julie sondra decker the invisible orientation

VERDICT This title is an important resource for readers of any age who are struggling to understand their sexual orientation, or those who would like to better understand asexuality.' Library Journal, starred review The final chapter addresses friends and family members of asexual people. The language and concepts are clearly modeled on those of the LGBTQ community, with an emphasis on asexuality being a healthy orientation, rather than the result of a mental or physical illness. The author stresses fluidity and inclusiveness: asexuality may change over time some asexual people enjoy romantic relationships while others have no interest libido may be high or low and some are happy in partnered relationships while others enjoy the single life. Decker (contributor, Huffington Post Salon), who writes in the introduction about her own asexuality, emphasizes that this is an orientation that has to do with feelings, not actions. 'This is the first substantial book for the nonprofessional to emerge from the small but growing community of individuals who identify themselves as 'asexual' i.e., not sexually attracted to anyone a portion of the population quoted as being approximately one in 100 people. Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing ISBN: 9781631440021 Number of pages: 240 Weight: 392 g Dimensions: 229 x 152 x 25 mm MEDIA REVIEWS It includes information for asexual people to help understand their orientation and what it means for their relationships, as well as tips and facts for those who want to understand their asexual friends and loved ones. In The Invisible Orientation, Julie Sondra Decker outlines what asexuality is, counters misconceptions, provides resources, and puts asexual people's experiences in context as they move through a very sexualized world.

And all of this contributes to a discouraging master narrative: there is no such thing as 'asexual.' Being an asexual person is a lie or an illness, and it needs to be fixed. Critics confront asexual people with accusations of following a fad, hiding homosexuality, or making excuses for romantic failures. When an asexual person comes out, alarming reactions regularly follow loved ones fear that an asexual person is sick, or psychologically warped, or suffering from abuse. But that's where asexual people are left out they don't find other people sexually attractive, and if and when they say so, they are very rarely treated as though that's okay. Most people believe that 'everyone' wants sex, that 'everyone' understands what it means to be attracted to other people, and that 'everyone' wants to date and mate. They aren't sexually attracted to anyone, and they consider it a sexual orientation like gay, straight, or bisexual.Īsexuality is the invisible orientation. What if you weren't sexually attracted to anyone?Ī growing number of people are identifying as asexual. A finalist for the 2015 LAMBDA Literary Award.

Julie sondra decker the invisible orientation