What Does It Mean to Be Asexual?

When it doesn't simply go ignored, asexuality is often misunderstood. By the simplest definition, asexual individuals (sometimes referred to as "ace" people) do not experience sexual attraction or a desire to have a sexual relationship, per the Asexuality Visibility & Education Network (AVEN). But within asexuality, as with most other sexual orientations, there's nuance and variation. For instance, some asexual individuals may engage in sexual relationships; some may not. Some may masturbate; some may not.

It's crucial for everyone to have a baseline understanding of what asexuality is and what falls under the asexuality spectrum, both because raising awareness can help people who are ace find information they need and because it allows everyone to be more supportive, respectful, and considerate of the ace people in their lives.

"The asexual community — including those on the asexual spectrum — are members of the LGBTQ+ community and face many of the same struggles, including experiencing discrimination at home, school, and work," Mary Beth Maxwell, the Human Rights Campaign's senior vice president for programs, research, and training, told POPSUGAR in a previous article. "The asexual community is also often misrepresented, underrepresented, or erased. That's unacceptable, and all of us in the broader community should recommit to speaking up in support and helping to change that."

With that in mind, this is what to know about what it means to be asexual, including what falls under the asexuality spectrum, common misconceptions about asexuality, and why asexual representation is so important.

As with all sexual orientations, there's no one definition of asexuality that fits every person who is asexual. "Asexual means you don't experience sexual attraction," notes therapist Jessica Brohmer, LMFT, who is asexual. Brohmer says that this can include people who have never experienced sexual attraction at all; those who experience sexual attraction sometimes; or people who generally don't have sexual attraction, but may experience it after getting to know someone. (Something important to emphasize here is that this sexual identity differs from that of someone experiencing a low libido or someone who chooses to abstain from sex for personal or religious reasons.)

As noted above, the term asexuality is not one size fits all. Like many sexual orientations, asexuality is best understood as a spectrum that encapsulates many different experiences and identities. For example, someone can be graysexual, meaning they "may experience sexual attraction very rarely, only under specific circumstances, or of an intensity so low that is ignorable and not a necessity in relationships," per AVEN. Someone can also be demisexual, meaning they "can only experience sexual attraction or desire after an emotional bond has been formed." These terms fall under the asexuality umbrella.

The other relevant spectrum for asexuality is sex-favorable versus sex-averse, says Brohmer. "Someone who is asexual but sex-favorable might be willing to have sex with their partner, even though they don't necessarily feel sexual attraction." (It's even possible they'll enjoy having sex because it makes their partner happy and/or can be a bonding experience.) But someone who is sex-averse likely "does not want to be partnered with someone who would want or expect to have sex with them," Brohmer says.

There's no one way to answer this. If you do not experience sexual attraction or an "intrinsic desire to have sexual relationships," per AVEN, this could mean you're asexual. While there's no definitive checklist, Brohmer says you may be asexual if:

Ultimately, if you think you might be asexual, Brohmer suggests reading about the experiences of other asexual people. "It is really difficult to recognize when you don't have an experience that everyone else has, and you might find it easier to understand asexuality through other people's stories."

You can do this by checking out AVEN's website (and specifically their FAQ section) or The Trevor Project for more resources. You can also read books like "Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex" and "The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality." For more personalized help, talking to a therapist is a great option to explore and express your individual feelings.

A main assumption about asexual individuals is that there is something physically wrong with them. "Many people assume that not being interested in sexual attraction or experiencing sexual activity is a function of 'broken' genitalia, which isn't the case," asexual activist Sara Beth Brooks previously told POPSUGAR. Asexuality is not synonymous with sexual dysfunction, low libido, or having a mental disorder. Simply, asexual people just lack sexual attraction.

Brohmer notes being asexual is also different than being aromantic, which is the absence of romantic attraction and desire. The two terms are often conflated, and while you can be both, the term asexual is about sexual attraction (or lack there of) and aromantic is about romantic attraction (or lack there of).

Another misconception is that asexual people cannot be in relationships. "Wanting a life partner, wanting to raise children with another person, wanting a romance life, and wanting a relationship are all unrelated to sexual attraction," Brohmer says. "Asexual people can have happy, healthy relationships like anyone else."

Asexuality still isn't well-understood by the general public. In fact, Brooks previously told POPSUGAR that even LGBTQ+ communities don't always include ace folks, which is why she founded Asexual Awareness Week in an attempt to lobby national LGBTQ+ organizations for inclusion. So far, the National LGBTQ+ Task Force, GLAAD, and The Trevor Project have adopted her cause to help prevent asexual erasure.

Brooks hopes that one day, there's a basic mainstream understanding of what it really means to be ace. "There are groups of people who identify as asexual who don't have access to information," she previously told POPSUGAR, acknowledging that these efforts take time — and systemic change: "It's a matter of having access to good information about sex and sexuality that leads us back to a conversation about better education in high school and in college."