A Study on Asexual Self-identification Process in Taiwan

Abstract

<p>本研究旨在瞭解臺灣無性戀身分認同歷程，以及情感與性慾樣貌，邀請六位無性戀受訪者進行訪談，資料分析採敘事研究「類別—內容」視無性戀為一主體，進行跨個案資料分析。研究發現六位受訪者雖有共同經驗，但個別差異極大，身分認同之前，可幽微感受「性慾」或「情感」與有性戀存在著些微差異，分別以不在意、保持困惑、合理化與病理化面對差異。認同路徑從「契機」開始區分為二，其一是認同契機經歷「足夠強度的內外在刺激，同時有意識於無性戀一詞展開探究，並浸潤於個人情感與性慾經驗，經過多次來回反覆思辯」，進而有無性戀認同；其二為認同契機經驗「輕輕置入，快快連結，便有意識對無性戀一詞展開探究」，即有無性戀認同。另外，無性戀情感與性慾呈現多元樣貌，情感呈現樣貌包含：（1）對「任何事物」皆無感；（2）我不知道什麼是「忌妒」；（3）我只是很喜歡這個朋友；（4）太靠近的關係讓人窒息；（5）相當非常熱愛一件事。以及性慾呈現樣貌包含：（1）性幻想：無、第三者角度看性互動、虛擬二次元；（2）肢體碰觸：拒絕—接受；（3）關於自慰：純粹生理層次；（4）性行為：抗性—可接受；（5）電影呈現情慾的反應。最後，提出對未來研究與實務建議。</p> <p> </p><p>With the evolution of the times, the issue of "multiple sexuality" (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, ally/asexual: LGBTQIA) has gradually received attention from the public. Based on current research results and the public’s understanding of LGBTQIA, we see a gradual decrease of knowledge by each ascending order of abbreviations. "Asexuality" is the fourth sexual orientation trend independent of heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality. There are fewer than 20 studies on asexuality conducted both domestically and internationally. In Taiwan, the only study that has been published on the subject was Wang’s (2014) "Love without Sex: Asexual Experiences in a Sexualized Society". This suggests that the topic of asexuality has received limited attention from the academic community over the past seven years. The awareness of asexuality has stagnated. This research aims to understand the identity process of Taiwan’s asexual identity, as well as the appearance of romantic attraction and sexual desire. Six asexual interviewees were invited to participate in the interviews. The data analysis adopted a narrative research "category-content" to treat asexuality as a subject and conduct cross-case data analysis. The results showed that although the six interviewees had common experiences, individual differences were significant. Not every interviewee followed a linear journey toward their identity. Before identity, they felt a slight difference in sexuality between "romantic attraction" and "sexual desire." There are four pattern they faced four ways: did not care, remained confused, rationalized, and pathological. Even if they had heard of the term asexuality, it was not easy for them to connect it with their own situation. There were two paths starting from the "turning point." The first path was sufficient internal and external stimuli, while consciously exploring the term asexuality, infiltrating the personal pass of romantic attraction and sexual desire experience, after many back-and-forth debates. The second path was from the turning point to "put in lightly, connect quickly, and then consciously explore the term asexuality." Only "slightly" compares one’s own situation, even in the interview process, "not" describes that comparing past experiences immediately produces belonging, similar to completing an "administrative task," such as "Oh, my vote is based on the neighborhood"; "Vote somewhere" is just an administrative action. The six interviewees actively or passively explored the term "asexuality" at this stage. Most of them searched for online information and joined asexuality clubs. They connected "asexuality" with their own experiences and completed their identity. In addition, asexual romantic attraction and sexual desire presents multiple appearances. The appearance of romantic attractions includes: (1) No feeling for "anything"; (2) I do not know what "jealousy" is; (3) I just like this friend very much; (4) A relationship that is too close is suffocating; and (5) I love one thing very much. The appearance of sexual desire includes: (1) sexual fantasies, nothing, sexual interaction from the third perspective, and virtual people; (2) physical touch: from rejection to acceptance; (3) regarding masturbation, only at the physiological level; (4) sexual behavior: anti-sex to acceptable, and (5) the film presents an erotic reaction: "I feel like I am being harassed, unnecessary erotic clips, just selling sensationalism." Finally, suggestions for future research and practice are presented. Suggestions for future research: (1) heterogeneity in the asexual community is high, and it is necessary to expand each combination in the group or choose a deeper understanding and (2) understanding asexual intimacy from a "relational orientation" or "system theory." Suggestions for counseling: (1) enhance the sensitivity of multicounseling culture and explore the appearance of "romantic attraction" and "sexual desire" in detail; (2) counselors must reflect on the perspective of "sexual values" and the expansion of "sex-related issues" and (3) it is strongly recommended that gender education and sex education textbooks in national and senior high schools should include the concept of asexuality.</p> <p> </p>