Myth
1) Asexuality is the same as celibacy. People who are asexual should be admired because they are choosing to abstain from sex, which is a sin. What a clever form of birth control.
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Reality
1) Asexuality and celibacy are completely different. Being celibate is when an individual refrains from having sex due to religious beliefs or other personal reasons. This doesn't necessarily mean that they don't want to have sex, but they choose, or are forced not to. Asexuality is when individuals don't have any desire to participate in sex. These individuals aren't making the conscious decision to abstain from sex. Asexuality revolves more around the underlying feelings involved about sex, rather than the behavior.
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2) Asexual people can't or don't ever want to be in a relationship.
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2) This describes people who identify more specifically as aromantic, which is a more finite subtype of asexuality. The general identity of asexuality is more focused on the absence of the desire to engage in sexual activity, regardless of whether an individual has romantic feelings towards other people or not. Many asexuals are in committed relationships of varying magnitudes. Some asexuals are comfortable with kissing, and others don't have the desire for any physical affection, but still strive for an emotional connection.
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3) You don't know if you don't like it unless you try it.
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3) This is not the case. Some people have tried engaging in sexual activity in the past and it's either awkward or they simply don't feel anything. Other people have never tried sex before, but they have no desire to, so why should they try it. It as an internalized identity that asexuals have thoroughly thought through before accepting. Another way to think about it is straight people know they're straight without having gay sex, or gay people know they're gay without having straight sex. It is no different for asexuals.
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4) Being asexual means you are physically unable to have sex. Your sex organs must be messed up or something.
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4)
Asexuality has nothing to do with the inability to have sex, but emphasizes the lack of desire to engage in sexual activity. As mentioned above, asexuality has more to do with the intrinsic self-identity than one's behavior.
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5) You're deprived if you're not having loads of sex.
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5) You can't be deprived if you don't have the desire to do something. Asexual people aren't pleased by sex, so they are actually more happy by not having sex. Another common misconception is that asexuals never masturbate. While some don't, others do. Asexuality emphasizes the lack of sexual attraction towards others, regardless of whether or not they please themselves.
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