Difference between revisions of "Gray-A/Grey-A"

From AVENwiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Stop cutting out demis out of the definition of Grey-A, or we need a new label for the middle, and do we want to go through that? You're really going to cut out the whole conditional branch of aces out of being ace other than demis?)
 
(26 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Asexuality and sexuality are not black and white; some people identify in the '''gray''' (spelled "'''grey'''" in some countries) area between them. People who identify as '''gray-A''' can include, but are not limited to those who:
+
'''Gray-A''' or '''Grey-A''', short for gray-asexual or grey-asexual, refers to a gray area relationship to [[asexuality]], that is the area between black stripe asexual and allosexual. Reasons for identifying as gray-asexual are because [[Attraction|sexual attraction]] is infrequent, limited, conditional, or ambiguous. It might also include those who experience sexual attraction, but find they can ignore it or refuse it. The label may also include low [[sex drive]], or disinterest in sex. Out of the ace respondents to the 2019 Ace Community Survey, about 10% categorized themselves as gray-asexual.<ref>Weis, R., Hermann, L., Bauer, C., Miller, T. L., Baba, A., van der Biezen, T., Campos, A., Smiga, J. A., Tomaskovic-Moore, S., Trieu, T. H., Walfrand, A., & Ziebert, J. (2021). [https://asexualcensus.wordpress.com/2019-asexual-community-survey-summary-report/ ''The 2019 asexual community survey summary report.''] The Ace Community Survey Team.</ref>
  
:* do not normally experience [[Attraction|sexual attraction]], but do experience it sometimes
+
The identity can encompass other labels such as [[demisexual]], [[orchidsexual]] and [[aceflux]], encompassing anything between black stripe aces and allosexual.
:* experience sexual attraction, but a low [[sex drive]]
 
:* experience sexual attraction and drive, but not strongly enough to want to act on them
 
:* people who can enjoy and desire sex, but only under very limited and specific circumstances
 
  
Similarly, some people who might technically belong to the gray area choose to identify as asexual because it is easier to explain. For example, if someone has experienced sexual attraction on one or two brief, fleeting occasions in their life, they might prefer to call themselves asexual because it is not worth the bother of having to explain these one or two occasions to everyone who asks about their orientation.
 
  
==Terms==
+
Among gray-asexuals, the identity has been broadly conceptualized as way to express finding asexuality to be "a useful idea" but an imperfect "fit."<ref>Siggy, [https://asexualagenda.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/many-ways-to-be-between/ Many ways to be between], ''The Asexual Agenda'', (August 2012).</ref> The ambiguity of the term is valuable, in this respect.<ref>Siggy, [https://asexualagenda.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/ambiguous-and-heading-nowhere/ Ambiguous and heading nowhere], ''The Asexual Agenda'', (March 2015).</ref><ref>Cor (epochryphal), [https://epochryphal.tumblr.com/post/90883721292/greyness-301 Greyness: 301], (July 2014).</ref>
  
The most common term used to refer to the gray area is "gray-A". Other terms that have been used for the gray area include "hyposexual", "demisexual", "semisexual", "low sexual intensity", "asexual-ish" and "sexual-ish".
+
Gray-asexuality has been rarely discussed in mainstream media coverage (relative to asexuality)<ref>Siggy, [https://asexualagenda.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/gray-asexuality-in-mainstream-media/ Gray Asexuality in mainstream media], ''The Asexual Agenda'', (April 2022).</ref> or academic asexuality studies,<ref>Coyote, [https://theacetheist.wordpress.com/2021/08/17/gray-asexuality-in-asexuality-studies/ Gray-Asexuality in Asexuality Studies], ''The Ace Theist'', (August 2021).</ref> and gray-asexual characters have also been rare in ace fiction.<ref>Sara K., [https://thenoteswhichdonotfit.wordpress.com/2020/10/30/why-are-there-so-few-grey-a-characters-in-ace-fiction/ Why Are There So Few Grey-A Characters in Ace Fiction?], ''The Notes Which Do Not Fit'', (October 2020).</ref>
  
Some of these terms refer to specific parts of the gray area rather than the entire gray area.
+
==Origin==
  
'''Hyposexual''' can be used as a catch-all term for the gray area, and is commonly mistaken believed by asexuals to be a standard medical  term.[http://www.asexuality.org/en/index.php?showtopic=11822]  The actual name is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, which is classified as a sexual dysfuction in the DSM-IV-TR.
+
The concept of gray-asexuality was preceded by earlier discussion of semisexuality on the AVEN forums, referencing a spectrum of sexual intensity.<ref>Hezekiah, [https://pianycist.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/the-development-of-gray-asexuality-and-demisexuality-as-identity-terms/ The development of gray asexuality and demisexuality as identity terms], ''Critique of Popular Reason'', (May 2013).</ref> The term "Gray-A" itself comes from a 2006 thread by AVEN user KSpaz, who introduced the term for "fuzzy" experiences and those "who may sometimes feel unsure of their asexuality/sexuality."<ref>KSpaz, [https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/15539-gray-as "Gray-A's,"] (April 2006).</ref>
  
[[Demisexuality|'''Demisexual''']] is used, generally, to describe people who only experience sexual attraction after first forming a strong emotional connection.[http://www.asexuality.org/en/index.php?showtopic=29621]
+
==See also==
 +
* [[Gray-romantic]]
 +
* [[Demisexual]]
  
 +
==External links==
 +
*[http://www.asexuality.org/en/index.php?/forum/72-the-gray-area/ AVEN's Gray Area]
 +
*[http://demigrace.forumotion.com/ Demi Grace] - a forum for demisexuals, grey-asexuals and allies
 +
*[http://demigray.tumblr.com/ Demi Gray] - advice for demisexuals and gray-asexuals
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
  
 
{{Sexuality}}
 
{{Sexuality}}
[[Category:Related identities]][[Category:Orientations]]
+
[[Category:Orientations]]
[http://specialromania.com/ Where in Romania]
 

Latest revision as of 08:31, 22 December 2023

Gray-A or Grey-A, short for gray-asexual or grey-asexual, refers to a gray area relationship to asexuality, that is the area between black stripe asexual and allosexual. Reasons for identifying as gray-asexual are because sexual attraction is infrequent, limited, conditional, or ambiguous. It might also include those who experience sexual attraction, but find they can ignore it or refuse it. The label may also include low sex drive, or disinterest in sex. Out of the ace respondents to the 2019 Ace Community Survey, about 10% categorized themselves as gray-asexual.[1]

The identity can encompass other labels such as demisexual, orchidsexual and aceflux, encompassing anything between black stripe aces and allosexual.


Among gray-asexuals, the identity has been broadly conceptualized as way to express finding asexuality to be "a useful idea" but an imperfect "fit."[2] The ambiguity of the term is valuable, in this respect.[3][4]

Gray-asexuality has been rarely discussed in mainstream media coverage (relative to asexuality)[5] or academic asexuality studies,[6] and gray-asexual characters have also been rare in ace fiction.[7]

Origin

The concept of gray-asexuality was preceded by earlier discussion of semisexuality on the AVEN forums, referencing a spectrum of sexual intensity.[8] The term "Gray-A" itself comes from a 2006 thread by AVEN user KSpaz, who introduced the term for "fuzzy" experiences and those "who may sometimes feel unsure of their asexuality/sexuality."[9]

See also

External links

References

  1. Weis, R., Hermann, L., Bauer, C., Miller, T. L., Baba, A., van der Biezen, T., Campos, A., Smiga, J. A., Tomaskovic-Moore, S., Trieu, T. H., Walfrand, A., & Ziebert, J. (2021). The 2019 asexual community survey summary report. The Ace Community Survey Team.
  2. Siggy, Many ways to be between, The Asexual Agenda, (August 2012).
  3. Siggy, Ambiguous and heading nowhere, The Asexual Agenda, (March 2015).
  4. Cor (epochryphal), Greyness: 301, (July 2014).
  5. Siggy, Gray Asexuality in mainstream media, The Asexual Agenda, (April 2022).
  6. Coyote, Gray-Asexuality in Asexuality Studies, The Ace Theist, (August 2021).
  7. Sara K., Why Are There So Few Grey-A Characters in Ace Fiction?, The Notes Which Do Not Fit, (October 2020).
  8. Hezekiah, The development of gray asexuality and demisexuality as identity terms, Critique of Popular Reason, (May 2013).
  9. KSpaz, "Gray-A's," (April 2006).
Sexual orientation
Asexual · Bisexual · Demisexual · Grey-A · Heterosexual · Homosexual · Pansexual
Research
Kinsey scale · Storms' model · Asexual studies · Asexual behavior in non-human animals
Category:Orientation