Studying the Affects of the Erasure of Asexual History on Contemporary Asexual Culture

[Iona_]

Hello all, 

 

I'm writing a research essay for my diversity class at uni, and my selected topic is asexual history. I would like to focus on asexual erasure and its affect on contemporary asexuals. So far the best leads I've found are from the article "The history of asexuality," from asexuals.net (https://www.asexuals.net/the-history-of-asexuality/). 

 

I would really like some older evidence of asexuality (1800s or earlier), as well as evidence of erasure or dismissal in the form of socio-political rebuttal. 

 

Since this is for serious research purposes, I would humbly ask this thread not be spammed with uncertain information. I ask that any generous person looking to assist me please read the website I linked above before posting suggestions. I appreciate any help, but please do not go to great lengths to find me the perfect source, as I am purely looking for search terms to find my own resources. 

 

Thanks!

[LeChat]

@Iona_ Hi. Welcome! 

 

(Below is an official, green, mod message.)

 

Hi! I'm just letting you know your thread was moved from the "Philosophy, Politics, and Science" forum to the "Visibility and Education Projects" forum.

 

Good luck, with your project!

 

LeChat,

Welcome Lounge, Announcements, and Alternate Language moderator

(covering the Philosophy, Politics, and Science" forum)

[thylacine]

That article is really interesting.  I really enjoyed reading it.  Thank you for sharing that.

[Iona_]

19 hours ago, LeChat said:

@Iona_ Hi. Welcome! 

 

(Below is an official, green, mod message.)

 

Hi! I'm just letting you know your thread was moved from the "Philosophy, Politics, and Science" forum to the "Visibility and Education Projects" forum.

 

Good luck, with your project!

 

LeChat,

Welcome Lounge, Announcements, and Alternate Language moderator

(covering the Philosophy, Politics, and Science" forum)

Thank you, I wasn't sure if I was allowed to post in that topic since it looked official. 

[LeChat]

@Iona_ You're welcome!

I understand. No problem!

[Horse Ham Radio]

There's this presentation:

 

There's also this history of asexuality in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) from 1974-2015, which might interest you. I unfortunately only have these images - no reference to dig deeper into this sadly 😕

 

 

[Lord Happy Toast]

If you want 19th century evidence of asexuality, check out Psychopathia Sexualis by Richard von Krafft-Ebing. Some of the early case studies sound like what we'd call asexuality today (there's some discussion of it in the dissertation linked in my signature in section 3.1).  If you're interested in the history of asexual communities, the best sources are Asexuality BC (Before Cake) and the aforementioned dissertation.  (I recommend chapter 1.3, maybe chapter 3, definitely chapter 4 and 5.4).

[ruleofthree]

Here are some long-standing fictional characters that were written to be asexual

• According to the Tale of Ragnar's Sons from the 13th century, Viking warlord Ivar the Boneless "had no children, because of the way he was: with no lust or love."
• Possibly the character of Emelye from Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale" in his The Canterbury Tales. She is forced into a marriage against her will, and if she had her way would definitely prefer to stay unmarried.
• Sherlock Holmes, from the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories. Throughout his long career he shows absolutely no interest pursuing any physical or romantic relationships with anyone, and never marries. Even his admiration for Irene Adler comes purely from her success at outmaneuvering him and not from any physical characteristics. Doyle even writes " It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise, but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen; but, as a lover, he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions..." The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) in "A Scandal in Bohemia" (Doubleday p. 161)
• The character of Jughead, created 1942 https://gizmodo.com/this-weeks-jughead-comic-will-reaffirm-that-jughead-is-1757915686
• Zonker from the long-running Doonesbury comic is definitely ace, and probably aro as well (1970+).

Some nonfiction historical figures:

• This Duke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Emmanuel_de_Vignerot_du_Plessis,_5th_Duke_of_Richelieu was likely asexual; appear that way in this description and Aragon alludes to this in La Semaine Sainte. The first in a long line of dukes to not have offspring; managed to get the title transferred to his half sister. 
• The first answer to this post gives a list of eighteen possible historical figures who may have been asexual 18 Figures From History who may have been Asexual