Can Asexuals Masturbate?

Asexuals are often misunderstood from all angles, considered bizarre for not having the same sexual feelings as others and for engaging in sexual activities if they choose to do so.  The fact that asexuals can partake in, and even enjoy, sexual activities is often neglected.  It has been suggested that a person who masturbates cannot be asexual, since he or she has participated in a sexual act.  Yes, masturbation is an inherently sexual behavior, but this does not mean either that an asexual cannot perform it or that the only motivations behind it are sexual--even for non-asexuals.

Like other people groups, asexuals are the target of stereotypes, these fallacious assumptions obscuring the one criterion that makes a person asexual and denying their individuality.  To be asexual means nothing more than that one does not experience sexual feelings for other people, or that one feels minimal or unfocused sexual feelings.  Whether or not someone masturbates has nothing to do with this.

There are two ways one can know that asexuals can masturbate--and that they can even take great pleasure from it.  The first is using logic to demonstrate, a priori, that it does not follow from a person being asexual that he or she will not masturbate, since asexuality, on its own, is nothing more than the state of harboring little to no sexual attraction towards other people.  The second is actually being asexual and masturbating anyway.  Though the second method is accessible only to select individuals, all people have access to the first method.

Asexuals who masturbate might do it simply for the physical sensations of pleasure, and their masturbation might not be accompanied by any mental imagery involving fictional or real people [1].  It is not as if appreciating the sexual stimulation and arousal of one's own genitals means that one must not be an asexual, for asexuality is a condition of the mind, whereas masturbation in itself is a physical act.  An asexual can thoroughly enjoy masturbation because of the feelings it provides, though some asexuals might engage in it simply because other people do.  Either way, there is nothing impossible or inherently bizarre about asexuals stimulating their own genitals.

Despite being an asexual, I find the process of masturbation quite pleasurable; my asexuality does not prevent this in any way.  Some people might find this surprising, but there is nothing unusual about it from a logical standpoint.  Only people who make assumptions will find it shocking that some asexuals find masturbation appealing.  What these people might find less shocking is that asexuals can masturbate for one of the same reasons other people do: because it feels good.


[1].  Of course, non-asexuals who masturbate specifically for sexual release might not use mental imagery during masturbation as well.