“I have a lot of feelings, just none in the genitalia region”: A grounded theory of asexual college students’ identity journeys

Abstract

In this grounded theory study I examined asexual college students’ identity development within collegiate environments. Asexual students’ experiences provided the emergent pathways for understanding their processes of identifying within the asexual spectrum. The resulting theory was constructed from and rooted in asexual students’ stories and their realities of navigating campus with an asexual identity. This theory provides a potential theoretical perspective for professionals to consider the multiple aspects of asexual students’ identity development to effectively situate programs, services, and resources for asexual students. As an emerging area of research, multiple opportunities exist for expanding knowledge about and understanding asexuality.