Asexuality and Its Implications for LGBTQ-Parent Families

Abstract

Asexuality, most often defined as a lack of sexual attraction, has emerged as a relatively new sexual identity category, and very little research has yet to explore asexual families and parenting. In this chapter, I review the literature on asexuality and its implications for parenting research and LGBTQ-parent families. First, I explain the meanings of asexuality through a review of its competing definitions and the evolving vocabulary of sexual and romantic dispositions within the asexual community. I also examine the methodological issues that have made asexuality especially difficult to research and the growth of asexuality as an identity movement in resistance to pathologizing narratives of sexual dysfunction. Next, I examine intersections between asexuality and gender, race, class, and disability, with critical attention toward the relationship between asexuality and the broader LGBTQ umbrella. I then review existing knowledge of asexual individuals' experiences of parenting, intimate relationships, and marginalization. Practitioners are urged to consider the validity of many types of intimacy as research on asexual parenting can further societal understandings of diverse expressions of love and family formation.

The APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Sexual Minority Persons: An executive summary of the 2021 revision.

“…Bi+ persons experience discrimination from monosexual persons including interpersonal hostility, stereotypes about sexual orientation instability and sexual irresponsibility, invisibility, and erasure (Brewster & Moradi, 2010; Roberts et al, 2015). Asexual persons also face discrimination and marginalization from peers, family members, and medical and mental health providers (Carroll, 2020; Chasin, 2015; Rothblum et al, 2020). Sexual minority older adults are at risk for victimization for both their age and sexual minority status and may be impacted by the cumulative effects of a lifetime of discrimination, which is associated with depression, disability, and poor health (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2013; SAGE, 2017).…”

Using social exchange theory to examine relationship processes in asexual‐allosexual couples

“…The prevalence of asexuality within the larger population is unknown, however, several studies indicate about 1%–3% of the general population identifies as asexual (Aicken et al, 2013; Bogaert, 2004; Rothblum et al, 2020). In addition, asexuality does not only refer to people who experience little to no sexual attraction, but is also used more broadly by asexuality communities as an umbrella term to describe a variety of identities that do not align with traditional allo‐centric experiences of sexual attraction, such as demisexual, greysexual, or A‐fluid (Carroll, 2020; Decker, 2015). A demisexual person is someone who typically experiences sexual attraction only after developing a strong emotional bond (Decker, 2015).…”

“…Although often integrated in literature, romantic attraction is primarily driven by desire for affectionate bonding and love, whereas sexual attraction is driven by sexual desire (Diamond, 2003). Unlike most allosexual people, many asexual people differentiate their experience of romantic attraction from their experience of sexual attraction (Antonsen et al, 2020; Carroll, 2020; Sennekestra, 2020). Asexual people may also use identity labels to differentiate between who they are romantically and sexually attracted to (e.g., a homoromantic asexual person may be romantically attracted to people of the same gender, but does not experience sexual attraction to any gender; Antonsen et al, 2020; Sennekestra, 2020).…”

“…One reason why an asexual person might not seek a romantic relationship may relate to whether or not they experience romantic attraction. Romantic attraction refers to the desire to be in a romantic relationship and/or to engage in romantic interactions with another person (Carroll, 2020). Although often integrated in literature, romantic attraction is primarily driven by desire for affectionate bonding and love, whereas sexual attraction is driven by sexual desire (Diamond, 2003).…”

Erotic capabilities: A feminist analysis of sexual justice and pleasure in heterosexual sex partying

“…Rather than celebrating specific values or lifestyles, the ultimate concern of the erotic capabilities approach is whether and how a society can create or undermine opportunities for people to determine their erotic selves. A just society should accommodate not only the needs of sexually active people but also those of the asexual in finding emotional fulfilment in non-sexual relationships (see Carroll, 2020).…”