#NoSexualAttraction #AsexualRelationships #NonsexualIntimacy
🌈 What do you think of the concept of a relationship with no sexual attraction? 🌈
In a world where the media often portrays relationships as purely physical, it’s important to recognize that not all connections are based on sexual attraction. A relationship without sexual chemistry might seem odd or even unfathomable to some, but for others, it’s a perfectly valid and fulfilling way to love and connect with a partner.
What exactly is a relationship with no sexual attraction, and how does it function? Let’s explore this concept in more detail.
# Understanding Asexuality
Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction. People who identify as asexual may still experience emotional intimacy and desire romantic relationships, but they do not experience sexual desire or attraction towards others.
# The Concept of Nonsexual Intimacy
Just because a relationship lacks sexual attraction doesn’t mean that it lacks intimacy. Nonsexual intimacy can be just as strong and fulfilling as physical intimacy, as it centers on emotional connection, trust, and shared experiences. Here are some examples of nonsexual intimacy:
– Emotional support and understanding
– Shared hobbies and interests
– Open communication and vulnerability
– Physical affection such as cuddling, hugging, and holding hands
# Challenges and Misconceptions
Despite the validity of relationships without sexual attraction, asexual individuals and their partners often face challenges and misconceptions from society. Some common misconceptions about asexual relationships include:
– “Asexuality is just a phase.”
– “Asexual people can’t experience love or commitment.”
– “Asexual people are broken or abnormal.”
It’s important to debunk these myths and understand that asexual relationships are just as valid and fulfilling as any other type of relationship.
# Navigating a Relationship Without Sexual Attraction
For individuals in a relationship with no sexual attraction, communication and understanding are key. Here are some tips for navigating this type of relationship:
– Open and honest communication about each individual’s needs and boundaries
– Seeking support from a therapist or counselor who understands asexuality
– Exploring different forms of intimacy, such as emotional bonding activities and physical affection
– Cultivating a strong emotional connection through shared experiences and quality time together
# Celebrating Diversity in Relationships
At the end of the day, the concept of a relationship without sexual attraction highlights the beautiful diversity of human connections. While sexual attraction is an important aspect of many relationships, it’s not the sole defining factor of love and intimacy.
By understanding and embracing asexual relationships, we can move towards a more inclusive and accepting society where all forms of love are celebrated and respected.
In conclusion, a relationship without sexual attraction is a valid and fulfilling way for individuals to connect and love each other. It’s important to recognize and respect the diversity of human relationships, and to debunk misconceptions surrounding asexual relationships. With open communication, understanding, and a celebration of nonsexual intimacy, these relationships can thrive and bring immense fulfillment to those involved. Let’s continue to celebrate love in all its beautiful forms. 🌈🌟
A romantic one? They happen and exist. There are people who are asexual but are still romantic, so that could be ideal for them. There are long term relationships where sexual attraction has long since faded for whatever reason but the couple are still madly in love with each other.
So, it happens and some people are very happy with those relationships. Some people would hate that, so they would be incompatible with those who want that kind of relationship.
Not for me, but people can do what they want. A strictly platonic or asexual but romantic relationship is perfectly suited to some people.
I’m sure it happens all the time. I think it’s wonderful that there’s love and happiness to be found for people who for different reasons aren’t interested in having sex, as well as for long term couples where the sexual interest is gone but the love remains and triumphs the former.
As for me personally? No thanks. If I have feelings, there’s sexual attraction (and the other way around, for that matter), so the other scenario would be a fully platonic friendship only.
It’s not for me personally, but I don’t care how others live their lives.
Never been in one, don’t care to be in one.
Physical intimacy and emotional connection are incredibly important in my marriage and I can’t imagine not being sexually attracted to my husband.
Asexuals exist and seem to live good lives this way. I don’t have a problem with it if both people are in an agreement.
It’s not a concept, it’s a normal thing. Romantic attraction isn’t the same as sexual attraction. Plenty of asexuals experience romantic attraction and some even have sex if they’re not sex-repulsed, as a way to keep their allosexual partner satisfied.
Personally, I’m sex repulsed but still haven’t figured out my romantic orientation, but if I would be alloromantic, it’d be a relationship as detailed in the title
Not for me but if it works for everyone in the relationship, all credit to them
Yes, asexual people exist. I’m not one of them.
It’s really that simple lol?
If it’s something both parties agreed upon, I think it’s great! Asexual people deserve love and relationships just as much as the rest of us.
Personally, I’ve been in a relationship with a person on the ace spectrum and it was tough, so never again for me. Or if I were in a poly configuration, I’d likely have a room for an ace partner but definitely not monogamy with an ace.
I call them friends. I had a guy try to force that kind of relationship on me. I didn’t want it. I have friends to fill those parts of my life. If there’s no sexual/romantic connection, I don’t want it.
For me that would just be a friendship
I don’t think about it at all because that is not something I’m interested in.
For those who are completely asexual or ace and aro with no sexual attraction it’s probably fine.
But not suited to most of the people who do experience sexual attraction, have an average or higher sex drive and are not seeking a relationship solely for show/business purposes/money/to raise children in a traditional looking family unit.
I’ve dated guys that I had zero sexual attraction towards and wouldn’t consider doing so again.
My initial thoughts- so like a gay man and a straight woman or a lesbian with a man? Like what so many religions push people into? Or like a odd roommate you share a one bedroom apartment with? Just friends?
I cannot think of a single example in my life that has led to both partners being happy long term. Also I could never have anything more than friendship with someone I was not sexually attracted to. Maybe other can and have seen it but it’s not my jam.
As an asexual person, that’s kind of how I am in relationships. I do experience romantic attraction, so for those saying “that’s just a friendship’, it definitely isn’t. If love without sex is a friendship, then we wouldn’t make the distinction between friends with benefits and a romantic relationship. There are other forms of intimacy that are enjoyable in relationships and for some asexual people (including myself), sex isn’t completely off the table either. Our relationship to sex and sexual attraction is just very different from those who do experience sexual attraction. I understand how that can be confusing or a dealbreaker to some people though. As long as everyone in the relationship is happy with what’s going on, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Companionship, compatibility, shared interests and a shared worldview: these things last longer than romantic or sexual love. Arranged marriages haven’t existed in so many communities for so many thousands of years for no reason. Sexuality is complex and highly personal, there is no right way to be sexual, and as this current generation has made a point of publicly declaring, asexuality is completely valid.
If you still have sexual feelings just not for each other, that is a little harder to negotiate, because humans are flawed and tend towards jealousy and possessiveness. But there are many, many examples of successful open marriages, too.
I’d be thinking what is the purpose of the relationship? What do you both want from it? and (and this is a different question) what do you individually need from it?
If it’s companionship, someone to go through life with, a best friend to live with and share life’s ups and downs, then I’d advise you to do some of those pre-marriage questionnaires. They can be excellent for finding out whether you really will be compatible. They ask a lot of questions you won’t have considered before, and they can find the flaws before they become a problem.
An example, a weird one, lol, but much more important than people often realise, has to do with your argument styles. In any relationship there will at some point be conflict. Conflict, disagreement, competing interests. That’s not a problem in itself, it’s inherent in the actuality of being with another human. What DOES matter, is how you resolve your differences. If your resolution styles are incompatible then those conflicts will never be properly resolved and the resentments will build until you end up fighting about small things because the big things got away from you at the time. That doesn’t work. A good relationship counsellor can help you find out these things and work out ways to accommodate each other’s differences, but both parties have to be committed to the process, and you should get on top of it early in the relationship.
For a successful longterm relationship, things like that can matter much more than sexuality.
Most people in modern times marry for romantic/sexual love. 50% of those marriages end in divorce, and of the other 50%, many are unhappy and unfulfilling to both parties.
That’s why the old-fashioned matchmakers were used. They knew what makes a successful relationship, and they knew how to determine if a couple would be compatible, not only with each other, but with each other’s families because that’s another huge part of any relationship.
The kind of love that keeps people together longterm is much deeper than romantic or sexual attraction. It’s about genuinely liking, respecting, and admiring each other. So if you have that, I don’t think the fact that your relationship is not based on sex matters.
But do ask yourselves and each other what your expectations are, what you want from this, why you’re getting into it. And think deeply about the answers.
If one is asexual then it shouldn’t be a problem…
If a person is sexual (not asexual) then sexual attraction matters in the relationship.
All my relationships end up that way. I lose sexual attraction to someone pretty quickly.
I have no problem with asexual people dating each other. Personally, I prefer to date people I’m sexually attracted to (and vice-versa.)
I’m an asexual.
This would be my dream. An intimate relationship not based on sexual attraction, but on establishing an emotional connection through platonic friendship. This is typically called a queerplatonic relationship (QPR).
It’s a no for me dawg.
In my town that’s called friendship
A romantic relationship with no sexual attraction wouldn’t be workable for me. Sex and attraction is very important to me. But if that makes people with different needs and priorities happy good for them!
I myself could not be in a relationship with someone if they weren’t sexually attracted to me, romance be damned. It would destroy my self esteem.
However, I don’t see anything wrong with it for other couples who have that desire.
As a person who’s asexual but not aromantic, that’s relationship goals.
I think it’s so violently depressing that I decided to start doing things to make myself more marketable. I realized that I did not like a lot of the people I dated.
You do you.
I’m not asexual, so probably not a great option for me.
I am gray asexual, so yes you can have romantic relationships without the sex part, but unfortunately most people do want the sex part so it is hard to find a relationship that works for asexuals sometimes, as a gray asexual I do still have sexual attraction but it is very rare and very specific conditions, circumstances and criteria that makes it difficult to actually happen, there are many couples that don’t have sex, and it can range for many reasons such as religious, health, and some are no longer active in old age etc, sex is not everything for relationships
Miserable unless both people are asexual.
A romantic relationship with zero sexual attraction would never work for me.
It’s not something I’m interested in, but they do very much exist (including for many asexual people) and I think they’re completely fine if everyone involved is fine with it. Sexual attraction isn’t a defining factor of a romantic relationship for everyone.
Maybe it’s perfect for other people but I don’t think it’s what I want at all.
From my point of view it seems impossible and I would be bothered if my partner thought any different. That said, I don’t judge and am aware that many people practise these types of relationships.
It works for people who have an open relationship or are asexual I think.
Also for people to whom it would be a danger to live as they are (gay men married lesbians back in the day and still do some places with the agreement that they can find love and sex with their preferred gender while maintaining the “acceptable” facade of a straight marriage to keep them or their incomes safe.
They certainly exist, particularly in the asexual community, but I have no interest in a romantic relationship without a sexual component.
To each their own, but for me it’s a no
As an asexual person, I like them.
Nope
I’m literally asexual! 😂
I want a relationship like this but it’s extremely hard to find. Being in a relationship with someone who is allo (not ace) makes me feel guilty. I don’t want to deny someone pleasure but I just can’t do *that*. It takes a lot of reassurance because there’s always going to be that anxiety of wondering if they want to find that pleasure with someone else. I’m also scared to like someone so much and for them to say they’re fine with my sexuality and then turn around and try to pressure me. But finding another ace person is damn near impossible! About 1% of people or *less* is asexual! I hope someday I’ll find “the one” and ideally they would be ace but I know statistically it’s unlikely.
So what do I think of the concept? It’s perfect, but highly anxiety inducing!