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What are asexuality and demisexuality? Do I need to put a label on my feelings?

Profile: Bossuet
Bossuet on May 28, 2015
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Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction. Demisexuality is when sexual attraction is only ever formed after knowing a person well. Grey-asexuality is when you rarely experience sexual attraction. It is important to note that sexual attraction, romantic attraction, and aesthetic attraction are all different. While it is not necessary to label your feelings (particularly if you are comfortable with how you feel), labels can provide supportive communities, validation, and a better understanding of yourself. Labels are never necessary, but exist for if you need them.
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Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Aug 31, 2015
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Labels can help validate how you feel and find others who feel similarly, but you never need a label if you don't want one. You can also change your label at any point, if you find one you feel more comfortable with or describes you better. Asexuality is both an individual label and the name of a spectrum of labels that includes demisexuality. An asexual person does not experience sexual attraction at all, whereas a demisexual person will only experience sexual attraction to some people they've formed close emotional bonds with. Sexual attraction is a gut feeling, pull, or allure toward a specific person in which you want to partake in sexual activities with them. An asexual person never feels this, whereas someone on the asexual spectrum may feel it occasionally. Many demisexual people experience it just a few times in their lives, and sometimes start out identifying as asexual until they learn more about themselves. Someone not on the asexual spectrum, in comparison, will feel sexual attraction as often as several times a day. However, sexual is only one of many types of attraction, and someone on the asexual spectrum may (or may not) feel other types of attraction, such as romantic. However you feel, whether there's a label for it or not, whether you want a label or not, it's real and valid and normal and okay.
Profile: amiableAmy
amiableAmy on Jun 6, 2015
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Asexuality typically describes a lack of sexual attraction with low or no sexual activity. Demisexuality typically describes an inability to feel sexual attraction without a strong emotional bond. Labeling your sexual identity can be a helpful means of articulating your preferences to others or yourself. However, if you feel a specific label doesn't accurately or entirely reflect your feelings, it won't convey the correct ideas & there is no obligation to use it.
Profile: amazingHeart17
amazingHeart17 on Oct 16, 2015
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Demisexuality is basically where you are not attracted to someone unless you have formed an emotional connection with someone. There are different aspects of demisexuality, hetero demisexuality, homo demisexuality, bi demisexuality, etc. Asexuality also has different aspects, but the general definition is not having sexual attractions towards people. And you do not have to put labels on your feelings if you don't want to. I think that these labels have been put together to help give a sense of community, because it is sometimes hard to be completely accepted as a queer person. Labels are not for everyone, it's more of a personal preference.
Profile: trenchcoatangel
trenchcoatangel on Jan 22, 2015
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Someone who is asexual does not really feel sexual attraction. A demisexual can be sexually attracted to people but usually has a deep emotional connection to the person first. You don't ever need to label yourself if you don't feel comfortable with it but some people like myself like to have labels.
Profile: Sempiternal199
Sempiternal199 on Jan 25, 2015
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No, you never have to put a label on your feelings. Nothing ever has to be labeled, it's just how our society works. Society feels the need to label everything, but you don't have to label yourself
Profile: Artemidesia
Artemidesia on May 19, 2017
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Asexuality is when you are not sexually attracted to any person. Demisexuality is when you are sexually attracted to a person only after forming an emotional bond with them. Putting a label on your feelings is a personal choice. It is not necessary to label everything but if you feel like you'll be more comfortable after labelling yourself, then why not? Labels might help you understand yourself better but towards the end, they are just a personal choice. Some people don't like labelling themselves while some people do.
Profile: julesap3
julesap3 on May 30, 2016
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Asexuality is that you don't feel sexual attraction to other people. That doesn't mean you don't feel sexual at all. Some asexuals are sex repulsed while others don't find it necessary in a relationship. Demisexuality is that you only feel sexual attraction to the person you are dating. You never have to put a label on your feelings if you aren't comfortable or don't know how to label yourself. You can just go with the flow.
Profile: Cyprinn
Cyprinn on Sep 6, 2016
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Asexuality is when you generally don't feel sexual attraction or desire to any group of people. Demisexuality is when you don't experience sexual attraction UNLESS they have formed a strong emotional relationship with another person. You do not need to put a label on your feelings - only you know how you feel. Labels aren't necessary. You feel what you feel and that's OK.
Profile: charmingBeauty55
charmingBeauty55 on Feb 27, 2018
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Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others, or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity. demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone. Feelings has no labels, they r free and no one have the right to label your feelings ❤
Profile: Aayla
Aayla on Jun 10, 2019
LGBTQ+ Issues Expert
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Asexuality is an orientation that consists in not feeling sexual attraction towards anyone, but romantic attraction is still possible. Demisexuality consists in only feeling sexual attraction towards people to whom you are deeply emotionally/romantically connected. There is no necessity for you to label yourself if you don't feel comfortable with labels or if you feel no label correctly describes who you are. Labels are only there to be used when it makes you feel comfortable, they don't have to become a burden, and they're not mandatory at all!
Profile: bunnyofdarkness
bunnyofdarkness on Apr 1, 2015
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You never need to put a label on your feelings. Some people like labels because they make them feel part of a group, but if you don't feel a label fits you you don't need to use one. Follow your own feelings. Asexuality is an absence of sexual desires. Demisexuality is less well defined (I think), but is essentially that you don't feel sexual feelings until you have formed a deep emotional connection.
Profile: JinkzKitty
JinkzKitty on Jun 10, 2015
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Asexual is a lack of sexual desire. Demisexual is a sexual desire that is only built after an emotional connection has been established. You should never feel like you need to label yourself even if these do sound like you though.
Profile: AndyWithers
AndyWithers on Jun 22, 2015
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Asexual -> Someone who is not sexually attracted to people, and an umbrella for asexuality-related | Demisexual -> Someone who experiences sexual attraction only after an emotional connection has been formed.A demisexual is someone who is only sexually attracted to people whith whom they have established a close emotional bond. | And no,you dont need to! :)
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Sep 22, 2015
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You do not unless it makes you feel better. As for asexuality and demisexuality, Asexuality is NO sexual attraction and Demisexuality is having sexual attraction AFTER forming a very strong bond.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 22, 2015
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Asexuality is when you don't feel sexual attraction to anyone. You may still feel romantic attraction, and you may still want to have sex. It's "I want to have sex," (for some people) but not "I want to have sex with you in particular." Demisexual is asexual except after getting to know a person and forming a connection with them, then maybe the "I want to have sex with you in particular," will develop. You absolutely don't need a label. If you don't find a fitting one, and are comfortable with not having one, you don't need to keep searching.
Profile: cvga
cvga on Mar 7, 2016
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an asexual person is someone that does not feel any sexual drive for another person, whoever a demisexual person is someone that may have a sexual drive but only with someone that has created a strong emotional bond, and labels are not necessary as long as you feel comfortable with you are
Profile: Greatlistener87
Greatlistener87 on Apr 25, 2016
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Asexuality:without sexual feelings or associations & Demisexuality: A demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone. This 2 sexuality are different in their own ways. It is good if you can identify who u are for yourself and not for anyone else. Labeling yourself is just so that people can put a label on what you are and that is not important.
Profile: Claire91
Claire91 on May 30, 2016
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Disclaimer: I am not an expert, but I will try to answer this question as best I can, and hopefully in a non offensive manner! From what I know, asexuality refers to a sexual orientation in which one does not feel a desire to have sexual intercourse. I believe romantic love is still present, but sex is not of interest. If I'm remembering correctly, demisexuality is on the spectrum of asexuality; however, those who are demisexual may still have the desire for sex but tend to form romantic relationships cautiously and slowly. There is definitely a better definition for demisexuality that I am forgetting right now, so I apologize. As for needing to put a label on your feelings, I would say NO, you do not need to label yourself if you do not want to. Many societies tend to be fixated on labeling and putting people into boxes. I personally believe sexuality is fluid. That said, I think I am generally more comfortable labeling my sexual orientation, but sometimes I feel confused about it. It is normal to feel confused, and it is normal not to put a label on your feelings. It is also normal to put a label on your feelings. The concept of normal is subjective, and no one should pressure you to put a label on your feelings. Your sexuality is /your/ decision and /your/ business. Take care!
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jul 12, 2016
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As a LGBT teen I really dislike labelling myself as I see myself as a person, no matter who I come across no matter how I feel whatever gender people are is not a concern to me. To me love is love. Labels are really not required at all! asexuality simply putting is the attraction sexually to nobody. and has no desire to anything sexually. but asexual people can still be attracted to people and have happy relationships. Where Demisexual comes in is where you can be attracted to someone and be sexually involved but only when your deeply emotional involved with that person.
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