Comsexual: Definition, Understanding, and Importance of the Term
Definition : The term "comsexual" is used to describe a person who is not asexual, meaning they experience sexual attraction.
- Keywords
- Asexuality, Sexual Attraction, LGBTQ+, Sexual Orientations, Inclusivity
- Topics
- Glossary of Sexual Orientations
- Updated
What is Comsexual?
The term “comsexual” is used to describe a person who is not asexual, meaning they experience sexual attraction. It is an umbrella term that encompasses all sexual orientations involving sexual attraction, as opposed to asexuality.
Understanding the Term Comsexual
What is asexuality?
- Asexuality: Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to anyone, or a low interest in sexual activity. Asexual people may nevertheless experience other forms of attraction (romantic, aesthetic, sensual, etc.).
What is comsexuality?
- Comsexuality: The prefix “com-” means “with” or “together,” and in this context, it is used to indicate the presence of sexual attraction. Thus, a comsexual person is someone who experiences sexual attraction, whether they are heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, etc.
Importance of the Term Comsexual
Why is the term Comsexual inclusive?
- Inclusivity: It allows for collectively referring to all people who are not asexual without having to list all possible sexual orientations. This can be particularly useful in discussions about the spectrum of sexual attraction.
How does the term Comsexual normalize asexuality?
- Normalization: By naming the experience of feeling sexual attraction, it helps to normalize asexuality as a valid and distinct sexual orientation, rather than as an absence or dysfunction.
How does the term Comsexual bring clarity to discourse?
- Clarity in Discourse: It offers a clear and concise way to distinguish the experiences of asexual people from those who experience sexual attraction, thus facilitating discussions and mutual understanding within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
Usage of the Term Comsexual
The term “comsexual” is primarily used in asexual communities and in discussions about the diversity of sexual orientations to create more precise and inclusive language. It helps to recognize that the absence of sexual attraction (asexuality) is an orientation in its own right, and that the “default” experience of feeling sexual attraction also has a name.
In summary, being comsexual means experiencing sexual attraction, which is the experience of the majority of people, and this term is used to contrast with asexuality, thus recognizing the diversity of experiences in terms of attraction.