The Freedom Not to be Sexual: Asexuality, Compulsory Sexuality, and Sex Positivity

Does sex positivity enable the freedom not to be sexual?Sex positive frameworks have not adequately considered this question.In this paper, I argue that this undertheorization poses serious issues for sex positive frameworks.To address this, I suggest that scholars and advocates avoid omitting asexuality from their analyses.Drawing on interviews with 17 asexual individuals from conservative Christian upbringings, I demonstrate how sexuality can be compelled-not just repressed-within sex-negative "purity culture."I argue that the marginalization of asexuality in sex positive work has led many sex positive researchers and advocates to inadvertently reproduce compulsory sexuality, a sex-negative idea that marginalizes people who do not experience sexual attraction.I conclude by offering five recommendations for reconciling asexuality and sex positive frameworks.