The Asexual Spectrum: What is it?

The Asexual Spectrum encompasses all asexual identities! It is used to help people understand the types of romantic and/or sexual attraction one can have.

Source: adrimakersart

 

Before we get into the contents of the spectrum, it is important to understand that sexual attraction and romantic attraction are two different concepts. This is because folks in the asexual community can be on two different spectrums (or both!) that is, the romantic spectrum or the sexual spectrum.

The romantic spectrum defines the amount of romantic attraction one has for others.

The sexual spectrum defines the amount of sexual attraction one has for others.

 

First, let’s talk about the romantic spectrum of asexuality!

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An important distinction between the types of asexual people is whether a person is romantically attracted to others or desires romantic relationships. This is because asexual people who are romantically attracted to

others are called romantic asexual people. However, it is usually people who are NOT romantically attracted to

others who specify their type of asexuality, that of which is aromantic (which we’ll discuss later!) 

Relationships do not need to involve sex or sexual attraction in order to be valid. Many romantic relationships still involve physical contact like holding hands, hugging, and cuddling. It all depends on the comfort level of the partners in the relationship. Some asexuals even describe their interest in romance as a drive in or of itself— like a sex drive.

 

Source: infiniteth dividison

Some common romantic orientations are:

Heteroromantic    Romantically attracted to cross-sex or cross-gender people

Homoromonatic    Romantically attracted to same-sex or same-gender people

Biromantic              Romantically attracted to more than one sex or gender

The middle of the spectrum is a “gray” area. This is where grayromantic and demiromantic people identify, if they want to be labeled. 

Grayromanticism is between romantic and aromantic. It is when someone experiences romantic attraction much less often, to a lower degree, or under different circumstances than most people. They do feel romantic attraction, but only once in a while. 

 

  ← the grayromantic flag! Source: sahes-of-grayro.tumblr.com

 

Demiromanticism is when someone develops romantic attraction toward someone after becoming familiar with and emotionally fond of a person. Demiromantic people do not get crushes on strangers or people they just met/barely know. 

 

← the demiromantic flag! Source: lgbta.wikia.org

 

Both of these gray areas are not limited to just asexuals. Keep in mind that sexual and romantic attraction are different. Meaning, that a demiromantic may or may not experience sexual attraction in normative ways, but find their romantic experiences to be in between aromantic and romantic. 

With these gray area identities being so dependent on individual experience and emotion, it is solely up to the folks identifying themselves under the gray area to determine what terms are appropriate for them. So, even though you know what these terms mean, make sure to ask or be told what terms you can use to describe someone!

Then there are people who aren’t attracted to anyone romantically, they are called aromantic. Aromantic does NOT mean someone will never be in a relationship. They may stay single or pursue non-romantic partnerships. Some aromantics describe themselves as having no romantic drive, being satisfied by close friendships, and not enjoying or relating to partnered life.

Here is a scale that demonstrates the romantic asexual spectrum!

 

 

 

Now let’s talk about the asexual spectrum!

 

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Sexual attraction. Although asexuals don’t feel it, it is a part of the community. This is because it is on the opposite side of the spectrum from asexual attraction.

In the middle of this spectrum, there is graysexulity and demisexuality. 

A Graysexual is someone who occasionally does experience sexual attraction, but infriquent enough to identify within the asexual community. Many graysexuals relate to asexuals more becuase they imagine their relationships to not involve sexual attraction or don’t see their relationships in terms of sexual attraction.

 

 ← the graysexual flag! Source: just-graysexyal.tumblr.com

 

Like grayroamticism, graysexuality can be combined with another orientation descriptor. An example:

A graysexual heteroromantic person is rarely sexually attracted to others and experiences cross-gender romantic attraction more typically.

A Demisexual experiences sexual attraction only after an emotional bond develops (not necessarily love), based on qualities that can’t be perceived without first interacting with a person. 

 

← the demisexual flag! Source: everydayfeminism.com

 

Here is a scale for sexual attraction in the asexual community!

 

 

Not all people find existing definitions useful in describing their feelings or don’t want a label to limit their sex and gender. So, there are several more terms people use to describe someone in the spectrum and others don’t use any for the sake of ambiguity. This is why understanding the spectrum is so important. Not only do you now understand the different parts of the spectrum and the difference between sexual attraction and romantic attraction, but you get how the spectrum works as a singular being. This awareness is what allows the asexual community to do things like call their partner their “signifiant other” without facing discriination and invalidation or be single without being accused of being non-sociable and flawed. 

🖤🤍♡💜Thank you so much for reading! Now go show the world what you know! 🖤🤍♡💜

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Sources:

Asexuality: A Brief Introduction. United States: Asexuality Archive.com, 2012.

Being Graysexual. “Gray/Grey-Asexuality.” Accessed February 10, 2021. https://just-graysexual.tumblr.com/post/128416354776/graygrey-asexuality.

Decker, Julie Sondra. The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015.

Division, Infinitieth. “AAW2: Asexuals and Relationships.” Infinitieth Division (blog), October 19, 2015. https://infinitiethdivision.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/aaw2-asexuals-and-relationships/.

Liebowitz, Cara. “Let Them Eat Cake: On Being Demisexual.” Everyday Feminism, February 10, 2015. https://everydayfeminism.com/2015/02/let-them-eat-cake-on-being-demisexual/.

moved to adrimakesart. “Moved to Adrimakesart.” Accessed February 10, 2021. https://adriofthedead.tumblr.com/post/65540442968/okay-i-realize-this-hilariously-late-for.

More information about this topic!

Chen, Angela. Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. Boston: Beacon Press, 2020.

Decker, Julie Sondra. The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015.

“The Asexual Visibility and Education Network | Asexuality.Org.” Accessed February 10, 2021. https://www.asexuality.org/.

“Untitled.” Accessed February 10, 2021. https://acesandaros.org/.

“What Is Asexuality :: What Is Asexuality?” Accessed February 10, 2021. https://www.whatisasexuality.com/intro.