What Is a Solosexual?

Here at HelloFlo, we tackle all sorts of topics regarding sexual orientation and sexuality. However, when it comes to these categories, one thing is central to both: Sex. But what if someone likes sex…but just doesn’t like having it with other people?

Much like how gender is a spectrum, sexual preferences are the same way. Mish Way recently published an incredibly thoughtful piece on Broadly on “solosexuals,” people who find arousal and enjoyment in masturbation, but aren’t interested in any form of sex with others. Reasons for not wanting sex with partners can vary greatly, from suffering from social anxiety to just simply not being interested in what others have to offer.

The concept of someone liking sex but not wanting it with a partner may seem strange to some, especially considering how engrained the importance of sex (and sex with other humans) is in society. That said, it’s important to understand that there’s more to sexual preferences than simply positions, and it’s okay not to follow the “traditional” ideas of what it means to be sexual.

Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.

By Lily Herman on September 8, 2015
Lily is the Managing Editor at HelloFlo, where she oversees all editorial and social media operations for the brand. In addition to her work at HF, she's co-founder and CEO of The Prospect, the largest student-run college access organization in the world. Her work has been featured on TIME, Forbes, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Mashable, USA TODAY and Lifehacker. You can perpetually find her on Twitter.