GS: Broad vs. Specific Definition of Sexual Orientation

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In this survey I asked about how people personally relate to broad vs. specific definitions of “sexual orientation,” i.e. convergence and divergence.

To examine how different groups relate to this subject, I divided the data into four groups:

1. Not necessarily aro nor ace [NN] (142)
2. Ace, not necessarily aro [NA] (479)
3. Aromantic & Asexual [AA] (208)
4. Aro and not necessarily ace [AN] (134)

For the third group, I selected for “Aromantic” and “Asexual” and subtracted any respondents who described themselves with other answers from the associated lists (Gray/Demi/Allo/Unsure/etc.). If I had gone with all aro aces in general, this group would have been larger, but I wanted to eliminate mixed prefixes.

For the other groups, I divided the responses according to whether or not they answered “Yes” to “Do you identify with the ace umbrella (asexual, gray-asexual, etc.)?” and “Do you identify with the aro umbrella (aromantic, grayromantic, etc.)?” This leaves those who answered “No,” “Unsure” or “My answer is complicated” sorted into the “not necessarily” categories. I could have created more definitive categories, but at this sample size, that would have made the small groups even smaller, and I judged that to be not worth the tradeoff.

My tentative finding is that aros are more likely to report “This expectation fits me” about the narrow, specific definition. I say “tentative” because again, some of these sample sizes are very small. Aces of all kinds do generally feel they fit with the narrow, specific definition, but not in as high of a proportion as that fourth group, aros who are not necessarily ace. This is unexpected because I would have predicted aromantic asexuals and not-necessarily-aro/aces to be the most convergent groups, and it seems that is not the case.

Group 1: Not necessarily aro nor ace [NN]

In many contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to encompass a person’s romantic, emotional, and sexual inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (139)

• This expectation fits me (30.2%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (41.7%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (17.3%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (5.8%)
• Unsure (5.0%)

In ace and aro contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to be specifically about sexuality, not romantic or emotional inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (139)

• This expectation fits me (28.1%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (28.8%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (12.2%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (17.3%)
• Unsure (13.3%)

Group 2: Ace, not necessarily aro [NA]

In many contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to encompass a person’s romantic, emotional, and sexual inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (478)

• This expectation fits me (10.3%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (29.1%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (25.5%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (30.8%)
• Unsure (4.4%)

In ace and aro contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to be specifically about sexuality, not romantic or emotional inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (475)

• This expectation fits me (48.8%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (28.2%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (8.4%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (6.9%)
• Unsure (7.6%)

Group 3: Aromantic & Asexual [AA]

In many contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to encompass a person’s romantic, emotional, and sexual inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (208)

• This expectation fits me (15.9%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (22.1%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (21.2%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (32.2%)
• Unsure (8.7%)

In ace and aro contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to be specifically about sexuality, not romantic or emotional inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (207)

• This expectation fits me (53.1%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (26.6%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (8.2%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (4.8%)
• Unsure (7.2%)

Group 4: Aro, not necessarily ace [AN]

In many contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to encompass a person’s romantic, emotional, and sexual inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (134)

• This expectation fits me (3.7%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (10.4%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (32.1%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (48.5%)
• Unsure (5.2%)

In ace and aro contexts, “sexual orientation” may be expected to be specifically about sexuality, not romantic or emotional inclinations. How well does this expectation fit you, personally? (134)

• This expectation fits me (69.4%)
• This expectation somewhat fits me (20.1%)
• This expectation somewhat doesn’t fit me (6.0%)
• This expectation doesn’t fit me (1.5%)
• Unsure (3.0%)

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