Intergroup bias toward "Group X": Evidence of prejudice, dehumanization, avoidance, and discrimination against asexuals". Group Processes Intergroup Relations. 15 (6): 725–743. doi:10.1177/1368430212442419.
^ a b c Mosbergen, Dominique (June 20, 2013). "Battling Asexual Discrimination, Sexual Violence, and Corrective Rape". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
^ Gazzola, Stephanie B, and Melanie A. Morrison. "Asexuality: An emergent sexual orientation". Sexual Minority Research in the New Millennium.
^ Wallis, Lucy (January 17, 2012). "What is it like to be asexual?". BBC. 2014年1月1日閲覧.
^ a b Decker, Julie Sondra (2015). The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. New York City, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5107-0064-2.
^ The Trevor Project - FAQ about asexuality, The Trevor Project website. 2018年4月4日閲覧.
^ “The A is Here to Stay” (英語). National LGBTQ Task Force Blog. (2013年4月30日)2018年4月7日閲覧。
^ Mosbergen, Dominique (2013年6月21日). “LGBT, Asexual Communities Clash Over Ace Inclusion” (英語). Huffington Post 2018年4月7日閲覧。
^ Homosexuality is not deviant - Federal Council of Psychologists of BrazilArchived 2012年7月30日, at Archive.is[permanent dead link] (in Portuguese)
^ Psychiatrist Jairo Bouer talks about the "collateral effects" of "gay cure" billArchived January 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. (in Portuguese)
^ The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act ("SONDA") (State of New York, Office of the Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau, 2008)(possibly written after stated copyright date, Attorney General being stated as Eric T. Schneiderman)
^ Jackson, Stevi, and Sue Scott. Theorizing Sexuality. Maidenhead: Open UP, 2010. Web. May 2, 2016.
^ "Archie Comic Reveals Jughead Is Asexual". Vulture. February 8, 2016. 2017年12月14日閲覧.
^ a b Clark-Flory, Tracy (January 31, 2012). ""House" gets asexuality wrong". salon. 2017年9月8日閲覧.
^ "Is teenager Liv asexual in new Emmerdale storyline?". October 12, 2017. 2018年1月18日閲覧.
^ "'Shadowhunters' Confirms Raphael Is Asexual, Stays in Canon with Book Series". Hidden Remote. 2017-03-07. 2017年12月14日閲覧.
^ 関西クィア映画祭 プログラム2018年3月17日閲覧
^ 中山咲月オフィシャルブログ-無性愛LINEブログ2019年1月12日付
^ 大川恵実 (2018年12月8日). “性的欲望もたない「アセクシュアル」　恋愛経験なく自責の念も”. AERA 2019年9月13日閲覧。
^ Lehtonen, Kaisa (2018). NO ROMANTIC FEELINGS – ASEXUALITY IN JAPAN: 恋愛感情ない ・ 日本におけるアセクシャリティ(Master's thesis). University of Tampere.
^ 『東京レインボープライド2017来場者アンケート調査」報告書』 駒澤大学文学部社会学科社会学専攻 松信ひろみ研究室。2018年7月24日閲覧。
^ a b “【声明】性的指向と恋愛指向の混同は人権侵害である”. 日本SRGM連盟. 2021年1月7日閲覧。
^ a b c “「性的指向と恋愛指向の混同は人権侵害」性的少数者団体が声明”. 選報日本. 2021年1月7日閲覧。
^ 『博報堂ＤＹグループの株式会社LGBT総合研究所、６月１日からのサービス開始にあたりLGBTをはじめとするセクシャルマイノリティの意識調査を実施』（レポート）、博報堂DYグループ、2016年6月1日。2018年3月27日閲覧。
^ 釜野さおり、石田仁、岩本健良、小山泰代、千年よしみ、平森大規、藤井ひろみ、布施香奈 ほか「大阪市民の働き方と暮らしの多様性と共生にかんするアンケート報告書（単純集計結果） JSPS 科研費 16H03709」、国立社会保障・人口問題研究所内「性的指向と性自認の人口学―日本における研究基盤の構築」・「働き方と暮らしの多様性と共生」研究チーム、2019年、2019年11月23日閲覧。
^ 柿沼賢治、布施木誠「性的マイノリティにおける無性（Aセクシャル）概念の可能性：Aセクシャル論文のレビュー」『聖マリアンナ医学研究誌』第11巻第86号、聖マリアンナ医学研究所、2011年、 21-25頁、 NAID 40018754057。
^ 柿沼賢治、布施木誠「Aセクシャルにおける量的研究について：Aセクシャル論文のレビューⅡ」『聖マリアンナ医学研究誌』第13巻第88号、聖マリアンナ医学研究所、2013年、 45-53頁、 NAID 40019664040。
^ 「初恋ナイ、男ニモ女ニモ性欲ワカナイ、体触ラレタクナイ… 「無性愛者」誤解しないで」『北陸中日新聞』、2013年1月16日。
^ 「（男が生きる 女が生きる）性は男と女だけじゃない 「らしさって？」記事に反響」『朝日新聞』、2014年11月16日、朝刊。
^ “恋愛感情を持たないアセクシャル、専門家「どちらも幸せなら直す必要はない」”. HUFFINGTONPOST (2018年1月12日). 2018年3月17日閲覧。
^ “裏サンデー 桐生先生は恋愛がわからない。”. 2018年3月18日閲覧。
関連項目[編集]
同性愛
異性愛
恋愛的指向
無性愛の歴史（英語版）
外部リンク[編集]
AVEN
AVENの和訳
AVENwiki（AVENの管轄する無性愛についてのWiki。英語記事）
asexual.jp
日本SRGM連盟（当事者団体） - Aスペクトラムとは
特定非営利活動法人にじいろ学校
Asexual Explorations. Existing Research, an annotated bibliography（無性愛に関する先行研究の一覧。英語記事アーカイブ）
BBC NEWS "What is it like to be asexual?"
BBC NEWS "What is it like to be asexual?"の和訳

[表示]

表
話
編
歴性



[表示]

表
話
編
歴LGBT／性的少数者



典拠管理

GND: 7572447-9
LCCN: sh2016000238

カテゴリ:
無性愛
性的指向
性の文化
無