Why do we need a research network?
Asexuality is most commonly defined as a sexual orientation characterised by experiencing little to no sexual attraction (see e.g. AVEN). While public awareness of asexuality is slowly rising through activism efforts and increased media representation, academic research and scholars working in the area are often difficult to find. For aromanticism (i.e. little to no romantic attraction), the neglect is even greater, with no academic research dedicated specifically to aromanticism.
Meanwhile, asexual people (an estimated 1-2% of the population in the UK) face a lack of understanding and discrimination, e.g. through the medicalisation of asexuality as a mental or sexual health issue. Moreover, the experiences of aromantic and asexual people are often dismissed or not being taken seriously.
Researching asexual and aromantic perspectives can help us gain a better understanding of love, sexuality, identity and relationships. It also has broader implications for how we think about intimacy more generally, and the way our society is structured around sex and romance.
What our members say
“I believe aromanticism and asexuality have an important role to play in the way we think about love, sexuality and relationships. But I found it hard to find research and others working on these topics, which is why I set up the network to build a thriving interdisciplinary research community.”
“A network like this will help catalyse new research into asexuality and aromanticism. Deeper understanding of both communities, and their diverse experiences, enables us to address the longstanding injustice they face. ”
“By joining this network, I hope we can build a community of aro and ace researchers, share ideas, create collaborations, and find ways to make our research count for the communities we are trying to represent.”
“The network feels like a much-needed space for interdisciplinary conversations, where we can learn from each other across different fields, methodologies, and approaches!”
“Joining the Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network is a wonderful opportunity to take my work further afield and make wider connections as this area of enquiry grows!”
“The field of asexuality and aromanticism studies have been largely dominated by scholars working in the US. I joined the network to try and make some connections a bit closer to home, with the potential of possible collaborations in the future. ”