You Have to be Normal to be Abnormal: An Empirically Grounded Exploration of the Intersection of Asexuality and Disability

Cuthbert, Karen

doi:10.1177/0038038515587639

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…We acknowledge, however, that this could be due to the relative homogeneity of our sample (though we would suggest this could reflect the position of those likely to identify as asexual, see and recognise the continued importance of the intersectional approach to asexuality advocated by Cuthbert (2017).…”

Section: Methodsologymentioning

confidence: 90%

‘“Asexual” Isn’t Who I Am’: The Politics of Asexuality

Dawson

Scott

McDonnell

2018

Sociological Research Online

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Some literature on asexuality has claimed that it is inherently radical and contains the potential for resistance. Unfortunately this literature has tended to be unempirical, has imagined asexuality as a disembodied entity and marginalised the multiple identities held by asexual people. This paper, inspired by Plummer's critical humanist approach, seeks to explore how individuals understand their asexuality to encourage forms of political action in the areas of: identity, activism, online spaces and LGBT politics. What we found was a plurality of experiences and attitudes with most adopting a pragmatic position in response to their social situation which saw large scale political action as irrelevant. We conclude by reflecting on what these results mean for those who see asexuality as potentially radical.Keywords: Asexuality, critical humanism, identity, LGBT, sexualityThe emergence of asexuality has led scholars to make strong political claims. These writers have suggested that asexuality has the potential to: redefine the nature of intimate relationships; overcome the dominance of 'sexusociety'; resist neoliberal conceptions of citizenship; and aid anarchist politics. Unfortunately, the strength of these claims has run inverse to the evidence used to substantiate them. Instead they have largely concerned what asexuality ought to be and, ipso facto, how asexual people ought to behave rather than exploring the beliefs and actions of asexual people. This has been part of a wider trend where 'asexuality' comes to be treated as a disembodied entity which 'challenges' contemporary society. Unfortunately, this overlooks how asexuality exists as a sexual orientation held by a diverse set of people, resulting in differing forms of action. 2To counter this trend, this paper outlines the political views held by asexual people. We will discuss: the salience of asexual identity; our participants' activism; and their interaction withLGBTQ groups/politics 1 . In doing so, we are in agreement with two arguments concerning the nature of sociological research. Firstly, we share Plummer's advocacy of a 'critical humanist' perspective which, with its use of 'documents of life' seeks to pay special attention to the 'concrete human experiences' of social life in which individuals 'respond to social constraints and actively assemble social worlds' (Plummer 2001:14). This does not, as indicated, involve marginalising forms of oppression and injustice, but rather, in understanding how these are experienced and interpreted, abides by 'the humanistic commitment of the qualitative researcher to study the world always from the perspective of the interacting individual' (Lincoln and Denzin 1994:575). It is this commitment which often has been lacking in the literature to date. Secondly, we echo Duncan's (2011) claim that when discussing processes of social change, in his case individualization, sociologists have tended to place individuals either into a 'vanguard' or 'traditionalist' camps. Instead, asDuncan demonstrates, these g...

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Section: Methodsologymentioning

confidence: 90%

‘“Asexual” Isn’t Who I Am’: The Politics of Asexuality

Dawson

Scott

McDonnell

2018

Sociological Research Online

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“…A small number of scholars have begun to look at the experiences of asexual‐identified disabled people, opening up another promising venue for future research (Cuthbert, ; Gupta, ; Kim, ; Lund & Johnson, ). Asexuality is commonly met with suspicion in the general community as well as in the queer community (Lung and Johnson, ; Przybylo, ).…”

Section: Crip Sexualitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A small number of scholars have begun to look at the experiences of asexual-identified disabled people, opening up another promising venue for future research (Cuthbert, 2015;Gupta, 2014;Kim, 2011;Lund & Johnson, 2015).…”

Section: Crip Sexualitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Asexuality is commonly met with suspicion in the general community as well as in the queer community (Lung and Johnson, 2015;Przybylo, 2016). Although trying to ensure the right of disabled people to be sexual, the disability studies literature has commonly referred to asexuality as an oppressive stereotype, frequently applied to disabled people, that should be contested (Cuthbert, 2015;Kim, 2011;Lund & Johnson, 2015). Historically, people with disabilities have been routinely desexualized (Kattari, 2015;Shakespeare, 2000;Shildrick, 2007).…”

Section: Crip Sexualitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is also a need for more intersectional research that takes into account how the complex operations of interlocking systems of oppression such as ableism, sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and transphobia shape the day-to-day lived experiences of LGBT disabled people (Abbott, 2015;Cuthbert, 2015;Dinwoodie et al, 2016;Duke, 2011;Vernon, 1999). For example, it has been noted that the intersection of disability, sexuality, and race results in layered oppressions (Harley et al, 2002;O'Toole & Bregante, 1992).…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cripping sexualities: An analytic review of theoretical and empirical writing on the intersection of disabilities and sexualities

Martino

2017

Sociology Compass

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This paper provides a review of some of the literature addressing the juncture of disabilities and sexualities and invites sociologists to build on this work and take part in this important intersectional field. First, I discuss the central relevance of an intersectional lens for making sense of the unique experiences of queer people with disabilities who are located at the crossroads of various stratified systems. Then, I discuss some of the many unique challenges that queer disabled people face when exploring their sexuality, establishing relationships, and remaining sexual. The invisibility, marginalization, and discrimination of queer people with disabilities in both queer and disability communities are the focus on the third section. The fourth section speaks to current theoretical dialogues between disability studies and queer theory that have illuminated new pathways for theorizing the intersection of disabilities and sexualities, “cripping” sociological theories, and reimagining disability within sociology. As I demonstrate, this literature is growing; however, myriad exciting opportunities for empirical and theoretical sociological exploration remain and I will conclude with a discussion of possible directions for future research.

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Recherches sur quelques anhydrides d'acides bibasiques saturés, en connexion avec la théorie de tension de v. Baeyer

Voerman¹

1904

Recl. Trav. Chim. Pays‐Bas Belg.

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You Have to be Normal to be Abnormal: An Empirically Grounded Exploration of the Intersection of Asexuality and Disability

Cited by 33 publications

References 40 publications

‘“Asexual” Isn’t Who I Am’: The Politics of Asexuality

‘“Asexual” Isn’t Who I Am’: The Politics of Asexuality

Cripping sexualities: An analytic review of theoretical and empirical writing on the intersection of disabilities and sexualities

Recherches sur quelques anhydrides d'acides bibasiques saturés, en connexion avec la théorie de tension de v. Baeyer

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