There's a lot more to asexuality that being "frigid", and it's not just for single celled organisms. Asexuality is something seldom heard and rarely discussed. AVEN (The Asexuality Visibility and Education Network) describes asexuality simply as a person who does not experience sexual attraction (they also point out that this does not necessarily mean a lack of sex drive, just a lack of attraction). It's not impossible.
So, if a person experiences little to no sexual attraction, where do they fit in on the sexuality scale? At one end is homosexuality, at the other, heterosexuality, with bisexuality, transgender homo/bi/heterosexuality and anything else falling in between...but where do asexuals go?
First of all, sexuality is so fluid that a scale simply won't work. People that start out in life considering themselves heterosexual may eventually recognize that they are bisexual or homosexual. People may flow from one sexuality or sexual preference to another--or even none at all. Asexuality may just be another path for some people to follow.
There is nothing wrong with asexuality, although asexuality is sometimes a result of sexual desire disorder. The Intimacy Institute defines sexual desire disorder as "...a persistent absence of sexual fantasies or desire for engaging in sex. Further, the individual exhibits an intense aversion to either heterosexual or homosexual genital sexual contact...Intensive desire disorders, however, may reflect complicated psychological problems that are difficult to treat. In addition, some individuals may be biologically incapable of sexual interest or involvement in sexual activity and, although members of a sexual species, are themselves asexual."
For some people, asexuality is a choice. It may originally start as celibacy due to personal or religious reasons, and evolve into a desire not to enter into a sexual relationship. Some people feel that sex is overrated, and that relationships are deeper and more meaningful without an underlying desire for sexual contact.
Whether it’s biological, emotional, or a personal decision, asexuality is too often overlooked. It encompasses so much more than being “frigid”, and should be recognized as such. Considering how many relationships are based solely on sex, or how many friendships are ruined because of sex, I really can’t see the harm in asexuality.
Stop by my Asexuality Links page for more information about asexuality and asexuals.
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