What Do You Want To See?

[VZwolf]

What's up, guys? VZ here. Hope I don't need permission to post here.

Long story short: I currently study Journalism. Before joining AVEN I wanted to do some research into Asexuality to write some articles and do a bit of, well, visibility and education, but upon realising I was Asexual I got a bit distracted with all the shiny buttons and cake and now I want to get back into the swing of things. And I want to hear your thoughts.

So, the main question is:

What do you guys want to see (more of*) in the media with regards to Gender, Autism and A/Sexuality?

By this, it can also be related things, such as the distinction between sexual and romantic orientations, a/sexuality in sex education, things you think people need to know -- whatever you might want to put out there. Autism is included because it's also a personal area of interest and I've heard that there may be a correlation between Asexuality and Autism (which I will look into at some point).

*(More of) basically means it might have been addressed already but not enough, or was addressed poorly. If this is the case I'm very open to knowing what went wrong so I can learn from those mistakes and avoid repeating them.

The articles will be published either onto AVEN (if permissible) and/or onto a blog or somewhere else I'll link to in this thread at a later date. I'm also very open to the articles being reviewed and hearing some constructive criticism.

Please send me questions, suggestions and whatever else you want to comment either here and/or through Private Message. Discussions of ideas are also welcome and encouraged in this thread. Thank you!

VZ

[veearrell]

I'm autistic and while I don't think that has anything to do with my being ace, I think it probably is a factor in my being repulsed by physical intimacy. Even as a child, I hated going to church because church people (at least in my neck of the woods) are very touchy-feely and that always made me extremely uncomfortable. I don't remember this, but my mom tells me she cried the first time I hugged her because I never did for many years. Take that for whatever it's worth.

[Frigid Pink]

I'd really like to see more focus on asexuality as a valid and okay way to be vs. a mental illness or disorder, especially with that new medication approved for "hypoactive sexual desire disorder." I really think that asexuality visibility and education will improve once the medical community is more aware and supportive.

[TooOldForThis]

I can think of a few things:

In regards to asexuality and autism, I've seen a number of articles saying that they are not the same, and that being asexual does not make you autistic, and vice-versa. All of which is true, but it might be nice for such articles to also note that it's completely possible to be both, if relatively uncommon. Otherwise therapists or just laypeople might start thinking that if a person is autistic, they can't be asexual, or the other way 'round.

For asexuality and gender, it might be useful if more articles mentioned that asexuality has nothing to do with gender. Yes, as things stand, statistics and surveys have recorded more asexual ladies than asexual gentlemen and non-binary people, but it's not as though the latter categories don't exist! And I've met a few people who have assumed that only women can be asexuals before now. Obviously my very existence corrects them in short order, but not everyone with this misconception is likely to be corrected.

Lastly, most of the articles on asexuality that I've seen have been just about asexuality, almost like 101s. As there is (obviously) more to asexual people than their orientation, it might be helpful to have articles which address the intersections between asexuality and other issues, or which only mention asexuality as a secondary subject, maybe as part of a list of factors having an effect on person's situation, or something.

Not that I would expect one person to address all of this :D I worked on a newspaper for a few years, and know how tricky it can be to get articles about relatively obscure subjects published.

[Hazelton]

Personally, all I want is acknowledgement and acceptance.

[Purnkin Spurce]

I'd like to see more focus on asexuality as a legit orientation. More recognition in movies and tv shows, as in not showing asexuals as people devoid of love and affection and not emotionally impaired. More recognition of trans folks and seeing them as the genders and identities they truly identify with and not what the media does. I would also like to learn more about Autism as well. There needs to be more documentaries, more pod casts, more interviews, more movies and media attention (positive attention that is.)

[Sandraisme360]

I would like to see some discution on the difference of sexual attraction and romantic attraction. I think many people don't know there is a difference. Had I new more about that it would have helped me a lot. I would also like to know more ways on how to talk about it.

[demiandproud]

Might be good to keep an eye out for contributions to this month's Carnival of Aces, since this fits in well with their theme, what you want to see happen for Asexuality, representation and visibility amongst other things. This is the Call for Submissions if you want a little more info: http://writer-ace.tumblr.com/post/125601576094/august-2015-carnival-of-aces-call-for-submissions

[Sunlight Writing]

I think the end goal for asexuality is to be able to tell someone your asexual and not have to explain what it is. As far as what I want to see goes, asexual characters in non-realistic fiction. Like, not a character in a family drama that them being asexual is a thing, just something like a fantasy character in a fantasy world and it's just like "Oh, they're asexual, moving on with our lives." and then we get one more asexual character added to the list.

[Lover Of Cats And Cake]

I'd love to see more articles being written about aromantic asexuals. We're not cold, loveless a**wipes, and I think more people outside of AVEN and Tumblr need to know that.