{{short description|Concept asserting sexuality as the only social norm}} {{LGBTQ sidebar}} '''Allonormativity''' is the assumption that all humans experience sexual attraction. It is the force which upholds compulsory sexuality{{Clarify|date=April 2026}}, the social systems and structures which privilege or incentivize sexual relationships over single individuals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hart-Brinson |first1=Peter |last2=Tlachac |first2=M. L. |last3=Lepien |first3=Emily |date=2023-06-27 |title=Contradictions in Experiences of Compulsory Sexuality and Pathways to Asexual Citizenship |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10110-1 |journal=Sexuality & Culture |volume=28 |pages=187–213 |language=en |doi=10.1007/s12119-023-10110-1 |issn=1936-4822|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Brandley |first1=Ben |last2=Spencer |first2=Leland G. |date=2023-01-01 |title=Rhetorics of Allonormativity: The Case of Asexual Latter-day Saints |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1041794X.2022.2108891 |journal=Southern Communication Journal |language=en |volume=88 |issue=1 |pages=1–15 |doi=10.1080/1041794X.2022.2108891 |issn=1041-794X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The term could be considered an expansion of heteronormativity, the idea that heterosexuality is the default or normative sexuality. The term is often used when discussing the pathologization,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Schneckenburger |first1=Stella A. |last2=Tam |first2=Michelle W. Y. |last3=Ross |first3=Lori E. |date=2023-06-06 |title=Asexual competent practices in healthcare: A narrative review |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19359705.2023.2214528 |journal=Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health |volume=28 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=314–334 |doi=10.1080/19359705.2023.2214528 |issn=1935-9705|url-access=subscription }}</ref> erasure,<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Mollet |first=Amanda L. |date=2020 |title="I Have a Lot of Feelings, Just None in the Genitalia Region": A Grounded Theory of Asexual College Students' Identity Journeys |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/752976 |journal=Journal of College Student Development |language=en |volume=61 |issue=2 |pages=189–206 |doi=10.1353/csd.2020.0017 |issn=1543-3382|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and dehumanization<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Brandley |first1=Ben |last2=Dehnert |first2=Marco |date=2023-03-17 |title="I am not a Robot, I am Asexual": A Qualitative Critique of Allonormative Discourses of Ace and Aro Folks as Robots, Aliens, Monsters |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2023.2185092 |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=71 |issue=6 |language=en |pages=1560–1583 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2023.2185092 |pmid=36929881 |issn=0091-8369|url-access=subscription }}</ref> of asexual and aromantic individuals in society, media, and within academic discourses.
== Etymology == Allonormativity was derived from allosexual, which in turn was derived from the Greek prefix ''allo-'', meaning different or other, and -''sexual'', i.e., attraction directed towards a target outside the self. The second element, -''normativity'', refers to the societal worldview which deems allosexuality as normal or desired.
== Effects == Growing up in an allonormative society may lead to asexual individuals feeling broken or isolated prior to or even after learning about asexuality.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kelleher |first1=Sinéad |last2=Murphy |first2=Mike |date=2022-06-22 |title=Asexual identity development and internalisation: a thematic analysis |journal=Sexual and Relationship Therapy |volume=39 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=865–893 |doi=10.1080/14681994.2022.2091127 |issn=1468-1994|doi-access=free }}</ref> Because allonormativity presents asexuality as deviant, it also contributes to the pathologization of and discrimination against asexual people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Decker |first=Julia Sondra |date=January 5, 2015 |title=Asexuality and the Health Professional |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-invisible-orientation/201501/asexuality-and-the-health-professional |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Psychology Today Canada |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Steelman |first1=Sarah M. |last2=Hertlein |first2=Katherine M. |date=2016-04-02 |title=Underexplored Identities: Attending to Asexuality in Therapeutic Contexts |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08975353.2016.1169014 |journal=Journal of Family Psychotherapy |language=en |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=85–98 |doi=10.1080/08975353.2016.1169014 |issn=0897-5353|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== See also == * Amatonormativity * Compulsory heterosexuality
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{Cite book |last1=Mollet |first1=Amanda L. |url= |title=Encyclopedia of Queer Studies in Education |last2=Lackman |first2=Brian |pages=26–30 |chapter=Chapter 6 Allonormativity and Compulsory Sexuality |doi=10.1163/9789004506725_006 |chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004506725_006}}
== External links == * {{Wiktionary-inline|allonormativity}}
{{Asexuality topics}}
Category:Aromanticism Category:Asexuality Category:Sexual attraction Category:Sexuality and society Category:Anti-LGBTQ sentiment Category:LGBTQ erasure