Asexual spectrum - meaning and definition
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Definition
The range of identities for people who experience sexual attraction rarely, weakly, conditionally or not at all.
At a glance
- Covers people who feel sexual attraction rarely, weakly, conditionally or not at all.
- Includes asexual, graysexual and demisexual, among other labels.
- Often called the ace spectrum.
- A-spec sometimes also includes aromantic identities.
- People may move between labels as they learn more about themselves.
In detail
The asexual spectrum recognises that sexual attraction is not simply present or absent. Between asexual and allosexual sit identities such as graysexual, for people who feel attraction rarely or faintly, and demisexual, for people who only feel it after an emotional bond forms.
"A-spec" is sometimes used more broadly to include aromantic identities too. People can move between labels as they understand themselves better.
In a sentence
- I'm somewhere on the asexual spectrum, probably gray, but I'm still working it out.
- The meetup is for anyone on the ace spectrum, whether you're demi, gray or ace.
Common questions
What does a-spec mean?
A-spec is short for the asexual and, often, aromantic spectrums. It is a shared umbrella for people who experience sexual or romantic attraction rarely, faintly, conditionally or not at all.
Can someone be on the asexual spectrum and still enjoy sex?
Yes. The spectrum is about attraction, not behaviour. Some people on it have sex and enjoy it for reasons other than sexual attraction, while others do not want sex at all.