Allonormativity Explained

Allonormativity is the concept that all humans experience sexual attraction and romantic attraction. It is the force which upholds compulsory sexuality, the social systems and structures which privilege or incentivize sexual relationships over single individuals.^{[1] [2]}

The term could be considered an expansion of heteronormativity, the idea that heterosexuality is the default or normative sexuality. The term is often used when discussing the pathologization,^[3] erasure,^[4] and dehumanization^[5] of asexual and aromantic individuals in society, media, and within academic discourses.

Etymology

Allonormativity was derived from allosexual, which in term was derived from the Greek prefix allo-, meaning different or other, and -sexual, i.e., attraction directed towards a target outside the self. The second element, -normativity, refers to the societal worldview which deems allosexuality as normal or desired.

Effects

Allonormativity, by its definition, denies the existence of asexual identity in humans. Thus, growing up in an allonormative society may lead to asexual individuals feeling broken or isolated prior to or even after learning about asexuality.^[6] Because allonormativity presents asexuality as deviant, it also contributes to the pathologization of and discrimination against asexual people.^{[7] [8]}

See also

• Amatonormativity
• Compulsory heterosexuality
• Heteronormativity

Further reading

• Book: Mollet, Amanda L. . Lackman . Brian . 26–30 . Chapter 6 Allonormativity and Compulsory Sexuality . https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004506725_006.

Notes and References

1. Hart-Brinson . Peter . Tlachac . M. L. . Lepien . Emily . 2023-06-27 . Contradictions in Experiences of Compulsory Sexuality and Pathways to Asexual Citizenship . Sexuality & Culture . en . 10.1007/s12119-023-10110-1 . 1936-4822.
2. Brandley . Ben . Spencer . Leland G. . 2023-01-01 . Rhetorics of Allonormativity: The Case of Asexual Latter-day Saints . Southern Communication Journal . en . 88 . 1 . 1–15 . 10.1080/1041794X.2022.2108891 . 1041-794X.
3. Schneckenburger . Stella A. . Tam . Michelle W. Y. . Ross . Lori E. . 2023-06-06 . Asexual competent practices in healthcare: A narrative review . Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health . en . 1–21 . 10.1080/19359705.2023.2214528 . 1935-9705.
4. Mollet . Amanda L. . 2020 . "I Have a Lot of Feelings, Just None in the Genitalia Region": A Grounded Theory of Asexual College Students’ Identity Journeys . Journal of College Student Development . en . 61 . 2 . 189–206 . 10.1353/csd.2020.0017 . 1543-3382.
5. Brandley . Ben . Dehnert . Marco . 2023-03-17 . "I am not a Robot, I am Asexual": A Qualitative Critique of Allonormative Discourses of Ace and Aro Folks as Robots, Aliens, Monsters . Journal of Homosexuality . en . 1–24 . 10.1080/00918369.2023.2185092 . 0091-8369.
6. Kelleher . Sinéad . Murphy . Mike . 2022-06-22 . Asexual identity development and internalisation: a thematic analysis . Sexual and Relationship Therapy . en . 1–29 . 10.1080/14681994.2022.2091127 . 1468-1994. free .
7. Web site: Decker . Julia Sondra . January 5, 2015 . Asexuality and the Health Professional . 2023-08-18 . Psychology Today Canada . en-CA.
8. Steelman . Sarah M. . Hertlein . Katherine M. . 2016-04-02 . Underexplored Identities: Attending to Asexuality in Therapeutic Contexts . Journal of Family Psychotherapy . en . 27 . 2 . 85–98 . 10.1080/08975353.2016.1169014 . 0897-5353.