Media Storm

S5E2 Why does asexuality make the media so angry?


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It's Valentine's Day! A day full of overpriced chocolates, high expectations, and focus on how much sex you're going to have.


So what about those who have no interest in it? 'Ace' is an umbrella term used to describe people who experience little, fluctuating, or no sexual attraction. There are also aromantic people - who experience little to no romantic attraction. Asexuality is often widely misunderstood, including within the LGBTQ+ community.


Asexual people are also not recognised in legislation, such as under the UK Equality Act, and Stonewall found asexual people may be at a higher risk of conversion therapy than gay, lesbian and bi individuals. But when asexual activists take to the media to raise these issues, they are met with a chorus of criticism, ignorance, and insults: they're vying for victimhood, or they're offered the enlightening advice to simply "get laid".


Here to help us understand why exactly the media are so angry is Yasmin Benoit, model, academic and activist.


The episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (@mathildamall) and Helena Wadia (@helenawadia)


The music is by Samfire (@soundofsamfire)


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Media StormBy Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia

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