Definitions in wikipedia

[Heimdall]

There were already some informations about asexuality on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexuality ;

I added a definition of asexuality in french :
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexualit%C3%A9

So if you wanna want to take a look at it, to see if it's acceptable. Thanks anyway.

2013 Mod Edit: Wikipedia is constantly updated, but this is what it probably looked like in 2005:

In English

Asexuality is a designation or self-designation for people who lack feelings of sexual attraction and/or sexual desire.
There is debate as to whether this is a sexual dysfunction or an actual sexual orientation; furthermore, there is disagreement over the exact definition of the word. The term is also sometimes used as a gender identity by those who believe their lack of sexual attraction places them outside the standard definitions of gender. There has been little research done on asexuality, but those studies that have been conducted suggest that, if it is a sexual orientation, it is the least commonly occurring one.

Debate

There is disagreement over whether or not asexuality is a legitimate sexual orientation. Some argue that it falls under the heading of hypoactive sexual disorder or sexual aversion disorder. Among those who do not believe it to be an orientation, other suggested causes include past sexual abuse, sexual repression (of homosexuality or otherwise), hormonal problems, delayed development of attraction, and not having met the right person. Many self-identified asexuals, meanwhile, say that these things are not true of them; they also state that, because their asexuality does not cause them distress, it should not be labeled a disorder. Others argue that, in the past, similar things were said about homosexuality, despite the fact that many people now consider it a legitimate orientation.

Because of the lack of research on the subject, there is little evidence in favor of either side of the debate.

Research

A study done on rams found that about 2% to 3% of the individuals being studied had no apparent interest in mating with either sex. Another study was done on rats and gerbils, in which up to 12% of the males showed no interest in females. Their interactions with other males were not measured, however, so the study is of limited use when it comes to asexuality.

A UK survey of sexuality included a question on sexual attraction, and 1% of respondents replied that they had "never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all." The Kinsey Institute conducted a small survey on the topic, which concluded that "asexuals appear to be better characterized by low sexual desire and sexual excitation than by low levels of sexual behavior or high sexual inhibition." That study also mentions a conflict regarding the definition of "asexual": the researchers found four different definitions in the literature, and stated that it was unclear whether those identifying as asexual were referring to an actual orientation.

Variations

There are differences among people that identify as asexual, chiefly among them the presence or absence of a sex drive or romantic attraction. Some experience only one of these, while others experience both, and still others neither. There is disagreement as to which of these configurations can genuinely be described as asexual. While a number of people believe all four variations qualify, many others believe that to be asexual, one must lack a sex drive, romantic attraction, or both.

The sex drive of those asexuals who have one is not directed at anything: it is only an urge for sexual stimulation or release. It can range from weak to strong, and from rare to frequent. Some asexuals experience sexual feelings but have no desire to act on them, while others seek sexual release, either via masturbation or through sexual contact, or both.

For those asexuals who experience feelings of romantic attraction, it can be directed towards one or both genders. These asexuals often desire romantic relationships (ranging from casual liasons to marriage) with their preferred gender or genders, but often do not want these relationships to include sexual activity. Because of their romantic orientation, some asexuals describe themselves as gay, bisexual, or straight asexuals; this is related to the concept of affectional orientation.

Those asexuals who do want romantic relationships are in a difficult position, as the majority of people are not asexual.
Asexuals able to tolerate sex can pair up with non-asexuals, but even then their lack of attraction can be psychologically
distressing to their partner, making a long-term romance difficult. Asexuals who cannot tolerate sex must either compromise with their partners and have a certain amount anyway, give their partners permission to cheat, have sexless relationships with those few who are willing, only date other asexuals, or decide to stay single.

Some asexuals use a classification system developed (and then retired) by the founder of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, one of the major online asexual communities (abbreviated as AVEN). In this system, asexuals are divided into types A through D: a Type A asexual has a sex drive but no romantic attraction, a Type B has romantic attraction but no sex drive, a Type C has both, and a Type D neither. The categories are not meant to be entirely discrete or set in stone; one's type can change, or one can be on the border between two types. Note that AVEN itself no longer uses this system, on the basis that it is too exclusive, but a number of asexuals still feel it is a useful tool for explaining their orientation.

Note that asexuality is not the same as celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity; many asexuals do have sex, and most celibates are not asexual.

Asexuality and religion

Several religions or religious sects believe that asexuality is a spiritually superior condition, and some asexuals believe
that their lack of "base desires" allows them to feel a deeper spirituality, although other asexuals consider that an elitist
attitude. In other creeds, children are considered a gift from God that should not be refused, a means of spreading religion, or both; it should be noted, though, that some asexuals do have children. Furthermore, according to some religious beliefs, sexuality itself is sacred or a divine gift; certain varieties of Tantra involve sex, for example, and some types of neopaganism include the concept of sacred sexuality.

Currently, asexuals face little religious condemnation; unlike homosexuals, for instance, they are not a target of conservative religious groups.

Asexuality in fiction

In fiction, John Braine's novel The Jealous God (1964) is a good example of sex mainly seen as a sin. On the other hand, in his science fiction novel Distress (1995), Greg Egan imagines a 22nd century world where "asex" is one out of seven acknowledged gender settings.
To quote from Distress:

"Asex was really nothing but an umbrella term for a broad
group of philosophies, styles of dress, cosmetic-surgical
changes, and deep-biological alterations. The only thing that one asex
person necessarily had in common with another was the view
that vis gender parameters (neural, endocrine,
chromosomal and genital) were the business of no one but verself,
usually (but not always) vis lovers, probably vis doctor, and
sometimes a few close friends. What a person actually did in response to
that attitude could range from as little as ticking the
"A" box on census forms, to choosing an asex name, to breast or
body-hair reduction, voice timbre adjustment, facial resculpting,
empouchment (surgery to render the male genitals retractable), all the
way to full physical and/or neural asexuality, hermaphroditism, or exoticism." (Distress, paperback ed., p. 45)

See also

• Sexual orientation
• Celibacy
• List of asexuals
• Affectional orientation
• Hermits

External links

• Asexual Visibility and Education Network
• Kinsey survey on asexuality (Power Point File)
• Guardian article on asexuality
• CNN article on asexuality
• New Scientist article on asexuality (14 October 04)
• Asexual personals

In French

L'état d'une personne (asexuelle) qui ne ressent pas le besoin de s'engager dans une relation sexuelle avec une autre personne.

L'asexualité est différente :

• du célibat, qui est un choix conscient de la part d'une personne ne voulant pas s'engager dans ces activités sexuelles (pour des raisons religieuses, philosophiques, etc.).
• de l'impuissance ou de la frigidité, qui est une incapacité physique ou psychologique d'avoir une relation sexuelle, alors que la personne impuissante souhaite pouvoir avoir cette relation.

De plus, l'asexualité n'implique pas de notion de chasteté ; de nombreux asexuels vivent en couple et ont des enfants, et c'est sans parler de tout ceux qui pratiquent l'onanisme. Dans le premier cas, il s'agit souvent d'un arrangement dans le couple, la personne asexuelle arrivant à ce compromis avec son conjoint, par amour le plus souvent.

Dans le deuxième cas, la quête de plaisir personnel est détachée de toute connotation sexuelle, la personne asexuelle ne
s'imagine pas en train de faire l'amour avec quelqu'un, elle recherche uniquement la gratification associée à la masturbation.

Les types d'orientations asexuelles sont fort variables, et on peut donc parler de personne hétéroasexuelles, omoasexuelles ou biasexuelles, sans compter celles qui ne ressentent aucune attirance d'aucune sorte envers un genre. Ces attirances sont bien sûr de type platonique dans les autres cas, et il est même possible qu'un(e) asexuel(le) trouve une personne plaisante d'un point de vue esthétique, de même que l'on peut trouver plaisante une œuvre d'art, peinture, musique, roman.

Une théorie qui permet de visualiser ces orientations est élaborée sur un site (en anglais) : [1], où il est expliqué que l'asexualité peut être vue comme un diagramme en deux dimensions : d'un côté, en X on a l'orientation classique, soit tout le spectre entre homosexuel et hétérosexuel, en passant par bisexuel, et en Y le niveau de désir sexuel pour d'autres personnes. L'asexualité se trouve alors dans toute la zone où le désir Y est faible.

Les causes de l'asexualité ne sont pas encore connues, on ne peut donc pas encore départager la part de l'inné et de l'acquis ; cependant il semble désormais clair que le phénomène ne se limite pas à l'être humain, et que certains animaux
auraient aussi une partie de leur population qui soit asexuelle, ce qui tendrait donc à prouver que l'asexualité existe, et qu'elle peut aussi devenir une orientation valable.

Quelques liens externes

2 articles en français :

• La révolution (a)sexuelle (sur doctissimo.fr)
• Les asexuels mis à nu

et 2 sites en anglais (le phénomène asexuel ne touche pas beaucoup les pays francophones pour l'instant)

• AVEN (Asexual Visibility and Education Network)
• Groupe de discussion

[Live R Perfect]

Great idea Heimdall! :D

[borrowedTime]

Cool! :vis:

Now, if a Dutch speaker could do a similar job on: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aseksualiteit...

2013 Mod Edit: Wikipedia is constantly updated, but this is what it probably looked like in 2005:

Aseksualiteit is een term die gebruikt wordt voor individuen die geen gevoelens hebben op het gebied van seksualiteit. De verlangens en lusten die normaliter opgewekt worden wanneer
individuen worden blootgesteld aan seksuele prikkels worden door hen niet herkend. Aseksuelen zijn echter wel in staat om
verliefd te worden of om liefde te voelen voor iemand anders.

Categorieën: Seksualiteit

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