View source for Asexuality

{{Short description|Lack of or little sexual attraction to others}}
{{About|humans who lack sexual attraction or interest in sexual activity|the lack of romantic attraction|Aromanticism|the lack of a gender|Agender|other uses|Asexual (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Asexual reproduction}}
{{Good article}}
{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox sexuality
| title         = Asexuality
| pronunciation = 
| flag          = Asexual Pride Flag.svg
|flag_alt       = A flag consisting of 7 equal-spaced horizontal stripes, from top to bottom: black, grey, white, purple.
| flag_name     = [[asexual flag|Asexual pride flag]]
| flag_meaning  = Black for asexuality; gray for [[gray asexuality|gray-asexuality]]; white for [[allosexuality]]; purple for community
| definition    = Little to no [[sexual attraction]] to others; low or absent [[sexual desire]] or interest in [[sexual activity]]
| abbreviations = [[Wikt:ace#Etymology 2|''ace'']]
| subcategories = {{flatlist|
* [[Gray asexuality]]
** [[demisexuality]]
** [[aegosexuality]]
** [[aceflux]]
** [[autosexual]]
** [[fraysexuality]]
** [[fictosexuality]]
}}
}}
{{Asexuality topics sidebar}}
{{Sexual orientation}}

'''Asexuality''' is the lack<!-- NOTE: Reliable sources often state "lack", and the term is broader than "absence of" or "no" sexual attraction. See the "Definition, identity and relationships" section below. Furthermore, "absent" is already included in this very first sentence. --> of [[sexual attraction]] to others, or low or absent interest in or [[Sexual desire|desire]] for [[Human sexual activity|sexual activity]].<ref name="Crooks">{{cite book|author1=Robert L. Crooks |author2=Karla Baur|title=Our Sexuality|isbn=978-1305887428|publisher=[[Cengage Learning]]|year=2016|page=300|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isIaCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT300}}</ref><ref name="Helm">{{cite book|author=Katherine M. Helm|title=Hooking Up: The Psychology of Sex and Dating|isbn=978-1610699518|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2015|page=32|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O3K9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32|archive-date=November 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122195144/https://books.google.com/books?id=O3K9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kelly">{{cite book|last = Kelly| first = Gary F. |year = 2004|title = Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780072420050 |url-access=registration |edition=7th |publisher = [[McGraw-Hill]] |isbn= 978-0-07-255835-7|page = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780072420050/page/400/mode/2up 401] (sidebar) |chapter = Chapter 12 |quote = Asexuality is a condition characterized by a low interest in sex.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Powell |first1=Kyle J. |title=Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior |date=2023 |publisher=Springer, Cham |isbn=978-3-031-08956-5 |pages=1–11 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_2484-1 |language=en |chapter=Asexuality |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_2484-1}}</ref> It may be considered a [[sexual orientation]] or the lack thereof.<ref name="Sex and society">{{cite book|editor=Marshall Cavendish|title=Sex and Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVDZchwkIMEC&pg=PA82|access-date=July 27, 2013|volume=2|year=2010|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7906-2|pages=82–83|contribution=Asexuality|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016040824/https://books.google.com/books?id=aVDZchwkIMEC&pg=PA82|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bogaert 2015">{{cite journal|vauthors=Bogaert, AF|s2cid= 23720993 |title= Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters |journal=[[The Journal of Sex Research]]|volume= 52|date=April 2015 |pmid=25897566|doi=10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713|issue=4|pages=362–379}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201609/asexuality-is-sexual-orientation-not-sexual-dysfunction|title=Sexual Orientation, Not a Sexual Dysfunction|date=September 5, 2016|author=Bella DePaulo}}</ref> It may also be categorized [[umbrella term|more widely]], to include a broad [[spectrum]] of [[Gray asexuality|asexual sub-identities]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Scherrer|first=Kristin|title=Coming to an Asexual Identity: Negotiating Identity, Negotiating Desire|journal=Sexualities|volume=11|issue=5|pages=621–641|doi=10.1177/1363460708094269|pmid=20593009|pmc=2893352|year=2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 'Q' in LGBTQ: Queer/Questioning |url=https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/the-q-in-lgbtq-queer-questioning#:~:text=The%20acronym%20increasingly%20includes%20the,same%2Dsex%20attraction%20and%20behaviors. |website=American Psychiatric Association}}</ref>

Asexuality is distinct from [[sexual abstinence|abstention from sexual activity]] and from [[celibacy]],<ref name="Halter">{{cite book|author=Margaret Jordan Halter|author2=Elizabeth M. Varcarolis|title=Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing|isbn=978-1-4557-5358-1|publisher=[[Elsevier Health Sciences]]|year=2013|page=382|access-date=May 7, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZ15AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA382|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726100659/https://books.google.com/books?id=mZ15AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA382|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DePaulo">{{cite magazine|first=Bella|last=DePaulo|title=ASEXUALS: Who Are They and Why Are They Important?|magazine=[[Psychology Today]]|date=September 26, 2011|access-date=December 13, 2011|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-single/200912/asexuals-who-are-they-and-why-are-they-important|archive-date=October 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001112720/https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-single/200912/asexuals-who-are-they-and-why-are-they-important|url-status=live}}</ref> which are behavioral and generally motivated by factors such as an individual's personal, social, or religious beliefs.<ref>''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'' (3d ed. 1992), entries for ''celibacy'' and thence ''abstinence''.</ref> Sexual orientation, unlike sexual behavior, is believed to be "enduring".<ref name="apahelp">{{cite web|title=Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality|publisher=[[American Psychological Association]]|access-date=March 30, 2013|url=http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sexual-orientation.aspx|archive-date=August 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808010101/http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sexual%2Dorientation.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Some asexual people engage in sexual activity despite lacking sexual attraction or a desire for sex, for a number of reasons, such as a desire to physically please themselves or romantic partners, or a desire to have children.<ref name="Halter"/><ref name="Prause">{{cite journal |last=Prause |first=Nicole |author2=Cynthia A. Graham |s2cid=12034925 |date=2007 |url=https://kinseyinstitute.org/pdf/PrauseGraham-Asexuality.pdf |title=Asexuality: Classification and Characterization |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |volume=36 |pages=341–356 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |doi=10.1007/s10508-006-9142-3 |pmid=17345167 |issue=3 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927014407/http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/publications/PDF/PrauseGrahamPDF.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Acceptance of asexuality as a sexual orientation and field of [[scientific method|scientific research]] is still relatively new,<ref name="Helm"/><ref name="Prause"/> as a growing body of research from both sociological and psychological perspectives has begun to develop.<ref name="Prause"/> While some researchers assert that asexuality is a sexual orientation, other researchers disagree.<ref name="Sex and society"/><ref name="Bogaert 2015"/> Asexual individuals may represent about one percent of the population.<ref name="Helm"/>

Various asexual communities have started to form since [[History of the Internet|the impact of the Internet]] and social media in the mid-1990s. The most prolific and well-known of these communities is the [[Asexual Visibility and Education Network]], which was founded in 2001 by [[David Jay]].<ref name="Sex and society"/><ref name="Swash">{{Cite news|first=Rosie|last=Swash|title=Among the asexuals|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 25, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/26/among-the-asexuals|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211010222/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/26/among-the-asexuals|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Definition, identity and relationships ==
Because there is significant variation among those who identify as asexual, the term ''asexuality'' can encompass broad definitions.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks">{{cite book |author=Karli June Cerankowski |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zLgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89 |title=Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives |author2=Megan Milks |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-134-69253-8 |pages=89–93 |access-date=July 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716130847/http://books.google.com/books?id=zLgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89 |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Researchers generally define asexuality as the lack of [[sexual attraction]] or the lack of interest in [[Human sexual activity|sexual activity]],<ref name="Sex and society" /><ref name="Prause" /><ref name="Bogaert2006">{{cite journal |last1=Bogaert |first1=Anthony F. |year=2006 |title=Toward a conceptual understanding of asexuality |url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18172400 |url-status=dead |journal=[[Review of General Psychology]] |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=241–250 |doi=10.1037/1089-2680.10.3.241 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114191419/http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18172400 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2007 |s2cid=143968129|url-access=subscription }}</ref> though specific definitions vary—the term may be used to refer to individuals with low or absent sexual behavior or exclusively [[Romance (love)|romantic]] non-sexual partnerships in addition to low or absent [[sexual desire]] or attraction.<ref name="Prause" /><ref name="Fischer">{{cite book |author1=Nancy L. Fischer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SEmTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |title=Introducing the New Sexuality Studies |author2=Steven Seidman |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1317449188 |page=183 |access-date=January 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102104/https://books.google.com/books?id=SEmTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Asexual Visibility and Education Network]] (AVEN), an [[Internet forum|online forum]] dedicated to asexuality, defines an asexual as "someone who does not experience sexual attraction", as well as adding that asexuality "at its core" is "just a word that people use to help figure themselves out", and encourages people to use the term ''asexual'' to define themselves "as long as it makes sense to do so".<ref name="Overview">{{cite web |year=2008 |title=Overview |url=http://www.asexuality.org/home/?q=overview.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119005301/http://www.asexuality.org/home/?q=overview.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |access-date=January 6, 2016 |publisher=The Asexual Visibility and Education Network}}</ref> Asexuality is often abbreviated as ''[[wikt:ace#Etymology 2|ace]]'', a phonetic shortening of ''asexual'',<ref name="AceSuits">{{cite book |author1=Decker |first=Julie Sondra|author-link=Julie Sondra Decker|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vTSCDwAAQBAJ&q=ace+of+hearts |title=The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2015 |isbn=9781510700642 |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412030423/https://books.google.com/books?id=vTSCDwAAQBAJ&q=ace+of+hearts |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{page needed|date=April 2019}}</ref> and the community as a whole is likewise referred to as the ''ace community''.<ref name="Meg">{{cite book |author=Meg Barker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dp8_R8A2PIYC&pg=PA69 |title=Rewriting the Rules: An Integrative Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0415517621 |page=69 |access-date=February 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726103159/https://books.google.com/books?id=Dp8_R8A2PIYC&pg=PA69 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Tarrant">{{cite book |author=Shira Tarrant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqjwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA256 |title=Gender, Sex, and Politics: In the Streets and Between the Sheets in the 21st Century |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-1317814764 |pages=254–256 |access-date=February 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524061206/https://books.google.com/books?id=jqjwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA256 |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Relationships ===
{{See also|Queerplatonic relationship}}
{{stack|[[File:a_spec_compass.svg|thumb|Simplified diagram of the aromantic and asexual spectra]]}}
Despite lacking sexual attraction, some asexuals might engage in purely romantic relationships, while others may not.<ref name="Sex and society" /><ref name="Richards and Barker">{{cite book |author=Christina Richards |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSiXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT124 |title=Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide |author2=Meg Barker |publisher=[[SAGE Publications|SAGE]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4462-9313-3 |pages=124–127 |access-date=July 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728200354/http://books.google.com/books?id=uSiXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT124 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some who identify as asexual report that they experience sexual attraction, though lack the inclination to act on it, citing no desire to engage in sexual activity—some asexuals also lack the desire to engage in non-sexual physical activity such as [[cuddling]] or [[Holding hands|hand-holding]], while others choose to do so.<ref name="Halter" /><ref name="DePaulo" /><ref name="Prause" /><ref name="Cerankowski and Milks" /> Asexual people may seek relationships without romantic or sexual activity, known as "[[queerplatonic relationship]]s".<ref name="AceSuits" /> A ''squish'' is a term used by the asexual community to describe a platonic [[Limerence|crush]].<ref name="AceSuits" />

Certain asexuals may participate in sexual activity out of curiosity.<ref name="Prause" />  Some may also [[Masturbation|masturbate]] as a form of solitary release, while others may not feel a need to do so.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks" /><ref name="New Scientist">{{cite web |author=Westphal, Sylvia Pagan |title=Feature: Glad to be asexual |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6533 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219003148/http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6533 |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |access-date=11 November 2007 |work=[[New Scientist]]}}</ref><ref name="Bridgeman">{{cite news |last=Bridgeman |first=Shelley |date=5 August 2007 |title=No sex please, we're asexual |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10455823&pnum=0 |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103013612/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10455823&pnum=0 |archive-date=November 3, 2018}}</ref> The desire for masturbation or other sexual activity is often referred to as ''[[Libido|sex drive]]'' by asexuals, who disassociate it from sexual attraction and being asexual; asexuals who masturbate generally consider it to be a normal product of the human body rather than a sign of latent sexuality, and others do not find it pleasurable.<ref name="Prause" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yule |first1=Morag A. |last2=Brotto |first2=Lori A. |last3=Gorzalka |first3=Boris B. |year=2014 |title=Sexual fantasy and masturbation among asexual individuals |journal=The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=89–95 |doi=10.3138/cjhs.2409 |s2cid=4091448}}</ref> Some asexual men are unable to get an [[erection]] and are unable to attempt [[Sexual penetration|penetration]].<ref name="More to life">{{cite journal |last=Carrigan |first=Mark |date=August 2011 |title=There's More to Life Than Just Sex? Difference and Commonality Within the Asexual Community |journal=Sexualities |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=462–478 |doi=10.1177/1363460711406462 |s2cid=146445274}}</ref> Asexuals also differ in their views on performing sexual acts: some are indifferent and may engage in sexual activity for the benefit of a romantic partner, while others are more strongly averse to the idea, though they are not typically [[Antisexualism|against sex as a whole]] so as to condemn other people for engaging in any form of sexual activity.<ref name="Prause" /><ref name="Cerankowski and Milks" /><ref name="Bridgeman" />

Many who identify as asexual may identify with diverse [[gender identity|gender identities]] or classifications of [[romantic orientation]].<ref name="Padraig">{{Cite journal |last1=MacNeela |first1=Pádraig |last2=Murphy |first2=Aisling |date=December 30, 2014 |title=Freedom, Invisibility, and Community: A Qualitative Study of Self-Identification with Asexuality |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=799–812 |doi=10.1007/s10508-014-0458-0 |issn=0004-0002 |pmid=25548065 |s2cid=23757013}}</ref> These are often integrated with a person's asexual identity, and asexuals may still identify as [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]], [[lesbian]], [[Homosexuality|gay]], [[Bisexuality|bisexual]] or [[Pansexuality|pansexual]] regarding romantic or emotional aspects of [[sexual orientation]] or [[sexual identity]] in addition to identifying as asexual.<ref name="Richards and Barker" /> The romantic aspects of sexual orientations may also be indicated by a variety of romantic identities, including [[biromantic]], [[heteroromantic]], [[homoromantic]], or [[panromantic]], and those who do not experience romantic attraction may identify as [[aromantic]].<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks" /><ref name="Richards and Barker" /> This split between romantic and sexual orientation is commonly explained as the [[split attraction model]], which states that romantic and sexual attraction are not strictly linked for all people. Individuals who are both aromantic and asexual are sometimes known as ''[[wikt:aro-ace#English|aro-ace]]'' or ''aroace''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kliegman |first=Julie |date=2021-10-29 |title=What Does AroAce Mean? Not Everyone Who's Aromantic Is Asexual |url=https://www.bustle.com/wellness/aroace-aromantic-asexual-yasmin-benoit |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]] |language=en |archive-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728140047/https://www.bustle.com/wellness/aroace-aromantic-asexual-yasmin-benoit |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Romantic and interpersonal relationships ===

Asexual people are very different in terms of matters related to romantic attraction, intimacy and relationship building. Although asexuality implies the lack of sexual attraction, most asexual individuals are [[Romantic attraction|romantically attracted]], which creates some distinctions between asexual people as [[Aromanticism|aromantic]], [[biromantic]], [[homoromantic]], or [[demiromantic]] identities.<ref>Bogaert, A. F. (2015). ''Understanding Asexuality''. Oxford University Press.</ref> Romantic attraction refers to the yearning of intimacy or relationship which does not depend on sexual ambitions.<ref>Yule, M., Brotto, L., & Gorzalka, B. (2017). "Asexuality: Sexual orientation, paraphilia, sexual dysfunction, or none of the above?" ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', 46(3), 689–701.</ref>

Studies in 2011 and 2017 concluded that asexual people have various relationship formats such as long-term romantic relationships, [[queerplatonic relationship]]s, and mixed-orientation relationships between an asexual person and an [[Allosexuality|allosexual]] person.<ref>Carrigan, M. (2011). "There’s more to life than sex? Difference and commonality within the asexual community." ''Sexualities'', 14(4), 462–478.</ref> [[Emotional intimacy]], understanding of each other, and boundary and expectation communication are strongly related to relationship satisfaction among asexual people.<ref>Brotto, L. A., & Yule, M. (2017). "Asexuality: A mixed-methods approach." ''Journal of Sex Research'', 54(3), 364–378.</ref> These studies also concluded that successful partnerships often involve clear negotiation of physical affection, respect for differing needs, and flexibility in defining what intimacy means for each partner. In mixed-orientation relationships especially, couples may develop tailored arrangements that accommodate both partners’ comfort levels while preserving trust and mutual support.

A 2012 study concluded that asexual people also might have difficulties in dealing with [[social stigma]], their compulsion to have sex, or their partners not understanding them. These experiences may add to minority stress but are usually alleviated by positive social networks and communities.<ref>MacInnis, C., & Hodson, G. (2012). “Intergroup bias toward asexuals.” ''Group Processes & Intergroup Relations'', 15(3), 1–14.</ref>

=== Gray asexuality ===
{{See also|Gray asexuality}}

The term ''[[gray asexuality]]'' refers to the spectrum between asexuality and non-asexuality (also referred to as {{Visible anchor|allosexuality|allosexual|text=''[[allosexuality]]''}}).<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal |last1=Chasin |first1=CJ DeLuzio |year=2015 |title=Making Sense in and of the Asexual Community: Navigating Relationships and Identities in a Context of Resistance |journal=Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=167–180 |doi=10.1002/casp.2203 |issn=1099-1298}}</ref> Individuals who identify as gray asexual may occasionally experience sexual attraction, or only experience sexual attraction as a secondary component once a reasonably stable or large emotional connection has been formed with the target, known as ''[[demisexuality]]''.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Adler |first=Melissa |title=Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7864-4894-4 |editor-last=Greenblatt |editor-first=Ellen |location=[[North Carolina]] |chapter=Meeting the Needs of LGBTIQ Library Users and Their Librarians: A Study of User Satisfaction and LGBTIQ Collection Development in Academic Libraries}}</ref>

=== Microlabels ===
There are a wide variety of asexual microlabels, or labels that are part of the asexual umbrella.<ref>{{Cite thesis|url=https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/14995|title=Negotiating Asexual Identity in r/asexuality|first=Kylan|last=Bartel|date=June 12, 2025|publisher=University of Chicago |via=Knowledge UChicago}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-022-09650-9|title=Queering Relationships: Exploring Phenomena of Asexual Identified Persons in Relationships|first=Valerie Q.|last=Glass|date=December 1, 2022|journal=Contemporary Family Therapy|volume=44|issue=4|pages=344–359|via=Springer Link|doi=10.1007/s10591-022-09650-9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00380253.2025.2480227|title=Uncertain Belonging: Asexuality and Queer Nightlife|first=Canton|last=Winer|date=October 2, 2025|journal=The Sociological Quarterly|volume=66|issue=4|pages=791–810|via=Taylor and Francis+NEJM|doi=10.1080/00380253.2025.2480227}}</ref>

== Research ==
=== Prevalence ===
[[File:Kinsey Scale.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Kinsey scale]] of sexual responses, indicating degrees of [[sexual orientation]]. The original scale included a designation of "X", indicating a lack of sexual behavior.<ref name="Lehmiller">{{cite book|author=Justin J. Lehmiller|title=The Psychology of Human Sexuality|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|isbn=978-1119164708|page=250|date=2017|access-date=November 29, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ytk5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT250|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320135007/https://books.google.com/books?id=ytk5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT250|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

Asexuality is rare, with around 1% of the population identifying as asexual.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Etaugh|first1=Claire A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_SA6DwAAQBAJ|title=Women's Lives: A Psychological Exploration, Fourth Edition|last2=Bridges|first2=Judith S.|date=2017-10-16|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-315-44938-8|language=en|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=March 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309223641/https://books.google.com/books?id=_SA6DwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rothblum |first1=Esther D. |last2=Krueger |first2=Evan A. |last3=Kittle |first3=Krystal R. |last4=Meyer |first4=Ilan H. |date=2019-06-18 |title=Asexual and Non-Asexual Respondents from a U.S. Population-Based Study of Sexual Minorities |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=757–767 |doi=10.1007/s10508-019-01485-0 |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=7059692 |pmid=31214906}}</ref> It is not a new aspect of human sexuality, but it is relatively new to public discourse.<ref name="Sesmith">{{Cite news |first=S.&nbsp;E. |last=Smith |title=Asexuality always existed, you just didn't notice it |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=March 11, 2013 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/21/asexuality-always-existed-asexual |archive-date=April 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408115642/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/21/asexuality-always-existed-asexual |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is an opinion piece ([[WP:NEWSOPED]]).|date=April 2025}} In comparison to other sexualities, asexuality has received little attention from the scientific community, and there is relatively little quantitative data available about the prevalence of asexuality.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=LeBreton|first=Marianne E.|year=2014|editor-last=Bogaert|editor-first=Anthony F.|title=Understanding Asexuality|journal=QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking|volume=1|issue=3|pages=175–177|doi=10.14321/qed.1.3.0175|jstor=10.14321/qed.1.3.0175|issn=2327-1574}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Poston|first1=Dudley L.|last2=Baumle|first2=Amanda K.|year=2010|title=Patterns of asexuality in the United States|journal=Demographic Research|volume=23|pages=509–530|article-number=18 |doi=10.4054/DemRes.2010.23.18|jstor=26349603|issn=1435-9871|doi-access=free}}</ref> In his creation of the [[Kinsey scale]], which he used to rate individuals' sexual activity from 0 (exclusively heterosexual) to 6 (exclusively homosexual), [[Alfred Kinsey]] included an additional category, "X", for individuals with "no socio-sexual contacts or reactions".<ref name="Kinsey-male">{{Cite book|first=Alfred C.|last=Kinsey|year=1948|title=Sexual Behavior in the Human Male|publisher=W.B. Saunders|isbn=978-0-253-33412-1}}</ref><ref name="Kinsey-female">{{Cite book|first=Alfred C.|last=Kinsey|year=1953|title=Sexual Behavior in the Human Female|publisher=W.B. Saunders|isbn=978-0-253-33411-4}}</ref> Although in modern times, this category has been interpreted as representing asexual people,<ref name="Stange">{{cite book|author1=Mary Zeiss Stange|author2=Carol K. Oyster|author3=Jane E. Sloan|title=Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bOkPjFQoBj8C&pg=PA158|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=February 23, 2011|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4129-7685-5|page=158|archive-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914220425/https://books.google.com/books?id=bOkPjFQoBj8C&pg=PA158|url-status=live}}</ref> scholar [[Justin J. Lehmiller]] has noted that "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".<ref name="Lehmiller"/> Kinsey labeled 1.5% of the adult male population as ''X''.<ref name="Kinsey-male"/><ref name="Kinsey-female"/> In his second book, ''Sexual Behavior in the Human Female'', Kinsey reported a breakdown of individuals who fall under the ''X'' category: 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%.<ref name="Kinsey-female" />

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 [[Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS|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".<ref>Wellings, K. (1994). ''Sexual Behaviour in Britain: The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.'' [[Penguin Books]].</ref> 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 allosexuals, asexuals were likely 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.<ref name="Bogaert2006" /><ref name = Bogaert2004>{{cite journal|last=Bogaert|first=Anthony F. |s2cid=41057104 |year=2004 |title=Asexuality: prevalence and associated factors in a national probability sample |journal=[[Journal of Sex Research]] |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=279–87|pmid=15497056 |doi=10.1080/00224490409552235}}</ref>

Contrasting Bogaert's 1% figure, a study by Aicken et al., published in 2013, suggests that, based on Natsal-2 data from 2000 to 2001, the prevalence of asexuality in Britain is only 0.4% for the age range 16–44.<ref name="Fischer"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|title = Who reports absence of sexual attraction in Britain? Evidence from national probability surveys|journal = Psychology & Sexuality|date = 2013-05-01|issn = 1941-9899|pages = 121–135|volume = 4|issue = 2|doi = 10.1080/19419899.2013.774161|first1 = Catherine R. H.|last1 = Aicken|first2 = Catherine H.|last2 = Mercer|first3 = Jackie A.|last3 = Cassell|s2cid = 62275856|url = http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1301794/|access-date = October 14, 2018|archive-date = September 23, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043744/http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1301794/|url-status = live|doi-access = free}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> A 2015 analysis by Bogaert also found a similar decline between the Natsal-1 and Natsal-2 data.<ref name="bogaert2015" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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, and 1% across all age ranges.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2015/08/16/half-young-not-heterosexual |title=1 in 2 young people say they are not 100% heterosexual |at=See the full poll results |date=2015-08-16 |format=PDF |access-date=2018-12-31 |archive-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409173050/https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2015/08/16/half-young-not-heterosexual |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a nationwide survey conducted in [[Japan]] in 2023 by the [[National Institute of Population and Social Security Research]], 49 respondents (0.9%) out of 5,339 valid responses identified their sexual orientation as asexual.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=National Institute of Population and Social Security Research |title=家族と性と多様性にかんする全国アンケート結果概要 |trans-title=Summary Report of the National Survey of Family, Gender/Sexuality, and Diversity |url=https://www.ipss.go.jp/projects/j/SOGI2/ZenkokuSOGISummary20231027.pdf |language=ja |publication-date=2023-10-27}}</ref> In the same survey, 0.4% identified as gay, lesbian, or homosexual, and 1.8% identified as bisexual.<ref name=":13" /> This survey "reports that 1.3% of cisgender women and 0.3% of cisgender men identify as asexual, 1.6% (86 people) of all respondents may be classified as aromantic asexual, 1.5% (81 people) of all respondents may be classified as romantic asexual, and 1.1% (58 people) of all respondents may be classified as aromantic sexual".<ref>{{Citation|title=Understanding Sexual Orientation Identity, Sexual/Romantic Attraction, and Sexual Behavior beyond Western Societies: The Case of Japan|url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-031-87911-1_9|publisher=Springer Nature Switzerland|work=Second International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality|date=2025|access-date=2025-12-02|place=Cham|isbn=978-3-031-87910-4|volume=14|doi=10.1007/978-3-031-87911-1_9|language=en|first1=Daiki|last1=Hiramori|first2=Saori|last2=Kamano|editor-first=Amanda K.|editor-last=Baumle|editor2-first=Zelma|editor2-last=Oyarvide Tuthill|page=161}}</ref>

In a separate survey conducted in 2019 by the [[National Institute of Population and Social Security Research]] in [[Osaka City]], Japan, among 4,285 valid responses in a randomized survey on sexual minorities, 33 respondents (0.8%) identified their sexual orientation as asexual. When categorized by sex assigned at birth, 0.3% of male respondents and 1.1% of female respondents identified as asexual.<ref>{{Cite web |last=National Institute of Population and Social Security Research |title=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 |trans-title=Survey on diversity of work and life, and coexistence among the residents of Osaka City |url=https://www.ipss.go.jp/projects/j/SOGI/%EF%BC%8A20191108%E5%A4%A7%E9%98%AA%E5%B8%82%E6%B0%91%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%BB%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A%E6%9B%B8%EF%BC%88%E4%BF%AE%E6%AD%A3%EF%BC%92%EF%BC%89.pdf |language=ja |publication-date=2019-11-08}}</ref> The survey also investigated not only self-identification but also experiences of sexual and romantic attraction. According to the results, 1.6% of respondents (0.9% of males and 2.1% of females) reported having never experienced either sexual or romantic attraction. Additionally, 1.3% (0.6% of males and 1.8% of females) reported experiencing only romantic attraction, and 0.8% (1.0% of males and 0.7% of females) reported experiencing only sexual attraction.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Matsuura |first=Yuu |title=Asekushuaru aromantikku nyumon: seiteki hikare ya renai kanjo wo motanai hitotachi |publisher=Shueisha |year=2025 |isbn=978-4-08-721352-2 |pages=73–75 |language=ja |trans-title=Introduction to Asexuality and Aromanticism: People Who Do Not Experience Sexual Attraction or Romantic Feelings}}</ref>

=== Sexual orientation, mental health and cause ===
There is significant debate over whether or not asexuality is a sexual orientation.<ref name="Sex and society"/><ref name="Bogaert 2015"/> It has been compared and equated with [[hypoactive sexual desire disorder]] (HSDD), a diagnosis which was in the [[DSM-4]], 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.<ref name="DePaulo"/><ref name="Richards and Barker"/><ref name="Reconsidering Asexuality">{{cite journal|last=Chasin|first=CJ DeLuzio|title=Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential|journal=Feminist Studies|year=2013|volume=39|issue=2|page=405|doi=10.1353/fem.2013.0054|s2cid=147025548|url=http://cj.chasin.ca/Chasin_Reconsidering.Asexuality_FS.Vol39.2_2013.pdf|access-date=April 29, 2014|archive-date=March 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303164252/http://cj.chasin.ca/Chasin_Reconsidering.Asexuality_FS.Vol39.2_2013.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike people with HSDD, asexual people normally<!--NOTE: "Normally" is used because, as the source a little lower shows, some people who identify as asexual experience these disorders. --> do not experience "marked distress" and "interpersonal difficulty" concerning feelings about their sexuality,<!--NOTE: "Concerning feelings about their sexuality" is used because a person may experience one of these disorders regardless of their sexuality.--> or generally a lack of [[sexual arousal]]; asexuality is considered the lack or absence of sexual attraction as a life-enduring characteristic.<ref name="Bogaert2006"/><ref name="Richards and Barker"/> One study found that, compared to HSDD subjects, asexuals reported lower levels of [[sexual desire]], sexual experience, sex-related distress, and [[Depression (mood)|depressive]] symptoms.<ref name="brotto2015">{{cite journal | author1 = Brotto, L. A. |author2=Yule, M. A. |author3=Gorzalka, B..B. |s2cid=30504509 | year = 2015 | title = Asexuality: An Extreme Variant of Sexual Desire Disorder? | journal = The Journal of Sexual Medicine | doi=10.1111/jsm.12806 |pmid=25545124 | volume=12 | issue = 3 | pages=646–660}}</ref> Researchers Richards and Barker report that asexuals do not have disproportionate rates of [[alexithymia]], depression, or [[personality disorder]]s.<!--NOTE: The "social withdrawal" part is left out because of conflicting information on that matter, as was discussed in the "Mental health" section on the Asexuality talk page. --><ref name="Richards and Barker"/> Some people, however, may identify as asexual even if their non-sexual state is explained by one or more of the aforementioned disorders.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks 2">{{cite book|author=Karli June Cerankowski|author2=Megan Milks|title=Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives|isbn=978-1-134-69253-8|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2014|page=246|access-date=July 3, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT246|archive-date=September 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912115307/https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT246|url-status=live}}</ref> Academic Angela Chen has argued that this distinction is illogical since discrimination and bigotry faced by asexual people can cause distress. She believes that when low sexual desire is inherently seen as a problem, people will want to cure it, but that people should not have to feel like they have a "moral obligation" to increase their sexual desire.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chen |first1=Angela |title=Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex |date=2020 |publisher=Beacon Press|pages=90–91}}</ref>

Since the release of the [[DSM-5]] in 2013, which split HSDD into diagnoses for [[female sexual arousal disorder]] and male hypoactive sexual desire disorder, both disorders have been criticised for similar issues to HSDD.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Conley-Fonda |first1=Brenna |last2=Leisher |first2=Taylor |date=2018-01-02 |title=Asexuality: Sexual Health Does Not Require Sex |journal=Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=6–11 |doi=10.1080/10720162.2018.1475699 |s2cid=149652679 |issn=1072-0162|doi-access=free }}</ref> Although the DSM-5 mentions asexuality as an exclusion criterion for these two disorders, individuals must self-identify as asexual to meet the differential diagnosis and this requirement has been criticised for imposing a diagnosis on people who are possibly asexual but do not yet identify as such.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Van Houdenhove |first1=Ellen |last2=Enzlin |first2=Paul |last3=Gijs |first3=Luk |date=2017-04-01 |title=A Positive Approach Toward Asexuality: Some First Steps, But Still a Long Way to Go |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0921-1 |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |language=en |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=647–651 |doi=10.1007/s10508-016-0921-1 |pmid=28091869 |s2cid=20911875 |issn=1573-2800|url-access=subscription }}</ref> {{As of|2021}}, HSDD continues to be used to describe transgender women.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cocchetti |first1=Carlotta |last2=Ristori |first2=Jiska |last3=Mazzoli |first3=Francesca |last4=Vignozzi |first4=Linda |last5=Maggi |first5=Mario |last6=Fisher |first6=Alessandra Daphne |date=November 2021 |title=Management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in transgender women: a guide for clinicians |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-021-00409-8 |journal=International Journal of Impotence Research |language=en |volume=33 |issue=7 |pages=703–709 |doi=10.1038/s41443-021-00409-8 |pmid=33558671 |s2cid=231850308 |issn=1476-5489 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719081450/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-021-00409-8 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Ruspini">{{cite book|author=Elisabetta Ruspini|author2=Megan Milks|title=Diversity in family life|isbn=978-1447300939|publisher=[[Policy Press]]|year=2013|pages=35–36|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AjMbAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA35|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726100946/https://books.google.com/books?id=AjMbAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA35|url-status=live}}</ref> 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. In the results, 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% of 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. For various reasons, Nurius did not believe that firm conclusions could be drawn from this.<ref name="Ruspini"/><ref name="Nurius">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1080/00224498309551174 | last1 = Nurius | first1 = Paula | year = 1983| title = Mental Health Implications of Sexual Orientation | journal = The Journal of Sex Research | volume = 19 | issue = 2| pages = 119–136 }}</ref>

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 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.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal | last1 = Yule | first1 = Morag A. | last2 = Brotto | first2 = Lori A. | last3 = Gorzalka | first3 = Boris B. | s2cid = 147120909 | year = 2013 | title = Mental Health and Interpersonal Functioning in Self-Identified Asexual Men and Women | journal = Psychology & Sexuality | volume = 4 | issue = 2| pages = 136–151 | doi = 10.1080/19419899.2013.774162 }}</ref>

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 sexual orientation or sexuality.<ref name="Bogaert 2015"/> 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 to please a romantic partner.<ref name="Bogaert 2015"/><ref name="Bridgeman"/><ref name="More to life"/> Within the context of sexual orientation identity politics, asexuality may pragmatically fulfill the political function of a sexual orientation identity category.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

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.<ref name="Sex and society"/> Scholars who argue that asexuality is a sexual orientation may point to the existence of different sexual preferences.<ref name="Bogaert 2015"/><ref name="Halter"/><ref name="More to life"/> They and many asexual people believe that the lack of sexual attraction is valid enough to be categorized as a sexual orientation.<ref name="Decker">{{cite book|last1=Decker|first1=Julie Sondra|title=The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality|date=2015|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|location=New York City, New York|isbn=978-1-5107-0064-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQYQCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT162|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726100704/https://books.google.com/books?id=PQYQCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT162|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="More to life"/><ref name="Koukounas">{{cite journal | last1= Over | first1= Ray | last2= Koukounas | first2= Eric | year= 1995 | title= Habituation of Sexual Arousal: Product and Process | journal= Annual Review of Sex Research | volume= 6 | issue= 1 | pages= 187–223 | doi= 10.1016/S0301-0511(01)00096-5 | pmid= 11473795 | s2cid= 35865728 | url= http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10532528.1995.10559905 | access-date= January 20, 2013 | archive-date= September 23, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043739/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10532528.1995.10559905 | url-status= live | url-access= subscription }}<br />Cited from: {{cite book |last= Kelly |first= Gary F. |title=Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective |edition= 7th |year=2004 |publisher=[[McGraw-Hill]] |isbn=978-0-07-255835-7 |page=401}}</ref> There is also analysis on whether identifying as asexual is becoming more popular.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Meyer|first=Doug|s2cid=151482192|title=The Disregarding of Heteronormativity: Emphasizing a Happy Queer Adulthood and Localizing Anti-Queer Violence to Adolescent Schools|journal=Sexuality Research & Social Policy|volume=14|issue=3|pages=331–344|doi=10.1007/s13178-016-0272-7|year=2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite journal | pmid = 19955753 | doi=10.1159/000262525 | volume=17 | title=Sexual hormones and the brain: an essential alliance for sexual identity and sexual orientation | year=2010 | pages=22–35 | last1 = Garcia-Falgueras | first1 = A | last2 = Swaab | first2 = DF| journal=Endocrine Development | isbn=978-3-8055-9302-1 }}</ref> 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".<ref name="Prause"/>

One criterion usually taken to define a sexual orientation is that it is stable over time. In a 2016 analysis in the ''[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]]'', Brotto et al. found "only weak support" for this criterion being met among asexual individuals.<ref name="Brotto-2016">{{cite journal|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|year=2016|title=Asexuality: Sexual Orientation, Paraphilia, Sexual Dysfunction, or None of the Above?|last1=Brotto|first1=L. A.|last2=Yule|first2=M.|volume=46|issue=3|pages=619–627|doi=10.1007/s10508-016-0802-7|pmid=27542079|s2cid=207092428}}</ref> An analysis of data from the [[National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health]] by Stephen Cranney found that, of 14{{efn|This denominator is mistakenly given as 25 in the abstract of Cranney's initial study. The number of individuals who reported no sexual attraction in wave III was 14, according to Table 2, the first paragraph of the section "Multivariate Analysis", and the following quote from Cranney's subsequent commentary: "Specifically, of the 14 people who indicated 'no sexual attraction' in Wave III, only three went on to do so in Wave IV (Table 2)."<ref name="Cranney-2"/>}} individuals who reported no sexual attraction in the study's third wave (when subjects ranged in age from 18 to 26), only 3 continued to identify in this way at the fourth wave, six years later.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Temporal Stability of Lack of Sexual Attraction across Young Adulthood|last=Cranney|first=Stephen|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|year=2016|volume=45|issue=3|pages=743–749|doi=10.1007/s10508-015-0583-4|pmid=26228992|pmc=5443108}}</ref> However, Cranney notes that asexual identification in the third wave was still significant as a predictor of asexual identification in the subsequent wave. In a subsequent commentary, Cranney stated that the interpretation of this data was complicated by the absence of any "set quantitative standard for how long a sexual desire must last before it is considered stable or intrinsic enough to be considered an orientation".<ref name="Cranney-2">{{cite journal|last=Cranney|first=Stephen|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|year=2016|title=Does Asexuality Meet the Stability Criterion for a Sexual Orientation?|volume=46|issue=3|pages=637–638|doi=10.1007/s10508-016-0887-z|pmid=27815642|s2cid=40119928}}</ref>

=== 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 ([[#Definition, identity and relationships|see above]]).<ref name="Prause"/><ref name="Cerankowski and Milks"/><ref name="New Scientist"/> Fischer et al. reported that "scholars who study the physiology of 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".<ref name="Fischer"/>

The [[Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction|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".<ref name="Prause" />

A 1977 paper titled ''Asexual and Autoerotic Women: Two Invisible Groups'', by Myra T. Johnson, is explicitly devoted to asexuality in humans.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks 3">{{cite book|author=Karli June Cerankowski|author2=Megan Milks|title=Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives|isbn=978-1-134-69253-8|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2014|page=244|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT244|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726124753/https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT244|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 [[Autoeroticism|autoerotic]] women with asexual women: "The asexual woman&nbsp;... has no sexual desires at all [but] the autoerotic woman&nbsp;... 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.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks 3"/><ref>"Asexual and Autoerotic Women: Two Invisible Groups" found in ed. Gochros, H.&nbsp;L.; J.&nbsp;S. Gochros (1977). ''The Sexually Oppressed''. Associated Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8096-1915-3}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks 4">{{cite book|author=Karli June Cerankowski|author2=Megan Milks|title=Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives|isbn=978-1-134-69253-8|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2014|page=113|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT113|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726100210/https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT113|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name = Storms1980>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.38.5.783 | last1 = Storms | first1 = Michael D. | year = 1980 | title = Theories of Sexual Orientation | journal = [[Journal of Personality and Social Psychology]] | volume = 38 | issue = 5 | pages = 783–792 | url = http://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/Theories_of_sexual_orientation.pdf | access-date = February 2, 2013 | archive-date = September 23, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043737/http://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/Theories_of_sexual_orientation.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name = Storms1979>Storms, M.&nbsp;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</ref>

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. In the study, 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.<ref name="Ruspini"/><ref name="Nurius"/>

=== 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.<ref name="Hultquist">{{cite book|author1=Aleksondra Hultquist|author2=Elizabeth J. Mathews|title=New Perspectives on Delarivier Manley and Eighteenth Century Literature: Power, Sex, and Text|isbn=978-1317196921|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2016|page=123|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDGTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT123|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043758/https://books.google.com/books?id=lDGTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT123|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks 5">{{cite book|author=Karli June Cerankowski|author2=Megan Milks|title=Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives|isbn=978-1-134-69253-8|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2014|pages=1–410|access-date=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726101807/https://books.google.com/books?id=XbgTAwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Myers|first=David G.|title=Psychology|year=2010|publisher=Worth Publishers|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4292-1597-8|page=474|edition=9th}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Cerankowski and Milks 5"/> 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 becoming common in asexual scholarly literature. Her article about the Cerankowski and Milks anthology focuses on accounts of 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.<ref name=":1">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.</ref> All three interviewees addressed being affected by the stereotype that men have to enjoy and want sex in order to be "real men".<ref name=":1" />

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".<ref name=":2">{{cite thesis |last=Przybylo |first=Ela |year=2011 |title=Asexuality and the Feminist Politics of 'Not Doing It' |degree=MA |location=Edmonton, Alberta |publisher=University of Alberta |doi=10.7939/R3RB04 |doi-access=free}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Przybylo | first1 = Ela | s2cid = 144394132 | year = 2013 | title = Producing Facts: Empirical Asexuality and the Scientific Study of Sex | journal = Feminism & Psychology | volume = 23 | issue = 2| pages = 224–242 | doi = 10.1177/0959353512443668 }}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Przybylo|first=Ela|title=Asexual erotics : intimate readings of compulsory sexuality|publisher=[[Ohio State University]]|year=2019|isbn=978-0-8142-1404-6|location=Columbus|pages=1–32|oclc=1096288008}}</ref>

CJ DeLuzio Chasin states in ''Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential'' that academic research on asexuality "has positioned asexuality in line with [[Essentialism|essentialist]] discourses of sexual orientation" which is troublesome as it creates a [[Binary opposition|binary]] between asexuals and persons who have been subjected to psychiatric intervention for disorders such as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.<ref name="Reconsidering Asexuality" /> 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.<ref name="Reconsidering Asexuality" /> 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.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

=== Intersections with race and disability ===
Scholar Ianna Hawkins Owen writes, "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".<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Hawkins Owen|first=Ianna|chapter=On the racialization of asexuality|title=Asexualities: feminist and queer perspectives|editor=Cerankowski, Karli June|editor2= Milks, Megan|year=2014|isbn=978-0-415-71442-6|location=New York|publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group|oclc=863044056}}</ref> This is partly due to the simultaneous [[sexualization]] and de-sexualization of black women in the [[Mammy archetype in the United States|Mammy archetype]], as well as by how society de-sexualizes certain racial minorities, as part of a bid to claim superiority by Whites.<ref name=":6" /> This is co-existent with the sexualization of black female bodies in the [[Jezebel]] archetype, both utilized to justify slavery and enable further control.<ref name=":6" /> Owen also criticizes the "...investment in constructing asexuality upon a white racial rubric (who else can claim access to being just like everyone else?)".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owen|first=Ianna Hawkins|s2cid=149999756|date=November 2018|title=Still, nothing: Mammy and black asexual possibility|journal=Feminist Review|language=en|volume=120|issue=1|pages=70–84|doi=10.1057/s41305-018-0140-9|issn=0141-7789|doi-access=free}}</ref> Ben Brandley and Angela Labrador argue that asexual identity may be more accessible to white people than people of color because of how people of color are [[sexualized]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last1=Brandley |first1=ben |last2=Labador |first2=Angela |date=2022-11-22 |title=Towards an asexual-affirming communication pedagogy |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03634523.2022.2151638 |journal=Communication Education |language=en |volume=72 |issue=4 |pages=335 |doi=10.1080/03634523.2022.2151638 |s2cid=254354072 |issn=0363-4523 |quote=...when we presume that aceness is a feature of whiteness, by and for white folks, it creates a “cyclical perception” that can influence white aces “to feel more accepted in ace spaces in comparison with people of color” which concomitantly excludes and invisibilizes ace people of color (Paramo, 2017, para. 3). |url-access=subscription |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |access-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818202558/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03634523.2022.2151638 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Michael Paramo]] argues in an article for [[Aze (magazine)|''Aze'']] that this can create a "cyclical perception" that the asexual community is dominated by white people which can make people of color continue to feel excluded from it.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paramo |first=Michael |date=2017-10-25 |title=Interrogating the Whiteness of the Asexual Community |url=https://azejournal.com/article/2017/10/25/interrogating-the-whiteness-of-the-asexual-community |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=AZE |language=en-US}}</ref>

Karen Cuthbert comments on "providing the first empirically grounded discussion of this intersection of asexuality and disability (and to a lesser extent gender and 'race')".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cuthbert |first=Karen |date=2017 |title=You Have to be Normal to be Abnormal: An Empirically Grounded Exploration of the Intersection of Asexuality and Disability |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038038515587639 |url-status=live |journal=Sociology |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=241–257 |doi=10.1177/0038038515587639 |issn=0038-0385 |s2cid=141976966 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307225006/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038038515587639 |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=March 7, 2022 |via=SAGE Publications}}</ref> Eunjung Kim comments on the intersections between disability or [[crip theory]] and asexuality, saying disabled people are more frequently de-sexualized.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kim|first=Eunjung|chapter=Asexualities and disabilities in constructing sexual normalcy|title=Asexualities: feminist and queer perspectives|editor=Cerankowski, Karli June|editor2= Milks, Megan|year=2014|isbn=978-0-415-71442-6|location=New York|publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group|oclc=863044056}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Eunjung |date=2011 |title=Asexuality in disability narratives |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1363460711406463 |journal=Sexualities |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=479–493 |doi=10.1177/1363460711406463 |s2cid=55747579 |via=Sage Journals |access-date=March 7, 2022 |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307220258/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1363460711406463 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Disabled people who are also asexual have stated that they can feel invisible because of this since they must navigate these assumptions both within the asexual and disabled communities and outside of them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paramo |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzLPEAAAQBAJ |title=Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism and Agender Identity |date=2024-02-08 |publisher=Unbound Publishing |isbn=978-1-80018-286-8 |pages=30–31 |language=en}}</ref> Anna Kurowicka notes that asexual people may sometimes reject the notion that their asexuality is related to disability in an effort to avoid unwanted medical intervention. At the same time, disabled people may reject the assumption that they are inherently asexual.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last=Kurowicka |first=Anna |date=2023-05-04 |title=Contested intersections: Asexuality and disability, illness, or trauma |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13634607231170781 |journal=Sexualities |volume=28 |issue=1–2 |language=en |pages=180–201 |doi=10.1177/13634607231170781 |s2cid=258524276 |issn=1363-4607 |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |access-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818202559/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13634607231170781 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kurowicka argues that contemporary discourses should trouble the desire to separate asexuality and disability that is rooted in [[Compulsory heterosexuality|compulsory sexuality]].<ref name=":9" />

=== Bogaert's psychological work and theories ===
Bogaert argues that understanding asexuality is of key importance to understanding sexuality in general.<ref name="bogaert2015">{{cite journal | last1 = Bogaert |first1=A. F. |s2cid=23720993 | year = 2015 | title = Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters | journal = Journal of Sex Research | volume = 52 | issue = 4 | pages = 362–379 | doi = 10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713|pmid=25897566 }}</ref> 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".<ref name="bogaert2015" /> 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".<ref name="bogaert2015" />

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 "[[autosexual|automonosexualism]]").<ref name="bogaert2015" />

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.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal | last1 = Bogaert | first1 = Anthony F | s2cid = 143968129 | year = 2006 | title = Toward a Conceptual Understanding of Asexuality | journal = Review of General Psychology | volume = 10 | issue = 3| pages = 241–250 | doi = 10.1037/1089-2680.10.3.241}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":4" />

== Community ==
[[File:WorldPride 2017 - Madrid - Manifestación - 170701 210528.jpg|thumb|A group of people holding an asexual pride banner, Manifestación WorldPride 2017, [[Madrid]]]]
The history of the asexual community is presently undocumented in academic work.<ref name="Anthology">{{cite book |last1=Carrigan |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEGDCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT77 |title=Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology |last2=Gupta |first2=Kristina |last3=Morrison |first3=Todd G. |publisher=Routledge |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-415-73132-4 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726115843/https://books.google.com/books?id=sEGDCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT77 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although several [[website]]s for those who fall under the modern definition of asexuality existed online in the 1990s,<ref name="Sigusch">[[Volkmar Sigusch]]. "Sexualitäten: Eine kritische Theorie in 99 Fragmenten". 2013. {{Interlanguage link|Campus Verlag|de|Campus Verlag}}.</ref> scholars believe that it was not until the early 21st century when a community of self-identified asexuals began to form, aided by the popularity of [[Online community|online communities]].<ref name="Goldberg">{{cite book |author=Abbie E. Goldberg |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=736zDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA92 |title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1483371290 |page=92 |quote=[...] The sociological literature has stressed the novelty of asexuality as a distinctive form of social identification that emerged in the early 21st century. |access-date=October 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726100530/https://books.google.com/books?id=736zDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA92 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Several small communities existed online, such as the "Leather Spinsters", "Nonolibidoism Society", and "Haven for the Human Amoeba", documented by [[Volkmar Sigusch]].<ref name="Sigusch" /> In 2001, activist [[David Jay]] founded the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), whose stated goals are "creating public acceptance and discussion of asexuality and facilitating the growth of an asexual community".<ref name="Sex and society" /><ref name="Swash" />

Some asexuals believe that participation in an asexual community is an important resource, as they often report feeling ostracized in broader society.<ref name="Padraig" /> Communities such as AVEN can be beneficial to those in search of answers when [[Questioning (sexuality and gender)|questioning their sexual orientation]], such as providing support if one feels their lack of sexual attraction constitutes a disease. Online asexual communities can also serve to inform others about asexuality.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carrigan |first1=Mark |year=2011 |title=There's more to life than sex? Differences and commonality within the asexual community |journal=Sexualities |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=462–478 |doi=10.1177/1363460711406462 |s2cid=146445274}}</ref> However, affiliating with online communities among asexual people vary. Some question the purpose of online communities, while others heavily depend on them for support. According to [[Elizabeth Abbott]], asexuality has always been present in society, though asexual people kept a lower profile. She further stated that while the failure to consummate marriage was seen as an insult to the sacrament of marriage in medieval times, and has been sometimes used as grounds to terminate a marriage, though asexuality has never been illegal, [[Legality of homosexuality|unlike homosexuality]]. However, the recent growth of online communication and [[social network]]ing as facilitated the growth of a community built upon a common asexual identity.<ref name="Duenwald">{{Cite news |last=Duenwald |first=Mary |date=July 9, 2005 |title=For Them, Just Saying No Is Easy |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/fashion/thursdaystyles/09asexual.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020060013/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/fashion/thursdaystyles/09asexual.html |archive-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref>

=== Symbols ===
{{Main|LGBT symbols#Asexual and aromantic symbols}}

[[File:Asexual Pride Flag.svg|thumb|The asexual pride flag features four horizontal stripes: black, gray, white, and purple, from top to bottom]]
[[File:Asexual ring.jpg|thumb|A black ring may be worn on one's right middle finger to indicate asexuality.]]{{anchor|Flag}} <!-- This is a redirect target; see [[Asexual flag]]. -->
In 2009, AVEN members participated in the first asexual entry into an American [[pride parade]] at the [[San Francisco Pride|San Francisco Pride Parade]].<ref name="Rufus">{{cite magazine |last=Anneli |first=Rufus |date=June 22, 2009 |title=Stuck. Asexuals at the Pride Parade. |url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stuck/200906/asexuals-the-pride-parade |url-status=live |magazine=[[Psychology Today]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309223639/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stuck/200906/asexuals-the-pride-parade |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> In 2010, after a period of debate surrounding the existence of a [[pride flag]] to represent asexuality, as well as a system to create one, the asexual pride flag was formally announced. The final design was a popular design, and received the most votes in an online [[open-access poll]].<ref name=":7">{{cite web |date=9 January 2012 |title=Asexuality – Redefining Love and Sexuality |url=http://recultured.com/uncategorized/09/asexuality-redefining-love-and-sexuality/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617124513/http://recultured.com/uncategorized/09/asexuality-redefining-love-and-sexuality/ |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |access-date=7 August 2012 |publisher=recultured}}</ref> The flag's colors—four horizontal stripes of black, gray, white, and purple from top to bottom—represent asexuality, gray-asexuality, allosexuality, and community, respectively.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bilić |first1=Bojan |title=Intersectionality and LGBT Activist Politics: Multiple Others in Croatia and Serbia |last2=Kajinić |first2=Sanja |date=2016 |publisher=Springer |pages=95–96}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Julie |title=The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality |publisher=Skyhorse}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asexual |url=http://www.lgbt.ucla.edu/Campus-Resources/Asexual |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904115908/http://www.lgbt.ucla.edu/Campus-Resources/Asexual |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |access-date=June 25, 2018 |publisher=UCLA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource center}}</ref> They have also since been used as a representation of asexuality as a whole.<ref name=":7" /> Some members of the asexual community additionally opt to wear a black ring on their right [[middle finger]], colloquially known as an "ace ring", as a form of identification.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chasin |first1=CJ DeLuzio |year=2013 |title=Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential |journal=Feminist Studies |volume=39 |issue=2 |pages=405–426 |doi=10.1353/fem.2013.0054 |s2cid=147025548}}</ref> 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.<ref name="AceSuits" />

=== Events ===
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.<ref name="Tarrant2015">{{cite book |author=Shira Tarrant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t6nwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT278 |title=Gender, Sex, and Politics: In the Streets and Between the Sheets in the 21st Century |date=June 19, 2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-317-81475-7 |pages=278– |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213211944/https://books.google.com/books?id=t6nwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT278 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The second such event, which was attended by around 250 people, was the largest gathering of asexuals to date.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 23, 2014 |title=World Pride Toronto: Asexuals march in biggest numbers yet |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/23/world_pride_toronto_asexuals_march_in_biggest_numbers_yet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118012441/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/23/world_pride_toronto_asexuals_march_in_biggest_numbers_yet.html |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |access-date=6 October 2014 |work=Toronto Star}}</ref> The conference included presentations, discussions, and workshops on topics such as research on asexuality, asexual relationships, and intersecting identities.

{{Visible anchor|Ace Week}} (formerly Asexual Awareness Week) occurs on the last full week in October. It is an [[List of LGBTQ awareness periods|awareness period]] that was created to celebrate and bring awareness to asexuality (including grey asexuality).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/meet-india-s-newest-sexual-minority-the-asexuals/story-pNyerWTWrBnJHFqpkPwrIP.html|title=Meet India's newest sexual minority: The asexuals|last=Kumar|first=Shikha|date=2017-03-18|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=2017-09-08|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629050058/https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/meet-india-s-newest-sexual-minority-the-asexuals/story-pNyerWTWrBnJHFqpkPwrIP.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="aaw">{{cite web|url=http://asexualawarenessweek.com/about.html|title=AAW – About Us|website=asexualawarenessweek.com|access-date=2016-01-03|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107024024/http://www.asexualawarenessweek.com/about.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was founded by Sara Beth Brooks in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/robyn-exton/aces-show-their-hand-what_b_12915544.html|title=Aces Show Their Hand – What Is Asexuality And Why You Should Know About It|last=Exton|first=Robyn|date=2016-11-14|website=HuffPost|access-date=2017-09-08|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022453/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/robyn-exton/aces-show-their-hand-what_b_12915544.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asexualawarenessweek.com/prerelease/About.html|title=About [prerelease]|website=asexualawarenessweek.com|access-date=2017-09-04|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904104951/http://www.asexualawarenessweek.com/prerelease/About.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Vanchor|International Asexuality Day}} (IAD) is an annual celebration of the asexuality community that takes place on 6 April.<ref name = "IAD official website">{{cite web |title=International Asexuality Day |url=https://internationalasexualityday.org/en/ |website=International Asexuality Day (IAD) |language=en |access-date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407060241/https://internationalasexualityday.org/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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".<ref name = "IAD faq">{{cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://internationalasexualityday.org/en/faq/ |website=International Asexuality Day (IAD) |language=en |access-date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307034815/https://internationalasexualityday.org/en/faq/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An international committee spent a little under a year preparing the event, as well as publishing a website and press materials.<ref>{{cite web |title=Redefining Perceptions Of Asexuality With Yasmin Benoit |url=https://noctismag.com/art-culture/redefining-perceptions-of-asexuality-with-yasmin-benoit/ |website=noctismag.com |language=en |access-date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406181514/https://noctismag.com/art-culture/redefining-perceptions-of-asexuality-with-yasmin-benoit/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name = "IAD faq"/><ref name = "Newsweek" >{{cite web|last=Flood|first=Rebecca|title=Asexual Meaning as First International Asexuality Day Celebrated Around the World|url=https://www.newsweek.com/international-asexuality-day-first-celebrated-world-1581256|date=April 6, 2021|website=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406142109/https://www.newsweek.com/international-asexuality-day-first-celebrated-world-1581256|archive-date=April 6, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The first International Asexuality Day was celebrated in 2021 and involved asexuality organizations from at least 26 countries.<ref name="IAD official website" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Waters|first=Jamie|title='I don't want sex with anyone': the growing asexuality movement|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/21/i-dont-want-sex-with-anyone-the-growing-asexuality-movement|date=March 21, 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401020931/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/21/i-dont-want-sex-with-anyone-the-growing-asexuality-movement|archive-date=April 1, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=O'Dell|first=Liam|title=What is International Asexuality Day?|url=https://www.indy100.com/news/international-asexuality-day-lgbtq-aven-b1827276|date=April 6, 2021|website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406115115/https://www.indy100.com/news/international-asexuality-day-lgbtq-aven-b1827276|archive-date=April 6, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Activities included virtual meetups, advocacy programs both online and offline, and the sharing of stories in various art-forms.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Nepal's growing queer movement, here's how asexuals are trying to amplify their voice|url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2021/04/07/in-nepal-s-growing-queer-movement-here-s-how-asexuals-are-trying-to-amplify-their-voice|access-date=2021-04-07|website=kathmandupost.com|language=English|archive-date=April 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409151345/https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2021/04/07/in-nepal-s-growing-queer-movement-here-s-how-asexuals-are-trying-to-amplify-their-voice|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Arts and literature ===
[[File:Darcie Little Badger 2024 Texas Book Festival.jpg|thumb|[[Darcie Little Badger]] is asexual and has written various short stories and books that explore asexual experiences.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brigid |first=Kathleen |date=Spring 2022 |title=Asexuality, Indigeneity, and Monstrous Isolation in the Works of Darcie Little Badger |url=https://feralfeminisms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/07-FF-ISSUE10.2-Brigid.pdf |journal=Feral Feminisms |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=28–30}}</ref>]]

==== Fiction ====
For a series of fictional characters in books and comics who are asexual, see [[List of fictional asexual characters|fictional asexual characters]]. Several works of fiction that have asexual themes have been published:
* [[Akemi Dawn Bowman]]'s ''Summer Bird Blue'' (2018)<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Brittain |first=Rachel |date=2022-10-24 |title=Must-Read Asexual Books for Ace Week |url=https://bookriot.com/must-read-asexual-books/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=BOOK RIOT |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Alice Oseman]]'s ''[[Loveless (novel)|Loveless]]'' (2020)<ref name=":12" />
* [[Chuck Tingle]]'s ''Absolutely No Thoughts Of Pounding...'' (2021)<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-05 |title=Feral Feminisms focuses special issue on aro/ace authors, scholars, creators |url=https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2022/06/feral-feminism-focuses-special-issue-on-aro-ace-authors-scholars-creators/ |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=News |language=en-US |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827203306/https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2022/06/feral-feminism-focuses-special-issue-on-aro-ace-authors-scholars-creators/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=feral feminisms » Issue 10.2: Ace and Aro Reviews Issue |url=https://feralfeminisms.com/issue1/issue-10-2-ace-and-aro-reviews-issue/ |access-date=2023-08-27}}</ref>
* Claire Kann's ''Let's Talk About Love'' (2018)<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
* [[Cressida Cowell]]'s ''How To Train Your Dragon'' series (2003–2015)<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
* [[Darcie Little Badger]]'s short stories and ''[[Elatsoe]]'' (2020)<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
* Khan Wong's ''The Circus Infinite'' (2022)<ref name=":12" />
* [[Mackenzi Lee]]'s ''The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy'' (2018)<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
* Naseem Jamnia's ''[[The Bruising of Qilwa]]<ref name=":12" />''
* [[Sayaka Murata]]'s ''[[Convenience Store Woman]]'' (2018)<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
* [[Seanan McGuire]]'s ''[[Every Heart a Doorway]]'' (2016)<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />

==== Non-fiction ====
[[File:MichaelParamo.png|thumb|[[Michael Paramo]] is the editor of ''[[Aze (magazine)|Aze]]'' magazine, and author of ''Ending the Pursuit'' (2024).]]

A series of non-fiction articles and books covering asexuality have been published:
* Issues of [[Aze (magazine)|''Aze'' magazine]]<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
* ''Asexual Erotics: Intimate Readings of Compulsory Sexuality'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Przybylo |first=Ela |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5-GNwwEACAAJ&q=Ace+and+Aro+Journeys:+A+Guide+to+Embracing+Your+Asexual+or+Aromantic+Identity |title=Asexual Erotics: Intimate Readings of Compulsory Sexuality |date=2019 |publisher=Ohio State University Press |isbn=978-0-8142-5542-1 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chen |first=Angela |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zK9KEAAAQBAJ&q=asexual |title=Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex |date=2020-09-15|publisher=Beacon Press |isbn=978-0-8070-1473-8 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''How to Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual'' (2021)<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Costello |first1=Sarah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hcOFEAAAQBAJ&q=sounds+fake+but+okay |title=Sounds Fake But Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else |last2=Kaszyca |first2=Kayla |date=2023-02-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-002-3 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Ace Voices: What it Means to Be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-Ace'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Young |first=Eris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzCXEAAAQBAJ&q=Ace+and+Aro+Journeys:+A+Guide+to+Embracing+Your+Asexual+or+Aromantic+Identity |title=Ace Voices: What it Means to Be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-Ace |date=2022-12-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-78775-699-1 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Refusing Compulsory Sexuality'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Sherronda J. |title=Refusing Compulsory Sexuality |date=September 13, 2022 |publisher=North Atlantic Books |isbn=9781623177102}}</ref>
* ''Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Project |first=The Ace and Aro Advocacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BQ-ZEAAAQBAJ&q=Ace+and+Aro+Journeys%3A+A+Guide+to+Embracing+Your+Asexual+or+Aromantic+Identity |title=Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity |date=2023-04-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-639-1 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sounds Fake but Okay (Book)|''Sounds Fake But Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else'']] (2023)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Costello |first1=Sarah |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/1342623375 |title=Sounds Fake But Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else |last2=Kaszyca |first2=Kayla |date=21 February 2023 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1839970016 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219095332/https://www.worldcat.org/title/1342623375 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism, and Agender Identity'' (2024)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paramo |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzLPEAAAQBAJ |title=Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism and Agender Identity |date=2024-02-08 |publisher=Unbound Publishing |isbn=978-1-80018-286-8 |language=en}}</ref>

== Religion ==
A study of the general British population found no significant statistical correlation between asexuality and affiliation with any [[religion]] (versus affiliation with no religion).<ref name="Aicken">{{cite book |last1=Aicken |first1=Catherine R. H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEGDCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT22 |title=Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology |last2=Mercer |first2=Catherine H. |last3=Cassell |first3=Jackie A. |date=2015-09-07 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-73132-4 |editor1-last=Carrigan |editor1-first=Mark |location=New York City, New York and London, England |pages=22–27 |doi=10.1080/19419899.2013.774161 |article=Who reports absence of sexual attraction in Britain? Evidence from national probability surveys |access-date=January 10, 2018 |editor2-last=Gupta |editor2-first=Kristina |editor3-last=Morrison |editor3-first=Todd G. |chapter-url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19419899.2013.774161 |chapter-format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726094223/https://books.google.com/books?id=sEGDCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT22 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Among religious female respondents, the same study found significant differences between religious affiliations; specifically, [[Muslim]] women were more likely to report not experiencing any sexual attraction than [[Christian]] women.<ref name="Aicken" /> Asexuality is also more common among [[Clerical celibacy|celibate clergy]], as non-asexuals are more likely to be discouraged by [[vows of chastity]].<ref name="Bogaert" />

=== Christianity ===

While the [[Bible]] does not directly mention asexuality, Christianity reveres celibacy. In {{Bibleverse||Matthew|19:11-12|9}}, [[Jesus]] says that "there are [[eunuch]]s 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 for the sake of the [[Kingdom of Heaven (Gospel of Matthew)|kingdom of heaven]]".<ref name="Kaoma">{{cite book|last=Kaoma|first=Kapya|date=2018|title=Christianity, Globalization, and Protective Homophobia: Democratic Contestation of Sexuality in Sub-Saharan Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSU_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA160|location=Boston, Massachusetts|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-3-319-66341-8|pages=159–160|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043738/https://books.google.com/books?id=xSU_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA160|url-status=live}}</ref> Some [[biblical hermeneutics|biblical exegetes]] have interpreted "eunuchs who were born that way" as including asexuals.<ref name="Kaoma" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cole|first1=William Graham|title=Sex in Christianity and Psychoanalysis|date=2015|orig-date=1955|series=Routledge Library Editions: Psychoanalysis|publisher=Routledge|location=New York City, New York and London, England|isbn=978-1138951792|page=177|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZaLhCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA177|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043751/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZaLhCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA177|url-status=live}}</ref> The apostle [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]], writing as a celibate, has been described by some writers as asexual.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Zuckerman|first1=Phil|title=An Invitation to Sociology of Religion|date=2003|publisher=Routledge|location=New York City, New York and London, England|isbn=978-0-415-94125-9|page=111|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml6TAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA111|access-date=January 11, 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923043738/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml6TAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA111|url-status=live}}</ref> He wrote in {{Bibleverse||1 Corinthians|7:6-9|9}},{{blockquote|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.}}

== Discrimination and legal protections ==
{{Main|Discrimination against asexual people}}

[[File:WorldPride 2012 - 175.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|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 minority|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.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Intergroup bias toward 'Group X': Evidence of prejudice, dehumanization, avoidance, and discrimination against asexuals |first1=Cara C. |last1=MacInnis |first2=Gordon |last2=Hodson |s2cid=3056711 |journal=Group Processes & Intergroup Relations |doi=10.1177/1368430212442419 |volume=15 |number=6 |pages=725–743 |year=2012}}</ref> A different study, however, found little evidence of serious discrimination against asexuals because of their asexuality.<ref>Gazzola, Stephanie B, and Melanie A. Morrison. "Asexuality: An emergent sexual orientation". ''Sexual Minority Research in the New Millennium''.</ref> Asexual activist, author, and blogger [[Julie Sondra Decker|Julie Decker]] has observed that sexual harassment and violence, such as [[corrective rape]], commonly victimizes the asexual community.<ref name="huff"/> Sociologist Mark Carrigan sees a middle ground, arguing that while asexuals do often experience discrimination, it is not of a [[homophobia|phobic]] nature but "more about marginalization because people genuinely don't understand asexuality".<ref>{{Cite news|title=What is it like to be asexual?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16552173|newspaper=BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=January 17, 2012|last=Wallis|first=Lucy|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106105618/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16552173|url-status=live}}</ref>

Asexuals also face prejudice from the LGBT community.<ref name="Decker"/><ref name="huff">{{Cite news|title=Battling Asexual Discrimination, Sexual Violence, and Corrective Rape|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/asexual-discrimination_n_3380551.html|newspaper=[[HuffPost]]|date=June 20, 2013|last=Mosbergen|first=Dominique|access-date=August 2, 2013|archive-date=August 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818012540/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/asexual-discrimination_n_3380551.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Many LGBT people assume that anyone who is not homosexual or bisexual must be straight<ref name="Decker"/> and frequently exclude asexuals from their definitions of ''queer''.<ref name="Decker"/> Although many well-known organizations devoted to aiding LGBTQ communities exist,<ref name="Decker"/> these organizations generally do not reach out to asexuals<ref name="Decker"/> and do not provide library materials about asexuality.<ref name="Decker"/> 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.<ref name="huff"/> Other LGBT organizations, such as the [[National LGBTQ Task Force]] explicitly include asexuals because they are non-heterosexual and can therefore be included in the definition of [[queer]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thetaskforceblog.org/2013/04/30/the-a-is-here-to-stay/ | title=The a is Here to Stay | date=April 30, 2013 | access-date=April 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310174238/https://thetaskforceblog.org/2013/04/30/the-a-is-here-to-stay/ | archive-date=March 10, 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Some organizations now add an A to the LGBTQ acronym to include asexuals; however, this is still a controversial topic in some queer organizations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/21/lgbt-asexual_n_3385530.html |title=LGBT, Asexual Communities Clash over Ace Inclusion |newspaper=HuffPost |date=June 21, 2013 |last1=Mosbergen |first1=Dominique |access-date=April 4, 2018 |archive-date=March 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305162424/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/21/lgbt-asexual_n_3385530.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In some jurisdictions, asexuals have legal protections. Since 1999, Brazil has banned pathologization or [[Conversion therapy|attempted treatment of sexual orientation]] by mental health professionals through the national ethical code,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.diariodepernambuco.com.br/lgbtudo/2013/07/psiquiatra-jairo-bouer-fala-dos-efeitos-colaterais-da-cura-gay/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115041606/http://blogs.diariodepernambuco.com.br/lgbtudo/2013/07/psiquiatra-jairo-bouer-fala-dos-efeitos-colaterais-da-cura-gay/|url-status=dead|title=Psychiatrist Jairo Bouer talks about the "collateral effects" of "gay cure" bill|archivedate=January 15, 2014}}</ref> and the U.S. state of New York has labeled asexuals as a [[protected class]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ag.ny.gov//bureaus/civil_rights/sonda_brochure.html|title=Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA)|website=www.ag.ny.gov|access-date=August 7, 2012|archive-date=March 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316120639/http://www.ag.ny.gov//bureaus/civil_rights/sonda_brochure.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Bogaert2004 />

== In media ==
{{main|Media portrayal of asexuality}}

[[File:Sherlock Holmes - The Man with the Twisted Lip.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] intentionally portrayed his character [[Sherlock Holmes]] as what would today be classified as asexual.<ref name="Bogaert"/>]]
[[Media portrayal of asexuality|Asexual representation in media]] is limited and rarely openly acknowledged or confirmed by creators or authors.<ref name="Kelemen">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.</ref> In works composed prior to the beginning of the twenty-first century, characters are generally automatically assumed to be sexual<ref name="JacksonScott"/> and the existence of a character's sexuality is usually never questioned.<ref name="JacksonScott">Jackson, Stevi, and Sue Scott. Theorizing Sexuality. Maidenhead: Open UP, 2010. Web. May 2, 2016.</ref> [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] portrayed his character [[Sherlock Holmes]] as what would today be classified as asexual,<ref name="Bogaert">{{cite book|last1=Bogaert|first1=Anthony|title=Understanding Asexuality|date=2012|publisher=Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-1-4422-0099-9|pages=36–39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3P2pVq9XlGsC&pg=PA39|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726093617/https://books.google.com/books?id=3P2pVq9XlGsC&pg=PA39|url-status=live}}</ref> with the intention to characterize him as solely driven by intellect and immune to the desires of the flesh.<ref name="Bogaert"/> The Archie Comics character [[Jughead Jones]] was likely intended by his creators as an asexual [[Foil (literature)|foil]] to [[Archie Andrews|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.<ref name="Bogaert"/><ref name="Vulture">{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/archie-jughead-asexual.html|title=Archie Comic Reveals Jughead Is Asexual|date=February 8, 2016|work=Vulture|access-date=December 14, 2017|archive-date=December 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207111405/http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/archie-jughead-asexual.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, he was confirmed to be asexual in the ''[[New Riverdale]]'' Jughead comics.<ref name="Vulture"/> The writers of the 2017 television show ''[[Riverdale (2017 TV series)|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nerdist.com/cole-sprouse-is-bummed-that-riverdales-jughead-isnt-asexual/|title=Cole Sprouse Is Bummed That RIVERDALE's Jughead Isn't Asexual |date=2017-01-27|work=Nerdist|access-date=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626111031/https://nerdist.com/cole-sprouse-is-bummed-that-riverdales-jughead-isnt-asexual/|archive-date=June 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> This decision sparked conversations about deliberate [[asexual erasure]] in the media and its consequences, especially on younger viewers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/riverdales-asexual-erasure-can-be-harmful|title='Riverdale's' Asexual Erasure Can Be More Harmful Than You Think|last=Revanche|first=Jonno|work=Teen Vogue|access-date=2018-09-09|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304102207/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/riverdales-asexual-erasure-can-be-harmful|url-status=live}}</ref>

Asexuality also sees mention in the writings of LGBTQI+ activist Jennie June / Ralph Werther, with the term "Anaphrodite" being the one used to denote it. In her 1922 book, June-Werther made the estimate that this term applied to about 0,5% of the male population, with them having a "horror of women" & minds devoid of "hero-worship" or attraction to masculinity. June-Werther made a few examples of Anaphrodites, four of the following being theorized by her to have been: Herbert Spencer, St. Paul, Immanuel Kanth, & Isaac Newton. June-Werther also made the assertion that Anaphrodites, due to their lack of desires for the joys of courtship, were "compensated by Providence in the way of extra allotment of intellectual enjoyment". June-Werther surmised that Anaphroditism was a result of either an illness in childhood or a congenital thing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Female-Impersonators/Part 1 - Wikisource, the free online library |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Female-Impersonators/Part_1 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=en.wikisource.org |language=en}}</ref>

Anthony Bogaert has classified [[Gilligan (Gilligan's Island)|Gilligan]], the eponymous character of the 1960s television series ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'', as asexual.<ref name="Bogaert"/> Bogaert suggests that 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.<ref name="Bogaert"/> Gilligan's asexual nature also allowed the producers to orchestrate intentionally comedic situations in which Gilligan spurns the advances of attractive females.<ref name="Bogaert"/> 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.<ref name="Bogaert"/> These unrealistic portrayals reflect a heterosexual male belief that all asexual women secretly desire men.<ref name="Bogaert"/>

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.<ref name="Kelemen"/> The [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Network]] series ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' represented an "asexual" couple in the episode "[[Better Half (House)|Better Half]]" (2012). However, this representation has been questioned by members of the asexual community, as the episode concluded 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,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/01/31/house_gets_asexuality_wrong/|title="House" gets asexuality wrong|last=Clark-Flory|first=Tracy|date=January 31, 2012|website=Salon|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921144000/http://www.salon.com/2012/01/31/house_gets_asexuality_wrong|url-status=live}}</ref> leading 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".<ref name=":5" /> Other [[List of fictional asexual characters|fictional asexual characters]] include [[SpongeBob SquarePants (character)|SpongeBob]] and his best friend [[Patrick Star|Patrick]] from ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-10-09 |title=Camp cartoon star 'is not gay' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2313221.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329055836/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2313221.stm |archive-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SpongeBob Asexual, Not Gay: Creator |url=https://people.com/celebrity/spongebob-asexual-not-gay-creator/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225031127/https://people.com/celebrity/spongebob-asexual-not-gay-creator/ |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |access-date=2019-11-25 |website=People}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SpongeBob is asexual, says creator |url=https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/20659-spongebob-is-asexual-says-creator/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726101018/https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/20659-spongebob-is-asexual-says-creator/ |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |access-date=2019-11-25 |website=Asexual Visibility and Education Network|date=December 23, 2006 }}</ref> and [[Todd Chavez]] from ''[[BoJack Horseman]]'', who is generally well-accepted by the asexual community as positive representation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kliegman |first=Julie |title=Todd's Asexuality on 'BoJack' Isn't a Perfect Depiction, But It's Made Me Feel Understood |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/todds-asexuality-on-bojack-horseman-isnt-a-perfect-depiction-but-its-made-me-feel-understood-12057178 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226202745/https://www.bustle.com/p/todds-asexuality-on-bojack-horseman-isnt-a-perfect-depiction-but-its-made-me-feel-understood-12057178 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |access-date=2019-04-30 |website=Bustle|date=September 26, 2018 }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|LGBTQ|Human sexuality}}
<!--NOTE: Per WP:SEE ALSO, only links that are not linked higher in this article should be in its See also section. -->
* {{Annotated link|Asociality}}
* {{Annotated link|Virginity}}
* {{Annotated link|Antisexualism}}
* [[List of people on the asexual spectrum]]
* {{Annotated link|Platonic love}}
* {{Annotated link|Sexless marriage}}
* {{Annotated link|Sexual anorexia}}; a loss of "appetite" for romantic-sexual interaction
* {{Annotated link|Supernormal stimulus}}; a form of non-sexual stimulus, as opposed to [[libido]]
* {{Annotated link|Hypersexuality}}
* [[Timeline of asexual history]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
<!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php -->
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last=Bogaert |first=Anthony F. |title=Understanding Asexuality |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O3v27O00GEYC |author-link=Anthony Bogaert |access-date=July 27, 2013 |date=August 9, 2012 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-0101-9}}
* {{cite book |author=Decker, Julie |title=The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PiPngEACAAJ |author-link=Julie Sondra Decker |access-date=September 28, 2014 |date=September 2, 2014 |publisher=Carrel Books |isbn=978-1631440021}}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/sep/08/relationships.healthandwellbeing "We're married, we just don't have sex"], ''[[The Guardian]]'' (UK), September 8, 2008
* [https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Asexuals-leave-the-closet-find-community-3219180.php "Asexuals leave the closet, find community"] – [[SFGate.com]]
* "Asexuality", article by Mark Carrigan, in: [https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-sage-encyclopedia-of-lgbtq-studies/book244331%20 ''The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies'' Vol. 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}}.
* Chen, Angela (September 15, 2020). ''[https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/625230/ace-by-angela-chen/ Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex]''. Beacon Press. {{ISBN|9780807013793}}.

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline|Human asexuality}}

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