@zholewjusz.bsky.social @karencuthbert.bsky.social @kristin-kaeuper.bsky.social @kristinaweber.bsky.social @lukebrunning.bsky.social @claudiasterbini.bsky.social

I have also formerly worked on the Hellenistic boy muse in German literature (in particular that of Thomas Mann), where the question of ‘asexual’ erotic contemplation of the body is a central theme of my work.”

I am working on Aubrey Beardsley and his erotic novel The Story of Venus and Tannhäuser, which I am arguing contains a strong element of asexuality that underscores Decadent, orgiastic scenes.

I also think that research into aro-ace sexuality has an ethical imperative, given how little visibility it has in culture more generally, and the presence of aphobia.

“I joined the research network as I am very interested in asexuality/aromanticism as a theme in literature (especially in late Victorian/Edwardian literature, which is my period of research), especially where it clashes with other (seemingly) incompatible themes, such as sexual violence or virility.

And there is a lot of writing on aro/ace topics in other disciplines that engages with philosophical questions. Check them out in our resource list:

www.aroaceresearch.com/resources

#philosophy #worldphilosophyday #asexuality #aromanticism #love #sexuality #relationships
@triphilosophy.bsky.social

On World Philosophy Day, looking at the world through an ace and aro lens encourages us to rethink some of our most basic assumptions about love, identity, and the political structures that shape our lives.

3. Rethinking Social Norms

Aspec perspectives highlight how deeply our society is shaped by compulsory sexuality and amatonormativity.
This harms aspec and allo people alike, and taking aspec experiences seriously means fewer people are left out or pressured to conform to these norms.

2. Understanding Lived Experience

The aro/ace spectrum opens up questions about the lived experience of sexuality and identity:

• What is it like to not
experience sexual or romantic attraction? What does this tell us about these experiences?
• How is sexual orientation and identity constructed?

1. The Nature of Love, Sex, and Relationships

Aspec perspectives challenge assumptions about what love is, and how attraction, desire, and platonic and romantic relationships differ.

Including these perspectives exposes gaps in our theories and gives us a better understanding of these concepts.

I'm excited to be part of an interdisciplinary network dedicated to explore and grow this field."

Asexuality and aromanticism force us to confront and re-examine concepts like attraction, desire, romance, identity, and belonging in really complex and interesting ways that I believe can yield valuable insights into both our past and our present.

„As a Victorianist, I am interested in socio-cultural histories of gender, particularly their conception and construction in the nineteenth century, and their legacies.

She joins the aro/ace research group as she is keen and excited to meet more researchers working on asexuality - a topic so often overlooked!