Asexuality

Asexuality refers to a lack of sexual attraction toward others, or a very low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity. It can be understood as a sexual orientation, or as the absence of one, and is often grouped under a broader set of identities known as the ace spectrum. The informal term "ace" is commonly used for people who are asexual or on this spectrum. Asexuality is not the same as sexual abstinence or celibacy, which are behavioral choices typically influenced by personal, social, or religious reasons. Unlike sexual behavior, sexual orientation is considered enduring. Some asexual people may still engage in sexual activity for reasons like physical pleasure, pleasing a romantic partner, or having children, even without experiencing sexual attraction. Recognition of asexuality as a valid orientation and a subject of scientific study is still developing, with increasing research from both sociology and psychology. Some researchers view it as a sexual orientation, while others do not. About one percent of the population may be asexual.

Asexual communities have grown since the rise of the internet and social media in the mid-1990s. The most prominent of these is the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, founded in 2001 by David Jay.

Because people who identify as asexual vary widely, the term covers broad definitions. Researchers generally define it as a lack of sexual attraction or interest in sexual activity, though definitions differ—some include low or absent sexual behavior, or romantic but non-sexual partnerships, in addition to low or absent desire. The abbreviation "ace" comes from a phonetic shortening of "asexual," and the community is often called the ace community.

Some asexual individuals form romantic relationships, while others do not. Some report experiencing sexual attraction but feel no urge to act on it, citing no desire for sex. Others may also avoid non-sexual physical contact like cuddling or hand-holding, while some welcome it. Asexual people may seek relationships without romance or sex, known as queerplatonic relationships. A "squish" is a term for a platonic crush. Some asexuals engage in sexual activity out of curiosity, and some masturbate for physical release, while others do not. Asexuals often use the term "sex drive" to refer to the desire for masturbation or sexual activity, distinguishing it from sexual attraction. Those who masturbate typically view it as a normal bodily function, not a sign of hidden sexuality, and some do not find it pleasurable. Some asexual men cannot get erections or attempt penetration. Views on performing sexual acts vary: some are indifferent and may do so for a partner, while others are strongly averse, though they generally do not condemn others for having sex.

Many asexual people also identify with diverse gender identities or romantic orientations. These are often combined with their asexual identity, and asexuals may still call themselves heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or pansexual in terms of romantic or emotional attraction. Romantic orientations include biromantic, heteroromantic, homoromantic, or panromantic, and those who lack romantic attraction may identify as aromantic. This separation of romantic and sexual orientation is known as the split attraction model, which holds that these two types of attraction are not always linked. People who are both aromantic and asexual are sometimes called aro-ace or aroace.

Asexual people vary greatly in romantic attraction, intimacy, and relationship building. Most experience romantic attraction despite little to no sexual attraction. A 2020 study found that 74% of asexual participants reported romantic attraction, with 38.3% biromantic, 26.4% heteroromantic, 4.9% homoromantic, and 5.1% another orientation. The same study showed that the share of romantic asexuals identifying as heteroromantic was less than half that of romantic allosexuals (people who experience sexual attraction). Studies from 2011 and 2017 found that asexual people have various relationship types, including long-term romantic partnerships, queerplatonic relationships, and mixed-orientation relationships between an asexual and an allosexual person. Emotional intimacy, mutual understanding, and clear communication about boundaries and expectations are strongly linked to relationship satisfaction among asexual people. These studies also found that successful partnerships often involve open negotiation of physical affection, respect for different needs, and flexibility in defining intimacy. In mixed-orientation relationships especially, couples may develop specific strategies to navigate these differences.