Asexuality
Asexuality is a designation or self-designation for people who claim that they are are not sexually attracted to anyone. This may be viewed as a form of sexual orientation in itself, although it is sometimes claimed that it is a psycho-sexual problem, but it is more than likely that asexuality is an orientation, brought about by environmental factors, and not a physiological disorder. There has been little research done on asexuality, but it appears to be the least common occurring sexual orientation.Asexuality, as a sexual orientation, is divided into four types, A through D.
- Type As do not experience romantic attraction, but experience arousal. They are aware that sex might feel good on a purely biochemical level, but have no drive to engage in it with others.
- Type Bs experience romantic attraction, but have no sex drives. In other words, they are interested in "normal" relationships, but would not want to participate in sexual activities with the person they are in a relationship with.
- Type Cs are capable of both arousal and romantic attraction, but have no drive to put the two together.
- Type Ds feel neither attraction nor arousal, and are probably closest to what society would deem asexual.
Several religions or religious sects believe that asexuality is a spiritually superior condition. In the Catholic Church, chastity is one of the vows that one takes in order to become a nun or priest. See also celibacy. This idea that asexuality is the higher way is sometimes referred to as asexism.
In other creeds, children may be considered a gift of God that should not be refused, and/or a means of spreading religion.
In fiction, John Braine's novel The Jealous God (1964) is a good example of sex mainly seen as a sin. On the other hand, in his science fiction novel Distress (1995), Greg Egan imagines a world where "asex" is one out of five or seven acknowledged gender settings.
Asexuality is not to be confused with asexual reproduction.