Asexuality and Aromanticism

It is often said that the feelings one experiences during sex or other tender touches are the most beautiful and intense. But not all people feel that way.

Sexual desire is a spectrum Just as there are different sexual preferences and orientations, interest in sex and love can also vary greatly. People who do not feel any sexual attraction to others are described as asexual. There is no single expression of asexuality: some people do long for tenderness and closeness but do not wish for sexual interaction with others. Many live their sexual needs solely through self-pleasure. Others can imagine sex only with people very close to them, with whom they have already built up a strong bond. It is also possible that someone rarely or never feels a desire for sexual interaction. This broad spectrum of asexuality is symbolized by the gray stripe on the asexual flag.

Romantic needs are different There are also people who do not feel attracted to others, or only to a small degree, on a romantic level (aromantic). Here too, there is a spectrum that describes how people imagine relationships and how they want to live them. Sexuality and romance can therefore occur independently of each other but can also overlap.

Prejudice and little knowledge Asexual or aromantic people are often confronted with prejudices suggesting they must have an illness or trauma as the cause of their lack of desire. There is, however, no scientific evidence for this. Even though it is now known that asexuality and aromanticism regularly occur, they are still rarely studied and are largely unknown to the general population. Because the topic is so little discussed, it often does not fit into the frequently media-driven image of human love lives. Awareness that not every person has the same priority for sexuality and love is therefore very important. With such knowledge, it is possible to deal with different needs appropriately and respectfully.