jean_genie Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 This editorial by Eva Bratholm was in Dagbladet, the second largest tabloid in Norway (also the most popular Norwegian newspaper on the web), on December 26. I translated it myself, so sorry if it's not that good. I thought it was strange that this paper, a tabloid that "everyone" reads, would write something about this subject. What do you think? "Sexuality no. 4" Asexuals are feeling discriminated; they demand the right to be completely uninterested in sex. A sexual orientation just like straight, gay and bi. This is how asexuals characterise themselves. They are now calling for an end to all discrimination, and more respect for their non-interest in sex. The organisation of this fourth sexuality is of course taking place in the US, with the gathering point being the web site www.asexuality.org. There, asexuals can find like-minded people, chat with them, read about international groups, tell their life stories, buy official merchandise and shop for clothes that signalise a sexual drive below zero. "Asexuality, it's not just for amoebas anymore", one of the pink t-shirts say. It is of course a reference to one-celled organisms that do not mate. Asexual underwear can also be purchased. A solid, airy pair of panties say "it's only underwear. Get over it". You might think this is some kind of protest against sexuality pervading every aspect of society, a group that's had enough of porn being a part of everyday life, selling everything from sofa cushions to vacuum cleaners. But no, these asexuals are saying that this is something far deeper than a reaction to the "sexification" of society. "My whole life I've never even been interested in sex. I see it the same way I see mathematics. I get the concept, but I don't have any interest in it", one female writer, age 40, writes. Some write that they may be lacking a mental mechanism; the body is simply blind and deaf to sexual signals. The symbol they have chosen to represent this is a triangle on its end, with a dark spot at the bottom, almost like a stop sign. "HAVE YOU TRIED?" is one question the 1200 members of Asexual Visibility and Educational Network are sick and tired of hearing. "My friends think that since I'm asexual, I must be innocent, that I must be a virgin. They think once you've experimented with sex, there's no way back. The opposite is true. Living as an asexual is not about closing doors, it's about finding new ones", one girl writes on the website's shopping page. The New Scientist has written about the asexual movement and researched seuxal non-interest in nature. In the 1980s, a series of experiments on rats and gerbils showed that about 12% of the males did not show the least bit of interest in the females they were locked up with. The experiment was repeated ten years later with goats, and 10% of them also showed no interest. The New Scientist has also found the asexual community's unofficial leader, David Jay of St. Louis. A dark-haired, attractive 22 year old man, he's never had sex and can't even imagine it ever happening. But he's great at giving his friends hugs, the magazine writes. Link to post Share on other sites
Live R Perfect Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Thankyou for posting this for us Jean :) Link to post Share on other sites
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