Asexual acceptance? What's the point?

[TXlib]

Study: One in 100 adults asexual
Thursday, October 14, 2004 Posted: 11:34 AM EDT (1534 GMT)

LONDON, England (CNN) -- About one percent of adults have absolutely no interest in sex, according to a new study, and that distinction is becoming one of pride among many asexuals.

The new study was conducted by Anthony Bogaert, a psychologist and human sexuality expert at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario.

It was published in the latest issue of The Journal of Sex Research and is the focus of a report in this Saturday's issue of New Scientist.

Bogaert's analysis looked at responses to another study in Britain, published in 1994. That study was based on interviews of 18,000 people about their sexual practices.

It offered respondent a list of options. One read: "I have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all." One percent said they agreed with the statement.

That response level is close to the percentage of gay people in the population, which is around three percent, the New Scientist report says.

New Scientist says such studies offer insights into sexuality, the results remain controversial. "The closest we have got to understanding human asexuals comes from studies -- mostly surveys - of people who report not have sex," it says.

A 1994 survey, published by The University of Chicago Press, found that 13 percent of 3,500 respondents had no sex in the past year. Forty percent of those people said they were extremely happy or very happy with their lives.

"If asexuality is indeed a form of sexual orientation, perhaps it will not be long before the issue of 'A' pride starts attracting more attention," New Scientist says.

Activists have already started campaigning to promote awareness and acceptance of asexuality, it reports.

The Asexual Visibility and Education Network has an online store that sell items promoting awareness and acceptance on asexuality.

Among the items is a T-shirt with the slogan, "Asexuality: it's not just for amoebas anymore."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/10/14/asexual.study/

Why on earth would asexuals need to fight to get people to accept their lifestyle? There's not a moral/religious philosophy on earth that says a celibate life is an immoral one. The only people who might give somebody who is asexual grief is a parent who wants grandkids, but they wouldn't face societal disapproval like homosexuals historically have.

[Magrittes Pipe]

1. I blame Morrissey.

[Phillycat]

3. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fenris]

13. I thought he was gay.

;)

[bloodyjack]

15. I will live my life as I will undoubtedly die

ALONE

[TrogL]

2. I disagree

There's lots of pressure to have a partner/trophy wife/boyfriend.

Heaven forbid that a couple would get married just for convenience sake just to shut people (eg. nagging mothers) up if they don't intend upon having children.

Jebus told us to go forth and multiply.

[TXlib]

4. But I can't imagine it's the same level

of social disapproval that gays face.

Do you think it's something that needs activists?

[liontamer]

6. a closeted asexual person, and a closeted homosexual person

both face social disapproval. Out asexuals are mocked by everyone.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. just because they are not as discriminated against

doesnt mean they should be allowed to voice their opinions...make their own clubs etc...

and just for the record: take a look at the other website you frequent...see how often those people mock some du'ers who are sexually inactive/asexual!

[liontamer]

5. shows what you know

people can reject anybody who doesn't follow the status quo.
Many cultures think that to not get married and have children is immoral. Anybody who is really asexual, does face societal disapproval (do you think being called a freak isn't disapproval.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. umm because 'normal' peopel mock them

hell i do it all the time...and i am not really a particularly bigoted person...i just dont understand asexuality...

[HEyHEY]

24. You don't understand it so you MOCK them.

Much like other bigots

;-)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. yes but when rational i admit to my bigotry on this one issue

you cant be perfect but you can certainly see you imperfections and try to fix them :eyes:

[HEyHEY]

28. Not good enough!

;-)

[BiggJawn]

9. You wanna be asexual, fine.

But make that decision BEFORE you get into a LTR with somebody who doesn't need Cialis, OK?

[liontamer]

10. if an asexual didn't feel pressure to be "normal"

then he or she could not get involved in an LTR without being harassed about his or her deviant lifestyle "choice"

[BiggJawn]

11. Sorry, but I don't consider it "normal"

It's not what I consider "Deviant", but I sure don't call it "normal"., especially if it doesn't manifest itself as a new lifestyle until a year or 2 into the LTR.

But what do I know? I only had a wife "discover" she was a Lesbian after 8 years of marriage...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. if homosexuality was more accepted

your wife would have come out earlier...women tend to come out later...sorry it happened to you...

[BiggJawn]

16. Hey, she's happy, that's all that matters, right?

To my credit, I didn't ask for a "3-way"....

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. well good for you!

though in honest dont men and women leave each other for opposite sex partners all the time?

[BiggJawn]

27. I don't.

Silly me, expecting the same level of committment from others that I give, right?
Ah, well, that's just me, Prematurely Grumpy....

[LDS Jock]

14. do I count if I just seem to never have sex?

Seriously, anyone can feel disrespected or persecuted about their life. It may not be real to others but it is real to them. Trying to compare the persecution of one group to another can never be done fairly, since each group has their own distinct circumstances involved. Have I felt discrimination for being gay? Yes. Not as severe as what African Americans went through or Jews in WW2. But that doesn't make my own any less real. As far as your statement about any group declaring celibacy immoral, its not too far off that in my own church, the Mormon church. Marriage is a HUGE deal, ideally in the temple for time and eternity. Marriage is necessary for the highest level of heaven. I am culturally Mormon, not doctrinally, and I think that is a load of crap, but it IS doctrine. However, I don't see how one church, representing 2% of the population could result in such wide spread persecution.

edited cause I didn't check spelling first

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. that was an excellent post!!

[LDS Jock]

20. thanks.... you sound surprised

:P

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. lol!

[Hello_Kitty]

19. I wish I were asexual

It would solve soooo many of my problems......sigh

[Nikia]

22. I think that they are personally discriminated against

Perhaps urban professionals who are not close to their family or community are not discriminated against, but many people in my personal life were looked down upon. Asexuals or other people celibate by choice might not be discriminated against when they are young. Once a person gets to be in their thirties or fourties though and does not have a sexual/romantic partner, people begin to talk about them and not treat them as well. Most people assume that sex drive is normal and that most people want a partner. They assume that if someone does not have a sex partner that they are odd, a loser, have mixed up priorities, were abused or raped, or all sorts of other negative things. Many families in smaller communites are focused on families. They often start hassling family members and try to set them up if they do not have any prospects by the time they are in their late twenties. Many aspects of our culture are couple and family focused and the perpetually single person often loses out. Many people uphold the spouse/partner as the person who should be most important. As the asexual's friends marry, the asexual often becomes lonely, especially since their friends may assume untrue things about them. Just because they are asexual doesn't mean that they don't need or want love and companionship either.

[sangh0]

26. Asexuals are often thought to be mentally ill and/or sexually deviant

Even here you see that people have little to no understanding of asexuality. What do you think it's like amongst people who don't know better than to fear what they do not understand?

[skygazer]

23. And none of them are Catholic priests

OH! Did I say that? Bad, bad, bad!!!! :spank:

[darkism]

29. Hmmm...

"About one percent of adults have absolutely no interest in sex"

...and somehow I manage to date all of them. :(