Asexual

Asexual 

The noun asexual, defined by Oxford Dictionaries, is a person, “who has no sexual feelings or desires.” In other words, meaning one who has a lack of (or no) interest in participating in sexual activities. They do not seek or find pleasure in intercourse. They don’t feel the urge because they are “not sexually attracted to any gender,” (Gender Equity Resource Center).  The term asexuality has evolved over the years with three central definitions. Initially originating as a term for a form of organism reproduction, it was later used to describe humans who were born with a “lack” of sex organs or an “inability to feel/act sexually due to disability or other condition,” as Serendip labels. Asexual is commonly confused with the noun chaste meaning, “refraining from sexual intercourse” by dictionary.com. But, one who is described as chaste feels sexual urges but chooses to ignore them. While an asexual feels no urges whatsoever for, “Asexuality to be an orientation it must be innate” Serendip.   

As mentioned previously, before asexuality became a term associated with humans, the word was solely used for organisms. In adjective form, asexual extends from mental and anthropological boundaries. Being defined as “sexless”, The American Heritage Dictionary provides a definition pertaining to the physical makeup of a person as one “having no evident sex or sex organs.” Asexual also used to describe organisms involved in reproduction without involving both sexes’ gametes such as “in binary fission or budding” (The American Heritage Dictionary). Asexual reproduction is common among organisms that split forming an offspring. Defined as binary fission, the offspring have only one “parent” and are identical in makeup. 

Overtime the definition of asexuality has become as unbound as ever. There are many ways one can apply the term asexuality, whether describing the physical makeup of a certain person, an anthropological mental state or an organism’s reproductive condition.

Works Cited

"Asexual." The American Heritage Dictionary of the American Language. N.p.: n.p., n.d. American Heritage Dictionary. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. <https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=asexual>.  

"Asexual." Oxford Dictionary. Oxford Dictionary. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/asexual>.  

"Asexuality as a Human Orientation." Serendip Studio. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Serendip. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. <http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1870>.  

"Asexual Reproduction." Goldies Room. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. <http://www.goldiesroom.org/Note%20Packets/14%20Mitosis%20and%20Asexual/00%20Mitosis--WHOLE.htm>.  

"Chaste." Dictionary.Com. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Dictionary.com. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chaste>.  

Definition of Terms. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Gender Equity Resource Center. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. <http://geneq.berkeley.edu/lgbt_resources_definiton_of_terms>.