Aiding Marginalization: Exploitation of the Collective Identity Model Within Asexual Spaces

• In Event: Reclaiming Asexualities from Within and Without

Abstract

In this talk, I examine the creation and mobilization of marginalized identities that are pushed to the periphery of asexual communities, focusing on topics such as race, gender, and religion. Through the collective, I show how solidarity and commonality are both weighed and leveraged, not just by the individual but by the central community and associated structures, including researchers and media outlets. In emphasizing stories of alienation from the collective, I present narratives of disidentification, as marginalized individuals navigate a hostile environment that, despite emphasizing commonality, rejects those who do not fall under the hegemonic definition of asexuality.

Presenter

• Michael Ross Jacobson, University of Illinois