I was watching something on National Geographic the other day and something about asexuals came up. I was a bit intrigued, but they did not go into as much detail as I wanted. I figured that sense we have a good group of discussioners (just made that word up), then we could all learn something.
What is Asexuality?
Wikipedia says: Asexuality describes individuals who do not experience sexual attraction and is considered by some to be a sexual orientation.[1] Asexuality as a human sexual orientation has only been recognized and defined in a few academic studies since the late 1970s, and a community of self-identified asexuals has only coalesced since the start of the 21st century, aided by the widening popularity of online communities.[1] One commonly cited study placed the incidence rate of asexuality at 1%.[2] Asexuality is not the same as celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity; many asexuals do have sex,[3] and most celibates are not asexual.
How does this fit into the Kinsey Sexuality Scale?
Alfred Kinsey was aware of an asexual element in the population but did little to investigate it. His Kinsey scale of sexual orientation consisted of a single axis lying between heterosexuality and homosexuality with bisexuality in between, and thus left no place for asexuality. In the Kinsey Reports of 1948 and 1953, subjects were scaled from 0 (completely heterosexual) to 6 (completely homosexual), but a separate category of X was created for those with "no socio-sexual contacts or reactions".[4][5] He labeled 1.5% of the adult male population as "X"
Questions
1. Is asexuality even real? I am skeptical. I don't see how one could be asexual given the hormones we all have.
2. Do you think it is purely sexual or does it involve romantic notions?
3. Given that it is real and does exist, could it be a result of a trauma?
4. Would you classify this as a mental disorder given the fact that their body has the right hormones, etc?
if a female was abused by a male relative, it's common for some to become lesbian
I think it would make more sense to say first that they would attempt to behave as a lesbian. Also I don't think it's at all that simple.
The same applies, for example, to those who repress their homosexuality having been sent to a "Jesus camp" specifically for that purpose.
As to whether this is successful will only become apparent in the fullness of time, on a case-by-case basis. Some people die repressed, others never quite figure themselves out.
Overall, I also don't think it is very useful to treat "gay" and "lesbian" as things people can be so much as modes of behavior they can demonstrate. Getting caught up in the whole "what is being" is a tricky trap to free yourself from.
What exactly does this mean? I have a friend who's agnostic
Hmmm...off-topic but seeing as you asked so nicely I'll answer anyway
"Agnostic" is the umbrella term meaning "don't know". This can mean a range of things, but either way one isn't committed to the idea that there is, or isn't a God. There are two broad categories: the ones who simply haven't decided, and the ones who say that by principle it is impossible to "know" for some reason or another.
When I say I'm non-theist agnostic, it means I'm the latter. I treat the principles of skepticism and the deeper questions of "justified belief" and "knowledge" seriously, and so if I will claim to know something, it is that one "can not know" of the existence of God.
Politically speaking agnostics are a group quite separate from the atheists. Their stance purports to be more neutral, and in some cases, more rigorous.
@Strop, your words are etremely powerful, wise, influential and extraordinary, you have to be the greatest moderator ever to be in website like armor games, I know this might seem odd and offtopic but it's just a compliment, oh and some of the words that you say, I can barely even understand them.
Makes sense. I still don't agree, nonetheless, I'll still respect your beliefs.
Overall, I also don't think it is very useful to treat "gay" and "lesbian" as things people can be so much as modes of behavior they can demonstrate.
I agree. I don't like the "I was born a girl in a guy's body" thing, but if the world is saying "you act gay, so that's what you are", kids are going to be growing up always thinking that.
Guys, that is like, totally off-topic and stuff...and I think this time I'm going to need to delete a whole page of posts...
I'll do it later. Back to the thread:
I don't like the "I was born a girl in a guy's body" thing
This is quite legitimate- known as gender non-conformism or the psychological state of being transgendered. Not to be confused with intersex conditions, which is physical.
if a female was abused by a male relative, it's common for some to become lesbian
I wouldn't say that is the case, unless of course you have stats to back that up. I would have thought that they would just 'go off' men but not nescessarily become attracted to women. Becoming lesbian could be a method of escaping their fear of men, but whether they are truly atrracted to women is another matter i think.
Hm, actually, asexuality refers to not having a sexual attraction to either gender. Most of you guys are thinking of celibacy, which to not engage in sexual activity with another person. Asexual people may have sex.
prehaps they just prefer masturbation and choose not to have sex, or simply cannot find the right person
Masturbation is caused by a stimulus of a sexual nature, so they would feel sexual pleasure from it. Sex is masturbation, except not with your hand when you think about it, and so i doubt if you had no sexual attractions that you would masturbate. You don't choose masturbation over sex, you choose masturbation when you can't get sex.
I also doubt that it is a matter of not being able to find someone as this implies they want sexual relations. Unless it was for a purely emotional relationship which i doubt the 2nd party would be happy with anyway. If asexuals do not feel attractions then they would not bother trying to get a bf/gf.
1. Is asexuality even real? I am skeptical. I don't see how one could be asexual given the hormones we all have.
Well, I have to be honest I have never thought of asexuality as applied to people before. I am so used to learning about it in science class as applied to reproduction in algae, corals, ans such. I haven't explored much into thought about it with humans. But I considered asexuality to be applied to reproduction, or reproducing without the opposite sex. The main reason this evolves is to have an available form of reproduction in the absence of the opposite sex. This doesn't happen in humans. So since none of the biological or evolutionary reasons for asexuality apply, I would think that there would not be true asexuality in humans.
Nice pointing out the problem in only having one word for two things, Carlie. Personally it was about two years before I learned about asexual reproduction, after the point where I learned about asexuality...
It is two different things.
Masturbation is caused by a stimulus of a sexual nature, so they would feel sexual pleasure from it. Sex is masturbation, except not with your hand when you think about it, and so i doubt if you had no sexual attractions that you would masturbate. You don't choose masturbation over sex, you choose masturbation when you can't get sex.
It would not be impossible for an asexual person to enjoy sexual stimuli on their body, they just wouldn't be interested in....... I totally lost track of where I wa going with this statement. Darn...
It would not be impossible for an asexual person to enjoy sexual stimuli on their body, they just wouldn't be interested in....... I totally lost track of where I wa going with this statement. Darn...
Maybye suppose they could enjoy sexual stimuli but not from humans. It seems odd that someone wouldn't feel any sexual attraction to humans but do to something else. Perhaps that is what bestiality stems from?
An asexual person is a person, who is unable to feel sexual attraction. He/she can be in love, as that is emotions, but is unable to feel a need for physical love/sex. All the feelings are there, but not the need. Meaning that a relationship with an asexual could function, as their body functions normally, but they do not enjoy it as other would. This is most likely frustrating to the partner.
