What is Asexuality?
Asexuality is the term for those who experience little-to-no sexual attraction towards others, regardless of their gender. Like everything in life, asexuality exists on a spectrum, which includes:
- Grey-asexuality – those on the ace spectrum who rarely experience sexual attraction.
- Demisexual – a type of grey-asexuality where the individual might only develop sexual attraction with someone they already have developed a strong emotional bond with.
Some of those on the ace spectrum may still experience romantic attraction towards others or desire a similar type of relationship. Those who do not experience romantic attraction are aromantic, and the aromantic spectrum uses a similar terminology to the ace spectrum.
Intimacy ≠ Sex
What can Asexual Intimacy Look Like?
Closeness
Intimacy can be found in proximity; simply sharing space with the other person. For Courtney and Royce, it is an underappreciated bedroom activity – reading. “There’s an incredible amount of closeness that can be achieved by curling up together over the same book and taking turns reading aloud to one-another.” For Bubbli, that can just mean “working on our laptops next to each other.”
Shared Activities
Katie developed a close friendship with her now queer-platonic partner after divorcing her husband. “We often go out on what others might describe as dates, like going out to dinner and a show or a museum.” For Courtney and Royce, it is non-sexual forms of play, like board and video games.
Marie is aromantic-asexual and in a polyamorous relationship, and they enjoy painting on each other nude. “It is vulnerable being partly nude and having them pay such close attention to parts of my body. The soft and gentle touch of a brush or crayon is calming, and knowing it comes from my partner highlights the deep connection.”
For Miguel, who identifies as aegosexual and is dating an asexual woman, it’s watching porn and masturbating together, each consuming content relating to their own specific kinks.
Non-sexual Contact
“I cuddle, big or little spoon, stroking the head and massaging sore joints. We enjoy kissing, but for me, more little kisses, like a forehead kiss, a quick kiss, is my favourite way to show intimacy,” says Bubbli.
Both Miguel and his partner are sex-repulsed but also enjoy other similar forms of physical contact. He is also attracted to feet and likes to give his partner foot massages. Although they do not desire sex, that is not reflective of how much physical attraction they experience towards each other. “I find her to be the most attractive woman I have ever met, and as far as I know, she also considers me to be attractive.”
Elyssa, who is asexual, has been in a romantic relationship with a pansexual woman for 10 years. “We change in front of each other, cuddle when half or not dressed, and slap or poke each other’s bottoms or breasts a lot. It’s totally nonsexual and always for fun.” They were sexually active for a while at the start of their relationship, but Elyssa expressed that it was not something she wanted to keep engaging in, “She respected my discomfort.”
Talking
“For me intimacy is more about the gesture. . . lending me a book that you think I would like, quoting some dumb thing we both know to cheer me up, etc,” says Miguel.
When Katie was married to a straight man, she said that “physical intimacy felt transactional and compulsory.” Now, her intimacy with her partner is, “shared through deep conversations, knowing each other well enough to predict how the other will react, and planning outings we will both enjoy.”
“Being told very sincerely that I’m loved is a very platonically intimate experience for me. Spending time with them in silence watching the clouds is also intimate. Really any quiet, sincere expression of love is intimacy for me,” shares Isabelle, who is aromantic-asexual.
Closing Sentiments
Asexuality can be integral to the ability of fostering a successful relationship built on intimacy, it does not have to be a limitation. As Justin puts it, “Being ace for me means expressing, exploring, and nurturing intimacy in ways that go beyond sex or sexuality. Intimacy for me is so much more than simple sexual attraction, or sexual acts. Its value and power grow out of acts of communication, vulnerability, and care for my partner.” Asexuality and intimacy do not conflict with each other. In fact, they aid each other.
