The aromantic spectrum, abbreviated as arospec[1] or aro-spec[2], refers to romantic orientations that are aromantic or are closely related to aromanticism when placed on a spectrum ranging from aromantic to alloromantic.[1][2][3]
It is also used by people whose aromantic identities are conditional, unreliable, or atypical to societal expectations, and by people who simply do not wish to label it further.[1] Identities under the aromantic umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.
Community
While it is commonly assumed that romantic and sexual attraction go hand in hand,[4] evidence suggests that a statistically significantly percentage of people experience inharmonious attraction with sexual and romantic orientation.[5] In one study, 1% of the sample size (4 people) identified as asexual or aromantic.
Many websites and resources are available for learning more about the aromantic community and the spectrum itself, such as AUREA (Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy).[6]
The words used to describe the aromantic spectrum often mirror those seen in the asexual spectrum.[7]
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW) is an annual, international event that aims to spread awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities. It works to spread awareness of the identity while celebrating the existence of those who identify as such. It takes place the first full week in February, usually following Valentine's Day. It began as a way to unify those in the aromantic community who found it difficult to share their experiences with others. The first week was recognized in November 2014, under the name Aromantic Awareness Week, though it was moved to February in 2015. The new date also included the use of the word "spectrum" in a strive to be inclusive to all.[8]
Queerplatonic relationships
- Main article: Queerplatonic relationship
A queerplatonic relationships is a close non-inherently sexual, non-romantic relationship that is beyond what most would consider to be a friendship. It consists of emotional commitment and prioritization that is typically seen in a romantic relationship without being romantic. People in queerplatonic relationships may be of any gender or sexual identity.[9]
Identities under the umbrella
Aromantic
- Main article: Aromantic
Aromantic flag
Aromantic, often shortened to aro, describes people who do not experience romantic attraction,[10][11] or experience little-to-no romantic attraction.[12] One of the meanings of the A in LGBTQIA+ is Aromantic.[10] Aromanticism is a romantic orientation and may involve forms of attraction that are not necessarily romantic, or interests in relationships that are intimate in other ways. There is no singular experience of aromanticism.[12]
Aegoromantic
The aegoromantic flag
Aegoromantic, less commonly known as anegoromantic, also previously known as autochorisromantic, describes those who enjoy the concept of romance but do not have a desire to participate in romantic activities. Aegoromantic individuals may have romantic fantasies, enjoy romantic media, or engage in shipping in fandoms, but they tend to feel little to no romantic attraction in real life and typically do not desire a romantic relationship.[1][2][3]
Apothiromantic
The apothiromantic flag
Apothiromantic is a person who does not feel any romantic attraction and is repulsed or disgusted by it.[1][3]
Aroflux
The aroflux flag
Aroflux is an identity that operates along the aromantic/alloromantic spectrum.[13] People who identify as aroflux may experience their romantic orientation as fluctuating between experiencing and not experiencing romantic attraction, or that attraction is being experienced to alternating or changing degrees.[2][3][14]
Autoromantic
An autoromantic flag
Autoromantic describes people who elicit romantic attraction from themselves, by themselves. They may not desire romantic activities with others but may enjoy being romantically intimate with themselves.[3][10]
Bellusromantic
Bellusromantic involves having an interest in conventionally romantic things without desiring a relationship.[1][3][15]
Cupioromantic
A cupioromantic flag
Cupioromantic describes those who do not experience attraction but do desire a romantic relationship.[1][2][3][16] The term "cupio", as a verb, is the Latin word for "I desire."[17]
Demiromantic
- Main article: Demiromantic
The demiromantic pride flag
Demiromantic describes people who do not experience romantic attraction until they have formed a deep emotional connection with someone,[1][18] according to the most common definition.[18] Other definitions of this romantic orientation are only experiencing limited romantic attraction,[18] or falling somewhere on a spectrum between aromantic and romantic; the latter definition overlaps with one for grayromantic.[19]
Desinoromantic
A desinoromantic flag
Desinoromantic people do not experience "full-on" romantic attraction, but do experience "liking" someone instead of loving them romantically; the attraction then goes no further.[1][15]
Frayromantic
A frayromantic flag
Frayromantic people only feel romantic attraction to people that they do not have a strong emotional bond with. Once they form an emotional bond with that person, that attraction disappears or fades. This identity may be seen as a counterpart to demiromantic.[1][2][3][20]
Grayromantic
The grayromantic flag
The term grayromantic includes, but is not limited to, people who feel low amounts of romantic attraction, rarely feel romantic attraction, only feel romantic attraction under specific circumstances, or are not sure if they experience romantic attraction. It may be considered a romantic equivalent to gray-asexuality.[1][2][3]
On the overall aromantic flag, grayromantics are represented by the pale green stripe, found underneath the darker green stripe on top.[21] A flag specifically for grayromanticism was created by an unknown person, though the flag bears similarity to a common graysexual flag. The flag was made available online as early as August 21, 2015.[22]
Lithromantic
A lith- or akoi- romantic flag
Lithromantic[1] or lithoromantic,[15] alternatively called akoiromantic[1][2][3] or akoineromantic,[1] describes someone who feels romantic attraction but does not want that attraction reciprocated or loses attraction when it is reciprocated.[1][2][3][15] They may enjoy romantic relationships in theory, but may stop feeling romantic attraction or enjoyment in a relationship.[1]
The term was originally coined as "lithromantic" by Ian, who uses the Tumblr screenname stopanthropomorphizingme, as early as May 22, 2014.[23]
Quoiromantic
A quoiromantic flag
Quoiromantic, also known as WTFromantic, describes not being romantically categorizable, being unable to tell the difference between differing kinds of attraction, being unsure about experiencing romantic attraction or not, and/or not feeling the concept of "romantic attraction" to be relevant to oneself.[1][2][3][10] The term "wtfromantic" was first used flippantly by Sciatrix in 2011,[24] and "quoiromantic" was proposed as a synonym by Cor in 2012.[25][26] Quoi is the French word for "what."[15]
Recipromantic
A recipromantic flag
Recipromantic people only experience romantic attraction after knowing that the other person is romantically attracted to them—that is, when it is reciprocated.[1][2][3][10]
Flag
The aromantic spectrum flag
Sometimes the flag for aromantic itself is used for the aromantic spectrum overall, though there is an additional design specifically for the aromantic spectrum.[27][3] The spectrum-specific flag design was posted to Tumblr on August 6, 2020, by Potion of the Flag Archive blog. It has five equal-sized horizontal stripes, and the creator suggested the following meanings for the colors: dark green for aromanticism in all forms, light green for diversity in attraction and experiences, light yellow for the aromantic community and its history, teal for pride in an aromantic identity, and dark teal for recognition of aromanticism as its own separate identity from asexuality.[28]
Resources
- AUREA, the Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy
References
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