Asexuality 101: Becoming “”-Affirming and Conscious Counseling Professionals

Elisa M. Woodruff, MS Ed, LPC, NCC, Doctoral Student Northern Illinois University [email protected] “An asexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction.” – AVEN, 2016 www.asexuality.org

CONCEPTS TO UNDERSTAND: • The ABCD’s of sexuality research • Sexual Normativity • Sexual Privilege • Decoupling of sexual orientation and romantic orientation • Reasons for low and/or biased sample populations in research

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE AND TERMS TO KNOW: • The Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) • David Jay (Founder of AVEN and asexual activist) • “Have Cake” • Asexual Awareness Week – last week in October • Ace of /Ace of • Demi-sexual • Grey-A • Aromantic, Hetero-romantic, Pan-romantic, etc. • Amoeba • Allosexual • Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (DSM-5 302.71) • Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (DSM-5 302.72)

Page 1 RESOURCES FOR COUNSELORS AND CLIENTS: • AVEN www.asexuality.org • AVENues – bi-monthly online newsletter • Acebook www.ace-book.net • Asexual Dating Sites • www.asexualcupid.com • www.asexualitic.com • Documentary Film available on YouTube (A)Sexual • Documentary Film available on You Tube Taking the Cake • David Jay Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLI09O8bMkU • The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality by Julie Sondra Decker • Understanding Asexuality by Anthony F. Boegart • Asexuality: A Brief Introduction by Asexuality Archive • Asexuality and Sexual Normativity: An Anthology ed. Mark Carrigan • Sex or IceCream? Secrets of an Asexual by Ana Navarro • Ace of Hearts: A Journey to Embrace the Asexual Identity by Caryn Purdy

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