The Demography of Asexuality

Abstract

Asexuality has begun to receive both academic (e.g., Bogaert 2004, 2006a, 2008; Prause and Graham 2007; Brotto et al. 2010; Poston and Baumle 2010) and public (e.g., New Scientist; Pagán Westfall 2004) attention. Why does the study of asexuality matter, aside from the scientific and public curiosity about a sexual minority that has been overlooked until recently? A person’s sexuality, particularly as basic as whether he or she is asexual or not, may play a profound role in their social circumstances and life choices, including whether they marry or not, whether they have children or not, and their mental and physical health (e.g., atypical hormonal profile; lower STI risk, etc.). Thus, the study of asexuality is relevant to a number of demographic issues such as health, marriage, and fertility.