Allonormativity
Concept asserting sexuality as the only social norm
Allonormativity is the assumption that all humans experience sexual attraction. It contributes to discrimination against asexual individuals via social systems and structures which privilege or incentivize sexual relationships over single individuals.
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, erasure, and dehumanization of asexual and aromantic individuals in society, media, and within academic discourses.
01Etymology
Allonormativity was derived from allosexual, which in turn 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.
02Effects
Growing up in an allonormative society may lead to asexual individuals feeling broken or isolated prior to or even after learning about asexuality. Because allonormativity presents asexuality as deviant, it also contributes to the pathologization of and discrimination against asexual people.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Allonormativity”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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