Asexuals - Questions & Answers

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(A)sexual questions

What is asexuality (as defined by asexuals)? What is the difference between celibacy and asexuality?

Asexuals, define asexuality as an individual that is not interested in sexual activity or does not desire sexual activity either outside a relationship or within the relationship. Most of the women interviewed in the video also claimed not having the desire to engage in sexual activity with their partners and thus it took them time to discover that they were actually asexuals. However, asexuals can be male or female and not restricted to a specific gender. Asexuality is completely different from celibacy. This is because celibacy refers to the willful decision of an individual’s not to act on sexual feelings. Asexuals on the other hand, capable of loving and have romantic ties with other individuals.

Why do many asexuals say it was difficult to “come out” as asexual? What are the stereotypes/assumptions made about asexuals and asexuality?

One of the main reasons as to why most asexuals are afraid of coming out, is due to the fact that they are afraid of how the society would judge them and because of this most of them tend to stay in secrecy. Asexuals tend to face stereotypes from their friends, at times from the family members and even the society. Most of the individuals that are against asexuality tend to argue that asexuality is a choice and that most of the individuals that claim to be asexuals, are asexuals because they have decided to be so. From the film video it was vivid even as the asexuals were championing for their rights most individuals asked them very extreme questions with most of the other citizens who are not asexuals contemplating on how a person can be asexuals. On the other hand, asexuals are constantly pressured by their family members to bare children and also engage in marriage since most of the asexuals tend to stay single considering that they do not have any sexual attraction. This has the effect of affecting their morale and thus affect them psychologically.

Compare the stereotypes around asexuality to stereotypes of other types of sexualities—do you think they are similar or different? How do these kinds of stereotypes connect to heterosexual privilege and heteronormativity?

Ideally, both the asexuals and other types of sexualities such as homosexuals and bisexuals tend to face a similar kind of stereotypes. Most of the stereotypes tend to be similar in nature especially when it comes to pressure from their families, society and friends in general. There is a perception that most individuals and the society tend to have towards a different type of sexuality and thus enhancing stereotypes. Heterosexuals refer to individuals that have sexual attraction to individuals of opposite different gender whereas heteronormativity refers to the belief that individuals tend to fall into complementary and distinct genders with their natural roles in life. Heteronormativity is thus relates to heterosexuals and these groups of individuals tend not to face any form of stereotype whatsoever in the present day society. The stereotypes on the other types of sexualities, mainly arise due to the fact that most individuals perceive the other types of sexualities to have broken out of the socially acceptable norms of the society.