The Asexual Male Experience: A Phenomenological Inquiry

Abstract

This article offers a phenomenological investigation into the experience of asexuality for self-identified asexual, cisgender men. No other study has been previously conducted on this phenomenon; the present study sought to provide new knowledge surrounding the experience of male asexuality and to illuminate any potential differences in the asexual experience between asexual men and asexual women for further conversation. A qualitative analysis of data derived from 8 asexual adult men between 30 and 65 years of age via semi-structured interviews provided detail-rich insight into the inner processes, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of asexual men. Five major themes arose to comprise the essence of the asexual male experience: (1) emotional response, (2) feeling otherness, (3) process of discovery, (4) a sense of belonging, and (5) adapting split attraction models. Discussion includes context of the emergent themes through a Rogerian lens and the shared commonalities between the emerging asexual identity for asexual men and other marginalized sexual orientation groups.