Sex-Repulsed is a term used to describe an individual who feels some form of disgust towards sexual topics, or may find them revolting.[1] It may also describe those who are simply uninterested in sex or find it undesirable.[2] The individual may feel a level of distress when interacting with sexual material.[3] Sex-repulsed individuals may feel disgust towards public displays of affection, as well as sexual innuendoes, even when not directed at them.[1] One may feel disgusted or uninterested in a sex scene in a piece of media. The level of repulsion varies from individual to individual.[3] Those who are sex-repulsed may feel physical reactions to sexual media, many saying that it makes their skin crawl. One does not care about the sex lives of other individuals, they simply do not like seeing it or hearing about it.[4]
This is often used by individuals on the asexual spectrum, but it is not exclusive to them.[5]
History
It is unknown when exactly the term "sex-repulsed" was coined, but the idea of interaction stances was coined and given proper definitions by Reddit user AnonymousHermitCrab on the r/asexuality subreddit.[6]
Flags & Symbols
The first sex-repulsed flag was created by Tumblr user Beyond MOGAI Pride Flags on January 15, 2018. However, this flag was also labeled as the sex-averse and sex-negative flag.[7]
Another sex-repulsed flag was created by Tumblr user chaoscoining on February 9, 2023.[8]
Community
Controversy
Sex-repulsed is often compared to the sex-negativity movement, but that is not the case. Sex-negativity refers to a philosophy that views sex as fundamentally immoral, though it may only excuse certain kinds of sexual acts as acceptable. This is often the belief that sex is only appropriate in socially approved romantic relationships. This has no relation to sex-repulsion. Being sex-repulsed is not the same as attempting to shame or ridicule others for their sexual activity.[1]
Perceptions and Discrimination
Sex-repulsed individuals can be sex-positive, meaning they believe in bodily autonomy in sexual relationships. However, the focus on sex-positivity being the idea that everyone should be having as much sex as possible has put a harmful reputation on the sex-repulsed label, equating those who are sex-repulsed to being "anti-feminist" or "puritan."[2] There is the belief that sex-repulsed individuals are not sexually liberated, that they haven't "grown up" and "become adults" yet. They're often told that their views on sex are immature and childish, to get over their feelings for the sake of maturity.[3]
Common sayings a sex-repulsed individual may experience include:[3]
- You need to get laid!
- You can't know if you don't like it if you've never tried it!
- You just haven't found the right one yet
- You've just never had me in your bed!
The idea of a sex-repulsed individual, or an asexual individual in general, needing to be "fixed" is a prominent experience. There is the idea that every individual has no choice but to "put out" if one ever want to be in a romantic relationship, or that not wanting to have sex is alien or inhuman.[3]
Subterms
| Label | Flag | Description | Coiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex-Drained |  [8]
|
When one is repulsed by sexual interaction due to trauma or exhaustion. | AnonymousHermitCrab[6] |
Related Terms
| Label | Relationship | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Friendship-Repulsed | Counterpart | When one is repulsed by platonic interaction. |
| Romance-Repulsed | Counterpart | When one is repulsed by romantic interaction. |
| Sex-Ambivalent | Counterpart | When one has mixed or complicated feelings regarding sexual interaction. |
| Sex-Averse | Similar | When one is repulsed by sexual interactions involving themselves. |
| Sex-Desired | Opposite | When one actively desires sexual interaction. |
| Sex-Favorable | Opposite | When one is favorable towards or enjoys sexual interaction. |
| Sex-Indifferent | Counterpart | When one is indifferent towards sexual interaction. |
| Sex-Oscillating | Counterpart | When one's feelings towards sexual interaction change and/or fluctuate over time. |
| Sex-Piqued | Opposite | When one is favorable towards sexual interaction due to trauma recovery, mania or other causes. |
| Touch-Repulsed | Counterpart | When one is repulsed by sensual interaction. |
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project. “Attitudes toward Romance or Sex – the Ace and Aro Advocacy Project.” Taaap.org, taaap.org/learn/attitudes-toward-romance-or-sex/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wynne, Griffin. “Sex-Repulsed.” Cosmopolitan, 2 Aug. 2021, www.cosmopolitan.com/sexopedia/a37181073/sex-repulsed/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Tyger Songbird. “I Am Sex-Repulsed & Sex-Positive. The Two Are Not Contradictory. - LGBTQ Nation.” LGBTQ Nation, 25 Oct. 2023, www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/10/i-am-sex-repulsed-sex-positive-the-two-are-not-contradictory/. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
- ↑ InternalLongjumping7. “Reddit - Dive into Anything.” Reddit.com, 2023, www.reddit.com/r/asexuality/comments/160rxgq/what_does_it_feel_like_to_be_sexrepulsed/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
- ↑ Ace, Gryffindor. “What Exactly Is Sex Repulsed???” Asexual Visibility and Education Network, 20 July 2020, www.asexuality.org/en/topic/200292-what-exactly-is-sex-repulsed/. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 AnonymousHermitCrab. “Coining/Recoining Interaction Stance Terms.” Reddit, 27 Apr. 2022, www.reddit.com/r/asexuality/comments/ucy0kl/coiningrecoining_interaction_stance_terms/.
- ↑ beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Sex and Romance Negative/Repulsed/Averse Pride Flags.” Tumblr, 15 Jan. 2018, beyond-mogai-pride-flags.tumblr.com/post/169725646550/sex-and-romance-negativerepulsedaverse-pride.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 chaoscoining. “Sex Stances Expansion & Design Edits.” Tumblr, 9 Feb. 2023, www.tumblr.com/chaoscoining/708824153616187392/sex-stances-design-edits.