Definition of asexuality

The word "asexuality" initially derived from the Latin term "asexuālis," which can trace back to the 17th century. At that time, it was used to refer to organisms that reproduced without the involvement of sexual organs or fertilization. The concept was further developed in the late 19th century by German biologist Karl Heinrich Graf von Nageli, who coined the term "agamogenesis" (meaning "egg-determined reproduction") for the process of asexual reproduction in certain organisms, such as budding in yeasts and parthenogenesis in certain animals. The term "asexuality" as we know it today, however, emerged in the 20th century to describe humans who do not experience sexual attraction or do not identify with conventional sexual orientations. It was initially used in the context of clinical psychology and psychiatry, often to describe individuals with sexual dysfunctions or disorders. In the early 1970s, the term "asexual" was appropriated by a movement of sexually marginalized individuals who saw themselves as disassociated from traditional gender and sexual identities. Since then, asexuality has gained recognition as a distinct sexual orientation in the broader community, with growing visibility and advocacy efforts in popular culture and academic research.