Noetisexuality
Noetisexuality is a spectrum within the gray area of asexuality that is characterized by sexual and/or romantic attraction to people based on their mentality, world perspectives and points of view, charisma, tastes, imaginative capacities and other aspects linked to the way of being, or personality, of an individual.[2]
Some people refer to noetisexuality as a stricter manifestation of the demisexual and amicusexual spectrums of asexuality, in view of a need for personal involvement to finally know the mental traits of the person to whom such attractions may be directed.[2]
However, according to sex therapist Chantal Bachelet-Podar, attractions directed at mentality and intellectuality can be just as erotic as the physical attraction common to allosexuality.[3]
Etymology
The term noetissexual is a neologism probably coming from the Greek nous, that is, something noetic, belonging to the intellectual and mental sphere,[4] referring to a sexual and/or romantic preference and excitement for mentality.
Flags
The first proposal for a noetisexual flag was made by Michon Neal on October 28, 2016, and has since been made official.[1]
The meanings given to the flag by the author are:
- Black: represents the hidden, secret, or unknown. The way someone's mind works is a mystery;
- White: the desired openness to learning more about the mysteries of someone's mind;
- Beige: the stability of closeness between people attracted to each other's minds.[1]
There is another flag that represents the noeti spectrum as a whole. It has several colored stripes, each inspired by photos of space, because, according to its creator, "like the universe, the mind can be a mysterious and fascinating place worth exploring and learning about."[5] The meanings attributed to the flag's colors are:
- Black: Mystery, like the vastness of space;
- Red and orange: Women or people aligned with the feminine gender;
- Yellow: non-binary genders;
- White and gray: xenogender people, agender-spectrum identities, and other unmentioned identities;
- Blue: Men or people aligned with the masculine gender;
- Purple: binary and intergender identities.
Differences with sapiosexuality
Initially, the term "noetisexuality" was created to replace the term "sapiosexuality," which was considered problematic.[6] While it could be argued that the two terms refer to a single gray area, it should be taken into account that noetisexuality is much broader and linked to mentality in general—that is, ways of thinking, expressing, and experiencing; or, in short, attraction to one's way of being, to one's personality. While sapiosexuality is intrinsically linked to sexual and/or romantic attraction purely based on intelligence.[1][7][8]
Romanticism
Although noetisexuality is considered a gray area spectrum, it can arise solely as a romantic orientation, that is, someone may be allosexual but be noetiromantic, or within another gray area spectrum.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Neal, Michon (2018-06-13). "An Alternative to Sapiosexual: Noetisexual". Medium. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "» Noéti" (in português). Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ "Sapiosexuais: quando você só se excita com a inteligência". El País Brasil (in português). 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ "Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Noeti- (1) by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt". www.deviantart.com. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ "III. Sexual Orientation". Mx. Anunnaki Ray Marquez. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ "Sapiosexual: What It Is and What Does It Mean To Be One?". CitizenSide. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ North, Anna (2017-06-02). "The Hottest Body Part? For a Sapiosexual, It's the Brain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ↑ "Noeti- Pride Flags". Beyond MOGAI Pride Flags. 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
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