Asexuals (people who do not feel sexual attraction) are one of the lesser known sexualities within the LGBTQ+ community. Only around 1% of people are asexual, and the majority of people have never heard of it.
Often, when people find out about asexuality, their first reaction is to assume there is a problem. While being asexual is in professional therapy books, even some therapists think of it as a mental disorder. People blame the lack of attraction on childhood abuse, depression, or bad relationships, thinking that it was some experience that causes it. People also like to claim that you “haven’t found the right person yet” or if you’re younger they will say you are a “late bloomer”. These are harmful because they cause people to feel broken, or less than, especially if they have gone through something traumatic. Many asexuals hear that they will be “fixed” if they just try to experiment, and this often forces people into situations they are not comfortable with.
Another stigma is the idea that asexuality is the same as celibacy, in that it is a choice to remain abstinent. This is not true. While asexuals do not feel attraction, this doesn’t mean that they cannot engage in sexual activities. On the other hand, abstinence is normally the conscious choice to avoid having sex for personal or religious reasons, despite the attraction. All of these stigmas make it hard for people who don’t feel sexual attraction to realize that they aren’t broken, they are simply asexual, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Written by Lilia
Artwork by Zara Masood
Comments