Allosexuality
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Allosexualityis the ability to experiencesexual attractionand the lack of identification withasexuality.[1][2][3][4]Someone who experiences allosexuality isallosexual,sometimes shortened toallo.Other terms to describe non-asexual people includezedsexual,[5][6]or simply sexual.[7]
The term does not indicate the target of sexual attraction, meaning allosexual could describe someone who isheterosexual,gay,bisexual,orpansexual,for example.[2]It also does not indicate how often an individual experiences sexual attraction or participates in sex or sexual encounters.[2]
Terminology
[edit]The prefixallo-comes from the Greek wordÁllos,meaning "other", "different", or "atypical".[8]It was attached to the suffix 'sexual' to create a term meaning "a person who experiences sexual attraction towards others". The structure parallels other sexuality terms such as homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc.
History
[edit]In a medicalized context, allosexual has been used in contrast to autosexual to describe sexual attraction towards others or sexual behavior between multiple people.[9]The term was coined by the asexual community as a way to name and discuss the experiences of non-asexual people.[2]It is used to normalize asexuality and provide a term that can be used in conjunction with ace terminology. Allosexuality makes asexuality one sexuality among others, rather than being a deviation from what is simply 'normal'.[10]
Society and culture
[edit]Asexuals are estimated to make up 1% or less of the total population and about 1.7% of the LGBT population.[11]Since the majority of people would be classified as allosexual, it is viewed by some as the natural way of being and asexuality as a deviation from this norm.[12]Physical intimacy is considered an essential part of romantic relationships among allosexuals, which can complicate relationships between asexual and allosexual individuals.[3]Allonormativity,or the concept that all humans experience sexual attraction or desire a sexual relationship, can lead to the isolation and marginalization of asexual individuals.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"What Does It Mean To Be Allosexual?".Dictionary.2020-07-30.Retrieved2023-08-18.
- ^abcdJalili, Candice (2020-10-23)."Allosexual".Cosmopolitan.Retrieved2023-08-18.
- ^abClark, Alyssa N.; Lefkowitz, Eva S.; Zimmerman, Corinne (2023-02-12)."Sexual and Affectionate Behaviors in Asexual and Allosexual Adults".The Journal of Sex Research.60(2): 242–252.doi:10.1080/00224499.2022.2051161.ISSN0022-4499.PMID35316105.S2CID247615390.
- ^Clark, Alyssa N.; Zimmerman, Corinne (2022-05-01)."Concordance Between Romantic Orientations and Sexual Attitudes: Comparing Allosexual and Asexual Adults".Archives of Sexual Behavior.51(4): 2147–2157.doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02194-3.ISSN1573-2800.PMID35380311.S2CID247955047.
- ^Dyer, Harriet (2022-05-31).The Little Book of LGBTQ+: An A-Z of Gender and Sexual Identities.Cleis Press.ISBN978-1-62778-536-5.
- ^Decker, Julie Sondra (2015-10-13).The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality * Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in LGBT *.Simon and Schuster.ISBN978-1-5107-0064-2.
- ^"General FAQ".The Asexual Visibility and Education Network.Retrieved2023-11-27.
- ^"Definition of ALLO-".merriam-webster.Retrieved2023-11-27.
- ^Burleson, Mary H; Trevathan, Wenda R; Gregory, W.Larry (May 2002)."Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability".Psychoneuroendocrinology.27(4): 489–503.doi:10.1016/S0306-4530(01)00066-X.PMID11912001.S2CID24519130.
- ^Mollet, Amanda L.; Lackman, Brian."Chapter 6 Allonormativity and Compulsory Sexuality".Encyclopedia of Queer Studies in Education.pp. 26–30.doi:10.1163/9789004506725_006.
- ^"1.7% of sexual minority adults identify as asexual".Williams Institute.Retrieved2023-11-27.
- ^MacInnis, Cara C.; Hodson, Gordon (November 2012)."Intergroup bias toward" Group X ": Evidence of prejudice, dehumanization, avoidance, and discrimination against asexuals".Group Processes & Intergroup Relations.15(6): 725–743.doi:10.1177/1368430212442419.ISSN1368-4302.S2CID3056711.
- ^Popova, Milena (2019-05-07).Sexual Consent.The MIT Press.doi:10.7551/mitpress/12108.001.0001.ISBN978-0-262-35359-5.
External links
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