Q:
“My idea of how I’d enjoy expressing my sexuality the most is at odds with me being demisexual. I’d love to be a person who can enjoy any type of “no strings attached” activity (sexual, kinky or both simultaneously) in the name of exploration and joy in experiencing each other, but me being demi implies that there are always strings attached when I’m attracted to someone (namely, emotional connection).
I’d like to know in what ways my definition is too narrow and how I can honor this in the future. All of my experience has been me being a pan cis woman partnered with straight cis men in long-term monogamous relationships, and the dominant narrative of what “emotional connection” means is hard to unwire. Romance isn’t mandatory for me to have this connection, but most of the people I’ve known are of the “friends don’t fuck with each other, romantic partners do” mindset and seems to be the only thing I can internalize, despite having read otherwise from fellow queer people. That said, I feel jealous of people who have FWBs, to mention a non-romantic example.
If it helps for nuance, there are other factors going on, namely “if desirability was a scale, I’m usually put at last place in queer spaces”. It feels like I’m not even read as a sexual person, least of all a person worth connecting with in this specific sense. I also struggle at signaling my intentions for fear of being seen as “predatory” or “too much” or to have my already pathologized struggle at social skills exposed, but on the flip side, I end up with the assumption that I’m aloof. That, in combination with me being demi, feels more like a wall than another aspect of my sexuality I can work with.
Tl;dr: how can I make demisexuality work with me instead of against me?”
A:
There are multiple questions within this question, and I want to honor them all. First, it sounds like you’re feeling curious about the limits of your own sexual expression, but you’re struggling to clearly identify your desires. Let’s start there! Then we’ll move on to the part where you put yourself out there and experiment.
Labeling different aspects of our sexuality can help us identify our desires, share our desires with others, and find community. In some parts of the LGBTQ+ community, pushing against the boundaries of those identifiers is expected and encouraged. Of course, there are those infuriating, dangerous people who insist that “real women” are assigned female at birth and that being a “gold star lesbian” is some kind of high acheivment, but the rest of us understand that some labels — especially those that pertain to gender and sexuality — are not fixed. We can subvert those identifiers. We can expand their definitions. And sometimes, if we want to, we can change them.
So is your definition of “demisexual” too “narrow?” Maybe. Definitions of “demisexual” reference a strong “emotional” connection in order to feel sexual attraction, but an “emotional” connection doesn’t have to be romantic. And you can still have “no strings attached” sex with a friend or someone else you care about if the “strings” are romance and the expectation of exclusivity. If you’re feeling sexual desire for friends or if you like the idea of a “friends with benefits” situation, then it seems that most widely-accepted definition of “demisexual” still encompasses your experience. But the more important questions here are: what do you want and why do you want it?
In order to uncover those answers, let go of “demisexual” as an identity word for the sake of a mental exercise. I’m asking you to do this because while identity words can be playful and fun, they can also be suffocating and prevent us from recognizing our true wants and needs. You might find that you’ve been repressing some of your desires to fit demisexual expectations, or you might find that the “demisexual” identifier fits you perfectly. You might decide to continue embracing a demisexual identity while simultaneously exploring aspects of your sexuality that stretch the fabric of the demisexual umbrella. There’s no right answer to any of this. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your sexuality and feel free to embrace your desires in healthy, satisfying ways.
OK — now that the way you feel desire is label-free, it’s time to use your imagination. You said you’d “love to be a person who can enjoy any type of no-strings attached activity.” When I refer to “no strings attached sex,” “casual sex” or “FWB sex” throughout this article, I’m referring to sex that happens with anyone who is not a romantic partner. When you picture yourself engaging in casual sex, how do you feel? Do you feel turned on? Excited? Anxious? Curious? How do you feel in your body? Do you feel floaty? Buzzy? Sweaty? Then ask yourself why you want to be a person who enjoys casual sex. Would it fulfill your curiosities? Would it make your life easier or more exciting? Would it grant you some kind of social currency?
Sit with these feelings and investigate them. That investigation might look like journaling, masturbating, talking to a friend, talking to a therapist, or just thinking. Take your time and trust your gut before deciding how you want to move forward. Maybe you’ll decide, “Nope! No-strings-attached sex is not for me — I didn’t want it for the right reasons,” and that’s ok! Maybe you’ll decide, “I definitely want a FWB” or “I actually want to try having casual sex with total strangers.” That’s ok, too! Of course, your gut might not give you a clear answer, especially if you’re a hands-on learner, so in that case, you just might have to try some “no strings attached” flirting and/ or sex and see how it feels. If you’re looking to try something new, read on.
Since you said that your friends aren’t down for FWB arrangements, I’m assuming you’ll be seeking new friends with whom you can share some sexy benefits. But if you find an existing friend who’s down for some sexual exploration, approach the situation with care caution. Mixing sex and friendship can blow up in your face if you don’t communicate clearly about the arrangement. I highly recommend Ryan’s article “How To Be Friends With Benefits” for tips on how to pull this off without losing a long-term pal.
But let’s assume that you’re seeking some “no strings attached” sex outside of your existing social circle and you’re not sure how to initiate it. First, it’s ok to feel awkward and lost! Since your sexual history happened in the context of long-term, monogamous romantic relationships, this is new for you. It can be hard to try something new in your sex and dating life, especially when you don’t feel desirable. Well, you’re in luck — being sexy and desirable isn’t some magical, inherent quality. It’s a practice, and you can choose to embrace that practice whenever you want. For tips on how to do just that, I’ll steer you towards one of my favorite advice pieces in Autostraddle history — “Assume Everyone Thinks You’re Hot, I’m Serious,” in which Vanessa reveals how to put your sexiest foot forward. Vanessa reminds us that we might have to “fake it til we make it” sometimes, but the practice still works.
So let’s say you’ve taken Vanessa’s advice, you’re full of bravado, and you’re ready to hit on all the hot queers (or maybe just one hot queer). You said you’re worried you’ll come off as “predatory” if you express your desires. You can get your flirt on and avoid predatory behavior if you follow these rules:
1. Be clear about your intentions
Somehow we decided that flirting has to be vague. Wrong! Tell the person you’re flirting with you think they’re a babe. If you’re silently hanging around them or staring at them across the room while you attempt some kind of sexy telepathy, that might be read as creepy. Plus, if you’re upfront about your interest, it gives the other person an opportunity to turn you down if they’re not feeling it.
Also, be clear about the fact that you’re not looking for a romantic partner (and make sure this person knows that before you have sex). If you think you’re getting casual sex with this person and they think you’re on the road to marriage, then feelings are going to get hurt. If you’re seeking FWBs on dating apps, include that in your profile so that the folks who swipe right on you know what you’re looking for in advance. It might also be a good idea to lay out exactly what a “FWB arrangement” means to you, since FWB expectations vary from person to person.
2. Don’t get attached to a particular outcome
Flirting and FWB arrangements might not go the way you expect. The other person might be into it at first and then change their mind. Maybe you’re ready for sex right away and the other person needs to take it slow. Maybe they decide that they only want sex, but you’re craving an emotional connection. Maybe you’re already in an established FWB situation and one or both of you catch feelings. If the situation doesn’t meet your expectations, don’t pout about it. Accept that your desires don’t align and move on.
3. Pay attention to all forms of “no”
When you initiate flirting, a “no” isn’t always going to sound or look like a “no.” A “no” might sound like short answers to your questions. A “no” might look like physically leaning away from you, avoiding eye contact, directing their attention to their friends, or going days without answering questions in your Tinder chat. This kind of behavior usually means the person is trying to let you down easily or they’re scared that a firm boundary will seem rude, but it can be really confusing! If you notice any form of “no,” back off, and if you’re not sure if this person is signaling “no,” it’s ok to ask for clarification.
Remember that your sexuality is yours. It can shift and change and grow, and experimentation can be really rewarding! Ideally, we can all get to a place where we feel sexy, confident, and comfortable asking for what we want, and I hope you can find that sense of ease within yourself.
You can chime in with your advice in the comments and submit your own questions any time.
I feel very seen by this question and thank whoever submitted it (and Ro for the good advice)
When I was in my 20s I figured out I was demisexual after some disastrous experiences while trying to experiment around my bisexuality, wanting some cruising or hook- ups and just trying to addess feelings of so much thirst. I was not able to enjoy that type of Sex I thought I wanted so much and I think it is because as an anxious person, I could not relax. Demisexuality is what has been the closest fit but I also feel that maybe it is not portrayed as compatible with beeing very very horny…?
I don’t think demisexuality and horniness are mutually exclusive. Demisexuality isn’t about whether or not you feel sexual desire, it’s about how you experience attraction. There’s a key difference.
To be honest, I don’t see much difference between demisexuals and people who just can’t open up right away. I myself belong to the latter, so maybe I’m kind of demisexual. There are also different types of demisexuality, you can read about them here https://medium.com/@janecpowell4213/how-demisexuals-navigate-online-dating-fc60eb9d01d3
Also came here to say this question resonated a lot, although I don’t have a history of long-term relationships. Thanks for the question, and thanks Ro for the great response!
I would say I’m a mildly horny asexual. Which means my body has desires but they don’t really have a place to go. I’m horny for the void, if you will. And as a previous commenter said, the horny part of the asexual spectrum doesn’t feel talked about very much.
Sometimes you need to pull apart what desire and attraction is for you before you can put it all back together again and communicate to partners. Honestly, I couldn’t quite tell you the right combination of what makes me feel comfortable to have sex with a person. There are some logical things: aesthetics, safety, familiarity. But it’s also ephemeral? And that’s okay. I don’t need to understand how everything works.
Hopefully you find some people who respect this part of you and are interested in exploring the possibilities of play and sexy times even though you experience those desires differently.
This resonates with me. I’m bi and I realized that I’m also demi a few years ago. And now that I think about it, there was a time in my life when I had a lot of demi casual sex. (Demi Casual! Did I just coin a term?).
Ahem.
So, I had casual sex in my 20s. I didn’t know I was demi then, but looking back on it, it seems like I was pretty demi then, so I’ll share my experience, fwiw. Keep in mind that I’ve been in a monogamous LTR for 20 years, so some of my memories of my demi casual sex having days may be a bit faded / rosy.
So I need to have an emotional connection in order to want to have sex with someone, but looking back on it, it didn’t have to be an intense or even super intimate connection. I slept with (or had intense sexual fantasies about) friends of friends, classmates, and other acquaintance type people. No complete strangers. But no best friends. A couple times I met someone through friends at a party or bar, had a super intense conversation with them and bam, that was enough emotional connection to be wildly attracted to them (at least for the night / week / month).
I had pretty good luck / fun with casual sex with people I knew who lived in different cities. An out of town ex. A high school classmate I reconnected with at our 10th reunion. A friend of a friend moving back to Germany the next week. I loved summer camp romances when I was a teen – you develop this intense connection to people you’ve just met, you spend the weekend or week flirting and making out and then everyone goes home and it’s over, with no hard feelings. Perfect for demi casual.
Honest question: what about your connections do you think is different than non-asexual/non-demisexual people?
Hmmm. I’m not sure that my connections are different from allosexuals. They’re probably not. I mean, I hope that allosexuals have sex with people they have an emotional connection with because I think it’s fun.
But apparently some allosexuals also have (enjoyable) sex with complete strangers that they don’t talk with before starting the sexy times. Or they have sex first and develop a connection later. Or they have intense sexual feelings for strangers, or for actors they’ve never met but just watch on screen. That’s the part that I think is different.
I don’t do that. I just don’t feel desire or attraction for someone without an emotional connection first. Its not a conscious choice, it’s just how I am. I don’t fantasize about strangers or celebrities. It does nothing for me. I just don’t get celebrity crushes. I just don’t feel sexual feelings for strangers or random acquaintances I don’t connect with.
I don’t identify as demisexual so I can’t comment on the scope of that term, but overall this seems like clear, thorough and helpful advice.
I do feel uncomfortable with the framing of vague flirting as predatory or creepy. There can be a lot of reasons that people might struggle to clearly communicate their intentions in a given context, and while yes, being able to do so is preferable for the sake of clarity, that doesn’t mean it’s creepy if you are having a hard time with it. People can certainly stare / hover in a creepy way, but people can also be direct in a creepy way. The difference is in having an attitude of entitlement to someone’s attention, or intentionally trying to push their boundaries. Given the sapphic community’s general predisposition to feeling insecure about being seen as creepy, I feel like we should be careful in how we use these words outside of the context of actual predatory behaviour.
Hello, I’m the person who submitted this call for advice, I want to thank you Ro for the much needed clarity on this matter, you did honor every bit of my questions and recentered them into what truly matters.
And to commenters above, for your perspectives and for feeling seen as well in this predicament, I’ll keep them in mind from now on!
(Chandra has a good point about flirting and the toxic beliefs about it, in particular among sapphics – I’m definitely working on not reproducing this belief anymore. Entitlement is the key word in how it becomes creepy, yes!)
Thank you for your questions and the answer and all the comments. I feel really seen. I am not in a longterm relationship but demisexual as well and actually I haven’t had a long term relationship for quite a while and sometimes I just would like to enjoy sex with people I don’t want to become a longterm partner. Most of my queer friends are in open relationships and non-monogamous relationships but I feel like that won’t work for me (and at the same time I wish it would because it would be so much easier to connect to more people attraction-wise). I have already difficulty to find one partner I am attracted to and who is attracted to me. And so I continue to be that queer single (with lots of queer platonic friends). FWB also sounds would work better for me than ONS though for me it might be a fine line between feeling a connection and getting attached.Thank you all and I hope to see more articles on demisexuality and asexuality on autostraddle.
Thanks for sharing such Great Information with us
Welcome back to Patel Nagar escorts Hey handsome? Do you want to take the real pleasure of life? Come to me I will tell you what satisfaction means. Yes, to get into these sexy arms you just have to place a call with my name. Hire me straight by placing a single call. Hiring is also very easy. For this, you have to make a call with my name, make the payment, and finally tell me where you want to meet me, and you are done with the process
Sorry but that thing about being clear with your intentions sounds kind of BS to me, it even makes me wonder if the person who gave the advice is actually demi. Because let me tell you, as a demi, there is no way I can let the other person I have sexual intentions with them… BECAUSE I STILL DONT KNOW IF I HAVE SUCH INTENTIONS YET.
Sorry, I dont want to be rude, specially with someone trying to help. But that point sounded exactly like those depression memes where the character go
“hey, dont be depressed”
“oh, you are right, thanks!”
Online games are the trend and craze among players who are always excited to play satta matka. Day by day online games is approaching the next level and making games more exciting and unique. The idea of generating thousands of games is highly commendable to the developers who are very talented and hardworking. Cnn satta matka is one of the most popular games that generate huge revenue from online platforms. The game has changed its path but still with the same interest and fun. In the tradition, Satta may be presented with the affected rules but now new rules have made it pure and interesting.