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After reading Coyote's post on sex aversion stigma I was thinking about how societal attempts to control sexual behavior are often discussed in terms of how they deviate from the heterosexual monogamous marriage. Which is certainly a valid way framework to consider regardless of how that deviance manifests.
But it occurred to me that there is another framework in which this control manifests that may be of particular relevance to ace people.
And that's priests. Or nuns, or monks. Religious officials of various kinds. Because just as the heterosexual marriage is a way for a religious institution to codify what it sees as an acceptable way to be a sexual person in the world, so too does it codify an acceptable way to be asexual, or to be celibate, whether that celibacy is based on one's asexuality or on some other reason. Of course, not all religious officials are expected to be celibate, but in terms of who society codifies as acceptably celibate, they seem to generally all be religious officials.
It seems to me that this is a way of exerting control by the religious institution to ensure these people's labors are directed entirely towards its perpetuation rather than towards alternate goals that may interfere with its strict hierarchy and social mores, or worse, oppose its aims.
Of course, not all religious officials who take vows of celibacy enjoy being celibate. Because these positions are positions of power and authority, people may very well seek them out for that reason alone and not for any desire of celibacy. But it seems very pointed to me that this is the only socially acceptable option given to people who do want to be celibate, to have a career completely and entirely devoted to furthering the aims of a religious institution.
