Pseudosexual is an asexual spectrum microlabel describing individuals who experience a non-sexual attraction(s) which mimics or borders on sexual attraction.
Pseudosexual individuals experience strong attraction (such as aesthetic attraction, sensual attraction, or romantic attraction) which mimics sexual attraction, often by inducing sexual arousal or a libido spike. Despite this they lack the intrinsic desire to engage in sexual acts with that individual. The label pseudosexual may fall under the black stripe asexual umbrella.
Some common pseudosexual experiences might include:
- Experiencing sexual arousal or a libido spike caused by a tertiary attraction or romantic attraction without a drive to engage in sexual acts with the target of attraction.
- Enjoying or being sexually aroused by individuals in erotic content or fantasies but being uninterested in sexual activity with the individuals.
- Experiencing sexual arousal or a libido spike caused by viewing or otherwise sensing an individual but lacking sexual attraction towards the individual.
- Experiencing a non-sexual attraction so strongly it overwhelms any potential sexual attraction.
This term is similar to miransexual which describes individuals who experience visual sexual attraction (mirous attraction) but does not involve other senses and is unrelated to sensual attraction.
Pseudosexual may be similar to aegosexual, which describes an asexual individual who feels a disconnect between themselves and the subject of arousal.
Pseudoromantic may be distinct from the various quoisexual identities because the pseudosexual individual is typically aware that they are experiencing an attraction distinct from sexual attraction.
Pseudosexual may also be used as a prefix (eg. pseudo-bisexual) or as part of an angled aroace or oriented aroace identity. The term pseudosexual attraction may be used as an alternative by individuals who don't feel like this label fits or who are not on the asexual spectrum.
The romantic equivalent is pseudoromantic.
Sublabels
Pseudosexual may be considered an umbrella term with the following microlabels describing more specific pseudosexual experiences:[1]
- Senssexual is a microlabel of pseudosexual which describes an individual who experiences specifically physical attraction that mimics sexual attraction.
- Emovsexual is a microlabel of pseudosexual which describes an individual who experiences specifically emotional attraction that mimics sexual attraction.
History and Flag
Pseudosexual was coined by Reddit user AnonymousHermitCrab in the subreddit r/asexuality on January 23rd, 2022, along with it's flag.[2]
The pseudosexual flag is an altered version of the asexual flag. It is the asexual flag flipped upside down, modeled after the miransexual flag. A pink stripe is added beneath the purple stripe to represent tertiary attractions such as aesthetic and sensual attraction which are both commonly represented with the color pink.[2]
Etymology
The term pseudosexual is based on the Greek root word "pseudo-" meaning "false." The root word "pseudo-" was chosen to represent how non-sexual attractions present themselves as a false (pseudo) sexual attraction.[2]
The alternative name for the orientation, senssexual, is based on the Latin root word "sens-" meaning "to feel." The root word "sens-" was chosen to represent the importance of visual (aesthetic) and other sensory (sensual) attraction in this orientation's attraction.[2]