Asexuals are people who do not experience sexual attraction to anyone. They may or may not have romantic feelings for others. Many societies view them as non-existent or abnormal because of their lack of sexual behavior. This perception often results from ignorance about asexuality, stereotypes, and myths that assume everyone must be sexually attracted to someone. Asexuals feel invisible, invalidated, and misunderstood when they don't fit into society's sexual norms.
Increased representation can help change these views.
I will discuss how social and cultural mechanisms perpetuate the invisibility of asexual individuals. I will also explore how increased representation could improve their psychological well-being.
Let us understand what asexuality is. It is a sexual orientation like heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or pansexuality. It differs from celibacy, which involves choosing not to engage in sexual activity but still experiencing sexual desire. Like other orientations, it cannot be changed or cured; it's innate.
Society has historically assumed that everyone experiences sexual attraction, making asexuals seem "broken" or "weird." Some religious organizations, such as the Catholic Church, consider them deviant due to their disinterest in sex. Others believe they haven't had enough sexual encounters to know if they prefer sex over love. These assumptions create stigma around asexuality, causing asexuals to fear coming out, resulting in isolation and depression.
Media representations rarely show asexual characters positively, further alienating them. Most movies and TV shows portray asexuals as quirky, lonely, or awkward, reinforcing negative stereotypes.
Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory is an asexual character who lacks social skills and struggles with emotional intimacy.
He isn't seen as someone worthy of love or romance. Asexuals feel alone when they don't see themselves represented accurately in the media, especially when society tells them there's something wrong with being asexual.
We can improve asexual recognition by increasing representation. This could mean adding asexual characters to media and educating people about what asexuality is. Such actions would help reduce stigma and empower asexuals to embrace their identity without shame or guilt. In turn, this would increase self-esteem and psychological well-being, leading to better relationships and overall happiness.
What social and cultural mechanisms perpetuate the invisibility of asexual individuals, and how can increased representation improve social recognition and psychological well-being?
According to research, there are several social and cultural factors that contribute to the invisibility of asexual individuals. One such factor is the lack of knowledge about asexuality in mainstream media and popular culture. Asexuality is not commonly portrayed or discussed in books, movies, television shows, and other forms of entertainment, which means that many people are unaware of its existence.