Introduction <p>Perceptions of asexual and aromantic people often assume that intimate relationships are not present within their lives, but this is an incorrect assumption.</p> Methods <p>This qualitative critical constructivist interview-based photo elicitation uses an asset-based approach and a queer theoretical framework to amplify healthy intimate relationship experiences of college students who identify with the spectrum of asexual and aromantic identities. Data were generated in 2022–2023 and includes 60–90-min individual interviews with 15 participants who self-identify with an asexual and/or aromantic identity. Analysis was done in alignment with grounded theory analysis techniques and conducted in Dedoose.</p> Results <p>Three main themes emerged through our analysis of the data: (1) thinking about relationships, (2) coming to and being in relationships, and (3) resisting normative relationships. These themes represent the ways that asexual and aromantic college students came to, made sense of, and navigated their healthy intimate relationships despite oppressive social contexts.</p> Conclusions <p>Healthy intimate relationships are possible and present for asexual and aromantic college students. Their engagement in such relationships demonstrates their self-awareness and resistance to allosexual, cisgender, heterosexual, amatonormative contexts.</p> Policy Implications <p>By approaching this study with a focus on celebrating love, we make progress towards shifting narratives about asexual and aromantic students while providing possibility models for sexuality education of all people. Sexuality education must include positive demonstrations of healthy intimate relationships that exist beyond normative conceptions. The results of this study provide tangible examples that can be used for developing educational materials that can guide people of all sexual orientations in imagining new possibilities across their relationship trajectories.</p>

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

“There’s no roadmap for this”: Asexual and Aromantic Students’ Healthy Intimate Relationships

  • Shay N. Valley,
  • Amanda L. Mollet,
  • Brynn Fitzsimmons

摘要

Introduction

Perceptions of asexual and aromantic people often assume that intimate relationships are not present within their lives, but this is an incorrect assumption.

Methods

This qualitative critical constructivist interview-based photo elicitation uses an asset-based approach and a queer theoretical framework to amplify healthy intimate relationship experiences of college students who identify with the spectrum of asexual and aromantic identities. Data were generated in 2022–2023 and includes 60–90-min individual interviews with 15 participants who self-identify with an asexual and/or aromantic identity. Analysis was done in alignment with grounded theory analysis techniques and conducted in Dedoose.

Results

Three main themes emerged through our analysis of the data: (1) thinking about relationships, (2) coming to and being in relationships, and (3) resisting normative relationships. These themes represent the ways that asexual and aromantic college students came to, made sense of, and navigated their healthy intimate relationships despite oppressive social contexts.

Conclusions

Healthy intimate relationships are possible and present for asexual and aromantic college students. Their engagement in such relationships demonstrates their self-awareness and resistance to allosexual, cisgender, heterosexual, amatonormative contexts.

Policy Implications

By approaching this study with a focus on celebrating love, we make progress towards shifting narratives about asexual and aromantic students while providing possibility models for sexuality education of all people. Sexuality education must include positive demonstrations of healthy intimate relationships that exist beyond normative conceptions. The results of this study provide tangible examples that can be used for developing educational materials that can guide people of all sexual orientations in imagining new possibilities across their relationship trajectories.