Evolution of asexual identities in India: Shaping asexual conversations through lived experiences and digital platforms

Abstract

The ideation of asexuality is inherently radical and subversive, as it challenges the centrality of sex and sexual behaviour in a heteronormative society. This article aims to study the emergence and construction of Indian asexual discourse by examining the lived experiences and narratives of Indian asexual individuals. A mixed-methods qualitative approach is employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews conducted through snowball sampling, along with an analysis of online Indian asexual platforms. Additional data were gathered from digital asexual archives, dating sites, and social media platforms that actively engage in discussions about Indian asexual experiences, desires, and intimacy. Emerging Indian asexualities are constituting a novel ethos in Indian sexual practices by creating an alternative language of desire and intimacy.