Study: 1 in 100 adults is ASexual

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-10-14 11:51am

Study: One in 100 adults asexual
Thursday, October 14, 2004 Posted: 11:34 AM EDT (1534 GMT)

LONDON, England (CNN) -- About one percent of adults have absolutely no interest in sex, according to a new study, and that distinction is becoming one of pride among many asexuals.

The new study was conducted by Anthony Bogaert, a psychologist and human sexuality expert at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario.

It was published in the latest issue of The Journal of Sex Research and is the focus of a report in this Saturday's issue of New Scientist.

Bogaert's analysis looked at responses to another study in Britain, published in 1994. That study was based on interviews of 18,000 people about their sexual practices.

It offered respondent a list of options. One read: "I have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all." One percent said they agreed with the statement.

That response level is close to the percentage of gay people in the population, which is around three percent, the New Scientist report says.

New Scientist says such studies offer insights into sexuality, the results remain controversial. "The closest we have got to understanding human asexuals comes from studies -- mostly surveys - of people who report not have sex," it says.

A 1994 survey, published by The University of Chicago Press, found that 13 percent of 3,500 respondents had no sex in the past year. Forty percent of those people said they were extremely happy or very happy with their lives.

"If asexuality is indeed a form of sexual orientation, perhaps it will not be long before the issue of 'A' pride starts attracting more attention," New Scientist says.

Activists have already started campaigning to promote awareness and acceptance of asexuality, it reports.

The Asexual Visibility and Education Network has an online store that sell items promoting awareness and acceptance on asexuality.

Among the items is a T-shirt with the slogan, "Asexuality: it's not just for amoebas anymore."

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-10-14 11:53am

And 1 in a million is NUKESEXUAL

Code: Select all

 :luv:  :luv:

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2004-10-14 11:55am

I hope most of that 1% is men. A good woman is a terrible thing to waste.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 11:58am

Wow, that makes two of my friends who are asexual...

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-10-14 12:02pm

I suppose I'd qualify as a slamsexual... not quite asexual though.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-10-14 12:05pm

I just can't conceive of not being sexually attracted to a woman (or man if you're a gay male) at all. This is most disturbing.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-10-14 12:06pm

So how do you qualify "asexuality," just ask people if they've ever been sexually attracted to someone? This doesn't strike me as very scientific, it would probably be better to sit a bunch of people down and have them watch porno, and observe their reactions.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:07pm

I know a couple people that are not attracted to people, nd have no interest in sexual activity.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:08pm

It is par for the course in my existence, and this doesnt shock me at all

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-10-14 12:11pm

Then what do they think about when they masturbate?

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:12pm

At least one of them, doesnt masturbate, I dont know about the other.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-14 12:13pm

How many of these people who report zero sexual desire and great happiness with their lives just "happen" to be insane religious zealots?

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:16pm

Darth Wong wrote:How many of these people who report zero sexual desire and great happiness with their lives just "happen" to be insane religious zealots?

Neither of the ones I know.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2004-10-14 12:20pm

I had no idea being asexual was so common, I had thought I was a wee bit more alone in that regard. Now I can claim I am part of a real group; instead of attempting to describe it I can tell people "Oh, I'm asexual."
Soo much easier.

Oh, and masterbating.. well it's something that biology requires every now and then of me, but I don't enjoy it.

And I am not religious, thank you very much

Shark Bait · Post by **Shark Bait** » 2004-10-14 12:24pm

Well I for one am asexual I dont find women terrably attractive, they are usually interesting people and a bit more deep than men so i'd rather spend time with them but I really dont find myself feeling much arrousal from the thought of them. I am not a "religious zealots" I have a fairly liberal set of beliefs concerning that, but its not a question composed entierly of morals it's more biological I think I've never been terrably attracted to anyone and most of the time I dont care what people look like. the girls I have dated I did not find them pritty really when I started dating them i found them to be interesting people and good friends whom i wanted to be closer to, and later I was able to notice how they looked and for a time fool myself into trying to be sexually attracted to them. My few attempts at sex have been dismal failures where I did not reach climax by any stretch of the immagination and which led to some really horrible emotional conflicts. Currently I have not had sex in over two years and i'm quite allright with that I'm actually very happy with who i am and how i'm living my life. Sure every now and then i'm a little jelous when i hear how much fun my room mates are having but then I look at the shallow individuals they are and realize its better for me to be an asexual.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2004-10-14 12:27pm

Hehe, I've never even had a date of any kind. Not even a borderline fuzzy kinda yes kinda no; I've never had a date, or kissed anyone but my mom. And it does not bother me.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:27pm

The Silence and I wrote:I had no idea being asexual was so common, I had thought I was a wee bit more alone in that regard. Now I can claim I am part of a real group; instead of attempting to describe it I can tell people "Oh, I'm asexual."
Soo much easier.

Oh, and masterbating.. well it's something that biology requires every now and then of me, but I don't enjoy it.

And I am not religious, thank you very much

Yeah... problem is humans produce more sperm than is reabsorbed. If you dont, you my get an infection or hemospermia.... not like you would notice the hemospermia.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2004-10-14 12:30pm

Oddly though, I can be attracted to faces--but it's something else. It isn't sexual, and it can be a face of any gender. *shrug* I usually find an urge to draw such faces before forgetting them, but that's about it.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:31pm

The Silence and I wrote:Oddly though, I can be attracted to faces--but it's something else. It isn't sexual, and it can be a face of any gender. *shrug* I usually find an urge to draw such faces before forgetting them, but that's about it.

Aesthetics?

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-14 12:32pm

probably bad spelling there....

Shark Bait · Post by **Shark Bait** » 2004-10-14 12:33pm

While on the subject of mastrabation, truth be told I havent since I got to college too many other people arround it weirds me out cant even really get hard which further proves my asexuality because my room mates constantly play porno on their computers.

Sokartawi · Post by **Sokartawi** » 2004-10-14 12:35pm

I'm one of those. Thought it was more uncommon then 1 in a 100 though. I find it revolting that there is a group of people that want to sell stuff for asexuals, and I wouldn't like to get in an attention-whoring group with other asexuals just for the sake of "look at us, we're different!"

Good news for the crowd that hates me I'd say, since it's unlikely that I'll reproduce.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-10-14 12:56pm

Uh... I was just kidding around with the masturbation comment. Still, makes you wonder.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2004-10-14 12:57pm

Darth Wong wrote:How many of these people who report zero sexual desire and great happiness with their lives just "happen" to be insane religious zealots?

I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they all are that way. I know that sounds stereotypical but I'll be damned if like minds don't think alike.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-14 12:58pm

Sokartawi wrote:I'm one of those.

You don't sound like you're particularly happy with life, though.