Demiromantic describes people who do not experience romantic attraction until they have formed a deep emotional connection with someone,[1][2] according to the most common definition.[2] Other definitions of this romantic orientation are only experiencing limited romantic attraction,[2] or falling somewhere on a spectrum between aromantic and romantic; the latter definition overlaps with one for grayromantic.[3]
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Etymology[]
The prefix 'demi-' derives from the Latin dimidium, meaning "divided in half"; its usage in relation to romantic/sexual orientations means "half" or "partial".
Community[]
Demiromantic individuals, as well as those who identify with other areas of the aromantic spectrum, can wear a simple white ring on the middle finger of their left hand in order to show subtly in public that they belong to the spectrum. Hashtags like #Demiromantic, #DemiromanticPride, and #Demiromantics on social media could be a great place to find others who are also demiromantic to interact with.[4]
History[]
The exact origin of the term Demiromantic remains uncertain; however, it gained visibility when a page dedicated to 'demiromantic' was added to The Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN) in August 2011, marking its emergence within the lexicon section of the website.[5]
Flag[]
The origins of the flag are also unknown, but those within the demiromantic community speculate that it is based off the aromantic flag and AVEN logo.[5] While people often have different takes on the significance for each of the colors used, possible interpretations could be the following:
- Black: The sexuality spectrum as a whole
- Gray: Grayaromanticism and demiromanticism
- White: Platonic and aesthetic attraction, queer/quasi platonic relationships, or being outside the straight-gay and male-female binaries
- Green: Demiromanticism, or the aromantic spectrum
Distinction[]
The sexual counterpart to demiromantic is demisexual, which refers to individuals who only feel sexual attraction after forming an emotional connection with another person.[2] There are also similarities between being demiromantic and grayromantic, although the latter describes people who rarely experience romantic attraction.[4]
Perceptions and Discrimination[]
A common misconception is that being demiromantic means a person cannot feel sexual attraction, or does not enjoy physical affection, but these notions ultimately depend on the individual and their personal preferences. Demiromantic people may enjoy cuddling, hugging, and having sex, even if they are not romantically interested in someone. Some enjoy physical affection, while others do not.[6]
Media[]
There are few clear depictions of demiromanticism or demisexuality in media. It is hard to know whether to interpret a fictional character as being demiromantic, since it is not always mentioned or represented explicitly within the stories being told.
Literature[]
References[]
- ↑ "All Aromantic Terms" by AUREA on AUREA - Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (Archived on January 29, 2022).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Gay BC's of LGBT+: An Accompaniment to The ABC's of LGBT+ by Hardell, Ash. Published 2017-11-09 by Mango Media Inc. (web archive)
- ↑ The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality: From Ace to Ze by Holleb, Morgan Lev Edward. Published 2019 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781784506636
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Demiromantic Definition - What Does It Mean to be Demiromantic - Cosmopolitan
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pride Flags - University of Northern Colorado
- ↑ What Does Demiromantic Mean? - WebMD
- ↑ City of Strife - Queer Books for Teens
- ↑ Jenny Strings - The AroAce Database