A-Spec Exclusionist
| ⚠ WARNING ⚠ |
|---|
|
This page covers topics that some readers might find sensitive or contentious. It is the responsibility of the reader to use their own judgment and discretion when interpreting and applying the information provided. We remind all readers that this wiki is dedicated to providing a neutral and educational source of information. Our content presents a wide range of historical and contemporary views, both inclusive and exclusive. The presence of any information within our articles does not imply endorsement or agreement by the wiki. |
A-Spec Exclusionists are individuals that believe that asexual and aromantic individuals (or those on the asexual, aromantic, or other anattractional spectrums) are not or should not be considered part of the LGBT+ community.
Individuals who are for the inclusion of a-spec individuals are called inclusionists, and the argument between the two groups is often called 'ace discourse'.[1]
A 2012 study concluded that asexual individuals were overall more dehumanized than heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual individuals.[2]
A-Spec Exclusionist Ideology
Denial of Oppression
Aspects of asexual exclusion stems from the idea that anattractional individuals are not oppressed or discriminated against.[1] One argument opposes the idea that queerness requires some sort of discrimination.[3] Other arguments affirm that asexual individuals do experience discrimination, being subject to bullying, mocking, erasure, alienation, and more.[4] Because of this, the concept of coming out often extends to those who identify as asexual.[3]
Denial of Asexuality
Some individuals claim that asexuality as a concept does not exist, and that all human beings have some level of sexual attraction to one or more genders, and thus asexuality does not belong to the LGBT+ community or other marginalized orientation groups.[5]
Social arguments include exclusionists believing that the supposedly asexual individual has not experienced sexual attraction due to not having met 'the right person', being too fussy, or being too old or too young to identify as such.[5][3] Some argue that their lack of attraction stems from a medical (psychological or psychical) problem that can be cured.[6][7][8] Exclusionary individuals may also compare asexuality to celibacy, believing that one's asexuality is a voluntary choice rather than an orientation. Many also do not distinguish the difference between orientation and libido (also known as sex drive), believing that asexuality is synonymous with having a lower than average libido.[5]
Asexuality vs Allosexual Queers
Due to asexuality's lack of attraction, some deem that asexuality does not belong within the LGBT+ umbrella - defining the umbrella as a group of orientations that do experience sexual attraction (allosexual). This divide is further increased by those that are repulsed by sex (apothisexual), or are sex-negative.[5] In contrast, many inclusionist individuals define LGBT+ as a concept to include any marginalized or queer identity, regardless of how many genders one may be attracted to.[3] Joe Morgan wrote:
While Michael feels that way, some asexuals don’t want to be a part of the LGBTI community. It’s too sex focused, some say, and there is a danger of alienating people who don’t want to be a part of that conversation.[5]
However, many asexual individuals identify as sex-positive, or enjoy sex both physically and conceptually. Some asexual individuals may experience small amount of attractions (greysexual) that may relate to some allosexual experiences, of whom may even identify with both asexual and allosexual terms such as bi demisexual or gay cupiosexual.[5]
Resources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Smith, Alyssa. "The Discourse: An Online Debat". Comparative Media Studies, Jun, 2017, https://cmsw.mit.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alyssa-Smith-The-Discourse-An-Online-Debate.pdf.
- ↑ Hodson, Gordon. "Prejudice Against “Group X” (Asexuals)". Psychology Today, 1 Sep, 2012, https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/without-prejudice/201209/prejudice-against-group-x-asexuals.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mosbergen, Dominique. "LGBT, Asexual Communities Clash Over Ace Inclusion". Huffpost, 21 Jun, 2013, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lgbt-asexual_n_3385530.
- ↑ "The A is Here to Stay". National LGBTQ Task Force, 30 Apr, 2013, https://web.archive.org/web/20180310174238/https://thetaskforceblog.org/2013/04/30/the-a-is-here-to-stay/. Archived on 10 Mar, 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Morgan, Joe. "Here are the 11 biggest asexual myths busted". GayStarNews, 30 Mar, 2015, https://web.archive.org/web/20150401091428/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/here-are-11-biggest-asexual-myths-busted300315/#gs.WGdb_kM. Archived on 1 Apr, 2015.
- ↑ Clark-Flory, Tracy. ""House" gets asexuality wrong". Salon, 31 Jan, 2012, https://www.salon.com/2012/01/31/house_gets_asexuality_wrong/.
- ↑ The McGill Daily. "Anything but lacking". Eléa, 21 Nov, 2017, https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2017/11/anything-but-lacking/#:~:text=which%20must%20be%20medically%20cured..
- ↑ Petter, Olivia. "Former asexual person reveals experiences: 'partners pushed me to go to the doctor to get 'fixed". Independent, 19 Oct, 2017, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/asexual-person-partners-doctor-fixed-sexual-urges-attraction-lgbtq-a7966596.html.
