Difference between revisions of "Asexuality"

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There is debate over whether to see asexuality as one of four or more orientations (homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual/pansexual, asexual) or as one of two (sexual and asexual, with gender preference being measured along a different axis). [http://www.asexuality.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=15115 Relevant thread]
 
There is debate over whether to see asexuality as one of four or more orientations (homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual/pansexual, asexual) or as one of two (sexual and asexual, with gender preference being measured along a different axis). [http://www.asexuality.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=15115 Relevant thread]
  
There are also some classifications that can be made within the spectrum of asexuality, based on [romantic attraction] (some asexuals desire romance with one or more genders, and some don't) and [sex drive] (some asexuals experience sexual arousal, but without the desire to express it with another person). At one time, AVEN sought to sort asexuals into four categories, based on these criteria:
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There are also some classifications that can be made within the spectrum of asexuality, based on [[romantic attraction]] (some asexuals desire romance with one or more genders, and some don't) and [[sex drive]] (some asexuals experience sexual arousal, but without the desire to express it with another person). At one time, AVEN sought to sort asexuals into four categories, based on these criteria:
  
 
'''Type A''' asexuals, who experience sex drive, but no attraction;
 
'''Type A''' asexuals, who experience sex drive, but no attraction;
 +
 
'''Type B''' asexuals, who experience romantic or other forms of attraction but do not have sex drives;
 
'''Type B''' asexuals, who experience romantic or other forms of attraction but do not have sex drives;
 +
 
'''Type C''' asexuals, who experience sex drive and romantic or other forms of attraction, but do not see them as linked;
 
'''Type C''' asexuals, who experience sex drive and romantic or other forms of attraction, but do not see them as linked;
 +
 
'''Type D''' asexuals, who experience neither.
 
'''Type D''' asexuals, who experience neither.
  
 
This classification system was retired, because not all asexuals felt comfortable putting themselves in one of the four categories. However, some asexuals still find it useful to reference the concepts of type A, B, C, or D at times. [http://asexuality.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=4426 Relevant thread]
 
This classification system was retired, because not all asexuals felt comfortable putting themselves in one of the four categories. However, some asexuals still find it useful to reference the concepts of type A, B, C, or D at times. [http://asexuality.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=4426 Relevant thread]

Revision as of 16:56, 3 September 2006

Asexuality is a term for people who do not experience sexual attraction.

Scientific basis

Little research has been done into asexuality, but a UK survey of sexuality indicated that 1% of adults had never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all. (PubMed) A study of rams (referenced here) also concluded that 2% to 3% of the rams were asexual.

Classification

There is debate over whether to see asexuality as one of four or more orientations (homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual/pansexual, asexual) or as one of two (sexual and asexual, with gender preference being measured along a different axis). Relevant thread

There are also some classifications that can be made within the spectrum of asexuality, based on romantic attraction (some asexuals desire romance with one or more genders, and some don't) and sex drive (some asexuals experience sexual arousal, but without the desire to express it with another person). At one time, AVEN sought to sort asexuals into four categories, based on these criteria:

Type A asexuals, who experience sex drive, but no attraction;

Type B asexuals, who experience romantic or other forms of attraction but do not have sex drives;

Type C asexuals, who experience sex drive and romantic or other forms of attraction, but do not see them as linked;

Type D asexuals, who experience neither.

This classification system was retired, because not all asexuals felt comfortable putting themselves in one of the four categories. However, some asexuals still find it useful to reference the concepts of type A, B, C, or D at times. Relevant thread