Navigating layered and dual-sourced stigmatization

Experiences of asexuality using stigma management strategies

Bibliographic Data

ID7375231
AuthorsMary Hood (0000-0003-4971-7304, University of Nevada, Reno), Devon Thacker Thomas (0009-0007-8308-6047, Department of Sociology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA)
Year2025
Publication date2025-10-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSexualities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1363-4607 • E-ISSN: 1461-7382
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/13634607251384155
OpenAlexW4414791965
LanguageEN
References cited73

Individuals who are asexual often face stigmatization for being neither allosexual nor conforming to the normative sexual binary of heterosexuality and homosexuality. Drawing on interviews with 22 self-identified asexual individuals, we highlight the ways asexual people experience layered and dual-sourced stigmatization. Furthermore, we demonstrate how asexual individuals employ stigma management strategies of information control and techniques of passing to navigate the impacts of their stigmatization. We contend that sexusociety situates asexual individuals as non-normative and points to the sustained dominance of allonormative ideals in the theorizing and understanding of sexuality more broadly, which suggests stigmatization acts within a hierarchy of sexuality. Our work adds theoretical complexity to the understanding of sexual identity in today’s world by problematizing asexual individuals’ experiences with both layered and dual-sourced stigma

Gender Roles and Identity Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

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