{{Short description|Lack of romantic attraction to others}} {{hatnote group| {{distinguish|Aromanticism (album){{!}}''Aromanticism'' (album)}} {{for|the chemical property|Aromaticity}} }} {{Infobox sexuality | title = Aromanticism | flag = Aromantic Pride Flag.svg | flag_name = Aromantic flag | flag_meaning = Green for aromantic community, white for platonic love and friendship (including queerplatonic relationship), grey and black for sexuality spectrum<ref name="flagorigin" /><ref name="flag" /> | definition = Experiencing little to no romantic attraction to others; low or absent desire for romantic activity | abbreviations = ''aro'' }} {{LGBTQ sidebar}} <!-- {{sexual orientation}} -->
'''Aromanticism''' is a romantic orientation characterized by experiencing little to no<!--EDITOR NOTICE: DO NOT CHANGE THIS DEFINITION. This is now reliable sources define it --> romantic attraction.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Composing aromanticism |url=https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/85832 |publisher=University of Missouri—Columbia |date=2021 |degree=Thesis |doi=10.32469/10355/85832 |first=C. |last=Bougie |doi-access=free |access-date=2022-04-21 |archive-date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516112631/https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/85832 |url-status=live |page=8|hdl=10355/85832 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=5 things you should know about aromantic people |url=https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/5-things-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Stonewall |language=en |archive-date=2022-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226060725/https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/5-things-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-29 |title=Never Been Interested in Romance? You Could Be Aromantic |url=https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-aromantic |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Psych Central |language=en |archive-date=2022-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226060719/https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-aromantic |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of AROMANTIC |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aromantic |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> The term "'''aromantic'''", colloquially shortened to "'''aro'''", refers to a person whose romantic orientation is aromanticism.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news |author=Josh Salisbury |title=Meet the aromantics: 'I'm not cold – I just don't have any romantic feelings' | Life and style |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex |access-date=2018-04-15 |archive-date=2021-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407054453/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Przybylo |first1=Ela |last2=Gupta |first2=Kristina |date=2020 |title=Editorial Introduction: The Erotics of Asexualities and Nonsexualities: Intersectional Approaches |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/777127 |journal=Feminist Formations |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=vii–xxi |doi=10.1353/ff.2020.0034 |issn=2151-7371 |s2cid=235009367 |access-date=2022-04-21 |archive-date=2022-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306053727/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/777127 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> It is distinct from, though often confused with, ''asexuality'', the lack of sexual attraction.
==Definition, identity and relationships== thumb|Simplified diagram of the aromantic and asexual spectrum Aromanticism is defined as "having little or no romantic feeling towards others: experiencing little or no romantic desire or attraction".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aromantic|title=Aromantic Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325222124/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aromantic|url-status=live}}</ref> The term ''aromantic'' was added to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://public.oed.com/updates/new-words-list-june-2018/|title=Oxford English Dictionary: New words list June 2018|work=Oxford English Dictionary |date=June 2018|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019231754/https://public.oed.com/updates/new-words-list-june-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The opposite of aromanticism is alloromanticism, defined as a romantic orientation in which one experiences romantic love or romantic attraction to others.<ref>{{cite web |last=Micomonaco |first=Mikayla |date=June 28, 2017 |title=I'm Tired Of My Queer Identity Being Ignored & Erased On TV |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/im-tired-of-my-queer-identity-being-ignored-erased-on-tv-66215 |access-date=2018-04-15 |website=Bustle |archive-date=2019-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815211423/https://www.bustle.com/p/im-tired-of-my-queer-identity-being-ignored-erased-on-tv-66215 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some individuals who fall on the aromantic spectrum of identities describe themselves as having experienced romantic love or romantic attraction at some point. Such aromantics may adopt labels for more specific identities on the aromantic spectrum, such as "grayromantic" (romantic attraction rarely experienced or only weakly experienced) or "demiromantic" (only experiencing romantic attraction after a strong emotional bond has been formed with the target).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=AUREA – Aromantic Identity Terms |url=https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=AUREA |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226060716/https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms |url-status=live }}</ref> As the experience of romantic attraction is subjective, some aromantic people may find it difficult to determine whether they experience romantic attraction.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Lang |first=Christina |date=2018-05-01 |title=Intimacy and Desire Through the Lens of an Aro-Ace Woman of Color |url=https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/252 |journal=Honors Theses |access-date=2022-04-21 |archive-date=2022-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519000936/https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/252/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As such, those who are aromantic may have trouble distinguishing platonic affection from romantic affection.<ref name="HardyEaston2017">{{cite book |author1=Janet W. Hardy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vOAsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98 |title=The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love |author2=Dossie Easton |publisher=Ten Speed Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-399-57966-0 |pages=98– |access-date=2022-04-21 |archive-date=2023-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429210354/https://books.google.com/books?id=vOAsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Decker2015">{{cite book |author=Julie Sondra Decker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQYQCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT44 |title=The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in LGBT |date=13 October 2015 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-5107-0064-2 |pages=44– |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429210502/https://books.google.com/books?id=PQYQCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT44 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Winston2017">{{cite book |author=Dedeker Winston |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VEQDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT113 |title=The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory: Everything You Need to Know About Open Relationships, Non-Monogamy, and Alternative Love |date=7 February 2017 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-5107-1209-6 |pages=113– |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429210345/https://books.google.com/books?id=5VEQDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT113 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Aromantic people may form non-romantic relationships of all types, and may be able to enjoy sexual relationships.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Antonsen |first1=Amy N. |last2=Zdaniuk |first2=Bozena |last3=Yule |first3=Morag |last4=Brotto |first4=Lori A. |date=2020-07-01 |title=Ace and Aro: Understanding Differences in Romantic Attractions Among Persons Identifying as Asexual |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |language=en |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=1615–1630 |doi=10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1 |issn=1573-2800 |pmid=32095971 |s2cid=211476089 }}</ref> They may also choose to have children, and studies indicate that aromantic individuals are no less likely to have children than alloromantic individuals.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Plonski |first=Logan |date=February 23, 2018 |title=7 Facts You Should Know About Aromantic People |url=https://www.them.us/story/facts-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people |access-date=2020-02-19 |website=them. |language=en |archive-date=2020-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111160539/https://www.them.us/story/facts-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people |url-status=live }}</ref> This is because aromanticism is independent of sexuality or libido,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pinto |first1=Stacy Anne |year=2014 |title=ASEXUally: On being an ally to the asexual community |journal=Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=331–343 |doi=10.1080/15538605.2014.960130 |s2cid=144192002}}</ref> and while many aromantic people are asexual,<ref name=":3" /><ref name="theguardian" /> many are also allosexual.<ref name="Winston2017" /> Aromantic individuals who are allosexual are called aromantic allosexuals or aroallos.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Project |first=The Ace and Aro Advocacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BQ-ZEAAAQBAJ&dq=aroallo&pg=PA234 |title=Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity |date=2023-04-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-639-1 |language=en}}</ref> Due to this, aromantic people who are not asexual can also identify with other sexual orientations, such as "aromantic bisexual" or "aromantic heterosexual".<ref name=":4">{{cite book |title=Teaching, Affirming, and Recognizing Trans and Gender Creative Youth |date=2016 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-56766-6 |editor=Miller SJ |location=London |pages=299–309 |chapter=Glossary of Terms: Defining a Common Queer language |doi=10.1057/978-1-137-56766-6 |s2cid=156912799 |access-date=2020-04-24 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-1-137-56766-6%2F1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-1-137-56766-6%2F1.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}</ref> This split between romantic and sexual orientation is commonly explained as the split attraction model, which states that romantic and sexual attraction are not strictly linked for all people. Aromantic asexual people are colloquially known as "aro-ace" or "aroace".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kliegman |first=Julie |date=2021-10-29 |title=What Does AroAce Mean? Not Everyone Who's Aromantic Is Asexual |url=https://www.bustle.com/wellness/aroace-aromantic-asexual-yasmin-benoit |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Bustle |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728140047/https://www.bustle.com/wellness/aroace-aromantic-asexual-yasmin-benoit |url-status=live }}</ref>
Aromantic individuals are also able to experience platonic love and may have committed friendships, and some form intimate non-romantic partnerships called "queerplatonic relationships". Aromantic individuals may enter romantic relationships despite not feeling romantic attraction, and others under the aromantic spectrum such as those who identify as demiromantic may enter romantic relationships under limited circumstances.<ref name=":5" /> Individuals who do not experience platonic attraction are named as aplatonic.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nathan Bernstein |author2=Maximus Jenkins |chapter=A Brief Manifesto Against Asexual Respectability Politics |date=2024 |title=Asexualities |pages=111–118 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781003178798-10|isbn=978-1-003-17879-8}}</ref> Aromantic individuals are also able to experience sensual attraction. Those who do not experience sensual attraction are called asensual. Of those who responded to the Aromantic Census 2020, 14.6% had been in a non-romantic partnership.<ref name=":0" />
Some have argued that aromanticism is under-represented,<ref>{{cite web |date=2016-02-19 |title=How Pop Culture Denies Aromantic Asexual Existence |url=https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/ |access-date=2018-04-15 |publisher=The Mary Sue |archive-date=2021-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406190655/https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/ |url-status=live }}</ref> under-researched,<ref>{{cite web |author=Nicola Pardy |title=What Is Asexual – People Share Asexuality Experiences |url=https://www.refinery29.uk/2016/06/113484/what-is-asexual-definition-experiences |access-date=2018-04-15 |publisher=Refinery29.uk |archive-date=2018-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906011928/https://www.refinery29.uk/2016/06/113484/what-is-asexual-definition-experiences |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> and frequently misunderstood.<ref>{{cite news |author=Yeow Kai Chai |date=2017-10-04 |title=Singer-songwriter Moses Sumney does not mind flying the freak flag, Entertainment News & Top Stories |newspaper=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singer-songwriter-moses-sumney-does-not-mind-flying-the-freak-flag |access-date=2018-04-15 |archive-date=2019-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202085021/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singer-songwriter-moses-sumney-does-not-mind-flying-the-freak-flag |url-status=live }}</ref>
In society at large, aromantic people are often stigmatized and stereotyped as being afraid of intimacy, heartless, or deluded.<ref name="theguardian" /><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Nivea Serrao |date=2017-07-10 |title=Tash Hearts Tolstoy author on depicting asexuality in YA fiction |url=http://ew.com/books/2017/07/10/tash-hearts-tolstoy-interview/ |magazine=EW.com |access-date=2018-04-15 |archive-date=2019-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201144415/https://ew.com/books/2017/07/10/tash-hearts-tolstoy-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Amatonormativity, a neologism coined by philosopher and professor Elizabeth Brake, is defined as "the widespread assumption that everyone is better off in an exclusive, romantic, long-term coupled relationship, and that everyone is seeking such a relationship", can be particularly damaging to aromantics. Amatonormativity is said to be connected to devaluing familial, platonic, and queerplatonic friendships/relationships, and damaging to aromantics.<ref name=":13">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Sherronda J. |date=2017-12-26 |title=Romance is Not Universal, Nor is it Necessary |url=https://wearyourvoicemag.com/more/culture/romance-not-universal-necessary |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412082517/https://wearyourvoicemag.com/more/culture/romance-not-universal-necessary |archive-date=2018-04-12 |access-date=2018-04-15 |work=Wear Your Voice}}</ref>
In the initialism LGBTQIA+, the ''A'' stands for aromanticism, alongside asexuality and agender.<ref name="glaadA">{{cite web |date=11 February 2015 |title=GLAAD – A is for Asexual, Agender, Aromantic |work=GLAAD |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/asexual-agender-aromantic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211810/https://www.glaad.org/blog/asexual-agender-aromantic |archive-date=26 March 2023 |access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/LGBTQIA|title=LGBTQIA Definition & Meaning|access-date=9 July 2023|work=Merriam-Webster|archive-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107090134/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/LGBTQIA|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Identities on the aromantic spectrum=== As aromanticism exists as a spectrum, commonly referred to as the ''{{visible anchor|aromantic spectrum}}'', there are varying identities or labels that people on the aromantic spectrum identify with.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://taaap.org/learn/spectrum-101/|title=Spectrum 101 – The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project|date=May 2021|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211815/https://taaap.org/learn/spectrum-101/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="aureaidentity">{{cite web|url=https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms|title=AUREA – Aromantic Identity Terms|date=October 2021|access-date=12 April 2023|archive-date=1 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401194806/https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oulgbtq.org/acearo-spectrum-definitions.html|title=Ace / Aro Spectrum Definitions – Oxford University LGBTQ+ Society|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211810/https://www.oulgbtq.org/acearo-spectrum-definitions.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * '''Aromantic''' – someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction. * '''Grayromantic''' – someone who may be experiencing romantic attraction rarely,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Young |first=Eris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzCXEAAAQBAJ&pg=PP1 |title=Ace Voices: What it Means to Be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-Ace |date=2022-12-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-78775-699-1 |language=en}}</ref> only under certain circumstances,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fowler |first1=James A. |last2=Mendis |first2=Marini |last3=Crook |first3=Alex |last4=Chavez-Baldini |first4=UnYoung |last5=Baca |first5=Tabitha |last6=Dean |first6=Judith A. |date=2024-01-02 |title=Exploring Aromanticism Through an Online Qualitative Investigation With the Aromantic Community: "Freeing, Alienating, and Utterly Fantastic" |journal=International Journal of Sexual Health |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=126–143 |doi=10.1080/19317611.2024.2311158 |issn=1931-7611 |pmc=10903686 |pmid=38596810}}</ref> or only weakly.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tessler |first1=Hannah |last2=Winer |first2=Canton |date=2023 |title=Sexuality, romantic orientation, and masculinity: Men as underrepresented in asexual and aromantic communities |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/soc4.13141 |journal=Sociology Compass |language=en |volume=17 |issue=11 |article-number=e13141 |doi=10.1111/soc4.13141 |issn=1751-9020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kiechle |first=Jasmin |year=2021 |title=The Importance of Representation for Lesser-Known Sexual Identities on the Example of Asexuality and Aromanticism |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385288093 |journal=University of Augsburg |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.24010.58565}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Valley |first1=Shay N. |last2=Mollet |first2=Amanda L. |last3=Fitzsimmons |first3=Brynn |date=2025-12-01 |title="There's no roadmap for this": Asexual and Aromantic Students' Healthy Intimate Relationships |journal=Sexuality Research and Social Policy |language=en |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=1832–1847 |doi=10.1007/s13178-025-01083-x |issn=1553-6610}}</ref> Also known in the past as quasiromantic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Hong |last2=Lu |first2=Xin-An (Lucian) |title=Panel on: Maintaining Identity in the Virtual World Virtual Fraud and Misinformation in the New Age: Revisiting Grice's Cooperative Principle |url=https://www.informingscience.org/Publications/2731?Type=conferenceproceedings&ConferenceID=47 |journal=2003 Informing Science + IT Education Conference |language=en |volume=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Robertshaw |first1=Alan |last2=Hefti |first2=Paula |last3=Zimmermann |first3=Manfred |last4=Thurnher |first4=Eugen |last5=Zimmermann |first5=Manfred |last6=Spechtler |first6=Franz V. |last7=Muller |first7=Ulrich |date=October 1983 |title=Codex Dresden M68 |journal=The Modern Language Review |volume=78 |issue=4 |page=965 |doi=10.2307/3729564 |jstor=3729564 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=He Got Game. |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA20537771&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00289604&p=AONE&sw=w |work=Newsweek}}</ref> * '''Demiromantic''' – someone who experiences romantic attraction but only after forming a close non-romantic bond with the person.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pessah |first=Mariam |date=2020 |title=Entrevista com Euleax de Lima Pereira: mais do que eu escrever o poema, é o poema que me escreve. |url=http://periodicos.uefs.br/index.php/leguaEmeia/article/download/6209/4876 |journal=Revista Légua e Meia |language=pt |volume=11 |issue=1 |issn=2177-0344 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822033230/https://periodicos.uefs.br/index.php/leguaEmeia/article/view/6209 |archive-date=2025-08-22 |access-date=2025-11-21 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barbosa |first=Isabelle Ruiz Paggioro Sessino Toledo |date=2024-12-12 |title=Literatura sem calcinha - sala de aula sem cuecalcinha |url=https://repositorio.unesp.br/bitstreams/e6693ee3-e122-470a-9744-662dd3adfc55/download |journal=UNESP}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Espíndola |first1=Mariana Mercês Mesquita |last2=Araújo |first2=Ednaldo Cavalcante de |last3=Silva |first3=Adrian Thaís Cardoso Santos Gomes da |last4=Pereira |first4=Danilo Martins Roque |last5=Ramalho |first5=Marclineide Nóbrega de Andrade |last6=Oliveira |first6=Thainara Torres de |last7=Paula |first7=Weslla Karla Albuquerque Silva de |last8=Sousa |first8=Josueida de Carvalho |date=2025 |title=Tecnologia educacional digital sobre bullying LGBTIfóbico para adolescentes escolares |url=https://www.scielo.br/j/reben/a/SwZpR7KthcMrSb8TcN6wWPz/?format=pdf&lang=pt |journal=Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem |language=pt |volume=78 |issue=3 |article-number=e20240377 |doi=10.1590/0034-7167-2024-0377pt |issn=0034-7167}}</ref> * '''Desinoromantic''' – an aromantic who experiences a crush for another person, but feelings never progress into romantic love.<ref name="l590">{{cite web | title=Understanding arospec identities—the aromantic spectrum | website=Feeld | date=2025-01-31 | url=https://feeld.co/ask-feeld/how-to/understanding-arospec-identitiesthe-aromantic-spectrum | access-date=2025-06-07}}</ref> * '''Aegoromantic''' – someone who does not feel romantic attraction, but enjoys the depiction of romantic love.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Laljer |first=Jessie |date=2025-08-02 |title="I would ask people why they bother to date": Evidence of the importance of romantic attraction in the development of sexual identity for asexual individuals |journal=Sexualities |volume=29 |issue=1–2 |language=EN |article-number=13634607251366144 |doi=10.1177/13634607251366144 |issn=1363-4607}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interested, but Not in Sex: Analysis and Theory on the Importance of Romantic Attraction in Understanding the Experiences of Asexual Populations |url=https://shareok.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/68e03e12-95d4-40e2-88db-9b7f3fa96bab/content}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mangen |first=Kayla |date=2024-05-30 |title=Splitting Attraction: A Phenomenological Study of Coming Out With Discordant Sexual and Romantic Orientations Among Adults |url=https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=17119&context=dissertations |journal=Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies}}</ref> * '''Lithromantic''' – someone who experiences romantic attraction, but does not want it to be reciprocated and may lose that attraction if it is reciprocated.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Harrington |first=Max R. |date=2024 |title=Validating SAROS: The Replicability of Patterns of Sexual and Romantic Attraction Across Samples |url=https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/7w62fj69d |journal=ScholarWorks |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250610231251/https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/d217r014r |archive-date=2025-06-10 |access-date=2025-11-21 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Taki |first=Rei |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LrmiEAAAQBAJ&dq=lithromantic&pg=PA3 |title=Last Gender 2 |date=2023-01-10 |publisher=Kodansha USA |isbn=978-1-68491-872-0 |language=en}}</ref> * '''Recipromantic''' – someone who experiences romantic attraction,<ref>{{cite web|author1=Seventhqueen |url=https://www.asexuals.net/aromantic-spectrum-from-aro-to-z/|title=Aromantic spectrum – From Aro to Z|work=Asexuals |date=31 May 2020 |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> but only after they know the other person is romantically attracted to them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Johnston |first=Sky |date=2025-04-01 |title=I Will Make No Defense |url=https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/wgststudent/9 |journal=Women's and Gender Studies: Student Scholarship & Creative Works}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Midlej |first=Heloisa |date=2025-02-26 |title=Como falar sobre a assexualidade na vida real estimula registros da assexualidade virtualmente e vice-versa: Uma análise sobre como o envio de histórias pessoais agiu como continuidade da memória da identidade assexual e apoiou a exibição "A é para... (Museu da Assexualidade e Arromanticidade)" |url=https://www.revista.memoriaslgbt.com/index.php/ojs/article/download/110/67 |journal=Revista Memória LGBT |language=pt |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=95–129 |issn=2318-6275}}</ref> * '''Bellusromantic''' – someone who has an interest in, is okay with or enjoys traditionally romantic things,<ref name=":18" /> such as kissing or cuddling, but does not want a romantic relationship.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Woodruff |first=Elisa Marie |url=https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8788&context=allgraduate-thesesdissertations |title=Wellness in asexual-identified individuals: The impact of social support and microaggressions |date=2019 |publisher=Northern Illinois University |language=en}}</ref> * '''Cupioromantic''' – someone who does not experience romantic attraction,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brandley |first=ben |date=2023-01-02 |title=Ace Awakening: Communication Sources That Lead to Affirming Asexual-Spectrum Identities |journal=Women's Studies in Communication |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=23–41 |doi=10.1080/07491409.2022.2156417 |issn=0749-1409}}</ref> but desires a romantic relationship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCreary |first=Kylie |date=2023-03-02 |title=What It Means To Be Cupioromantic (& How It Differs From Being Aromantic) |url=https://www.thelist.com/1215359/what-it-means-to-be-cupioromantic-how-it-differs-from-being-aromantic/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=The List |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529020129/https://www.thelist.com/1215359/what-it-means-to-be-cupioromantic-how-it-differs-from-being-aromantic/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Laljer |first=Jessie |date=2025-08-02 |title="I would ask people why they bother to date": Evidence of the importance of romantic attraction in the development of sexual identity for asexual individuals |journal=Sexualities |volume=29 |issue=1–2 |language=EN |article-number=13634607251366144 |doi=10.1177/13634607251366144 |issn=1363-4607}}</ref> * '''Aroflux''' – someone who experiences their romantic attraction to be shifting on the aromantic spectrum.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dillon |first1=John-Louis |last2=Dean |first2=Judith A. |last3=Baca |first3=Tabitha |last4=Prince |first4=Alex |last5=Fowler |first5=James A. |title=Understanding aromantic peoples' experiences of intra-community discrimination within the Queer Community |journal=Culture, Health & Sexuality |date=2025 |volume=0 |pages=1–11 |doi=10.1080/13691058.2025.2576109 |issn=1369-1058 |pmid=41176730}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite journal |last=İVANOVSKİY |first=VLADİSLAV |year=2022 |title=RECOGNIZING NON-AMATONORMATIVE FORCES IN VIRGINIA WOOLF'S ORLANDO AND URSULA K. LE GUIN'S LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS. |url=https://www.academia.edu/download/91473740/Vladislav_Ivanovskiy_Senior_Thesis_.pdf |journal=Academia.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=O que é: Arromanticidade fluida - Entenda o conceito |url=https://celinacruz.com.br/glossario/o-que-e-arromanticidade-fluida/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=celinacruz.com.br |language=pt-BR}}</ref> * '''Frayromantic''' – someone who only experiences romantic attraction towards people they do not know and may lose romantic attraction towards them if they form a deeper connection with them.<ref>{{Cite thesis |degree=Master |last=Hunter |first=Mikayla |date=2024-07-09 |title=Beyond LGBT: a qualitative exploration of the primary healthcare experiences and needs of underrepresented 2SLGBTQIA+ young adults in Manitoba |publisher=The University of Manitoba |hdl=1993/38369 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/1993/38369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Schlumberger |first=Mika |title=Queere Anglizismen im Deutschen und im Spanischen: Ein besonderes Augenmerk bei der Übersetzung |date=2023 |degree=Máster en Traducción especializada y Tecnologías de traducción |publisher=Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile |url=https://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/86837 |doi=10.7764/tesisuc/let/86837}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tunggono |first=Victoria M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70KGEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 |title=Childfree & Happy |date=2021 |publisher=EA Books |isbn=978-623-94979-5-8 |language=id}}</ref> * '''Quoiromantic''' – someone who is uncertain if they experience romantic attraction or cannot tell if their feelings are romantic,<ref>{{Cite thesis |degree=Master |last=Stucki |first=Elijah G. |year=2014 |title=Compulsory Sexuality and Amatonormativity in Higher Education: A Photovoice Study with Asexual and Aromantic Students |url=https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/c247dz364 |url-status=live |publisher=Oregon State University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124035531/https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/c247dz364 |archive-date=2020-11-24}}</ref> sexual or platonic in nature.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Byron, Paul |author2=Rasmussen, Sophia |author3=Wright Toussaint, Dani |author4=Lobo, Roanna |author5=Robinson, Kerry H. |author6=Paradise, Brett |date=2017 |title='You learn from each other': LGBTIQ Young People's Mental Health Help-seeking and the RAD Australia Online Directory |url=https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws:38815/ |publisher=Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre |language=en |doi=10.4225/35/58ae2dea65d12 |doi-broken-date=June 2026 |isbn=978-1-74108-428-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127013318/https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws:38815/ |archive-date=2022-11-27 |access-date=2026-05-16}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite book |last=Hampson |first=Erin |url=https://www.academia.edu/download/63886443/Hampson_2020_Negotiating_invisibility_PoSR_11_1_26-4120200710-115007-899t3m.pdf |title=Negotiating (in)visibility: A phenomenological analysis of asexual students' experiences of university |publisher=Psychology of Sexualities Review |year=2020 |volume=11 |page=29}}</ref> ** '''Idemromantic''' – categorizing relationships and feelings as romantic or platonic based on factors other than presence or lack of romantic attraction.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{Cite thesis |last=Dunne |first=Orla |title=The experiences of gifted LGBTQ post-primary students in Ireland |date=2023-04-03 |degree=doctoral |publisher=Dublin City University |url=https://doras.dcu.ie/28015/ |language=en}}|{{Cite journal |last1=Feraday |first1=Christine |year=2016 |title=For lack of a better word: neo-identities in non-cisgender, non-straight communities on Tumblr |url=https://rshare.library.torontomu.ca/ndownloader/files/28128276 |website=Ryerson University |doi=10.32920/ryerson.14648067}}|{{cite book |last=Feraday |first=Christine |chapter=Making a Name for Yourself: Neo-identities and Tumblr |date=2018 |title=Youth Mediations and Affective Relations |pages=197–212 |editor-last=Driver |editor-first=Susan |location=Cham |publisher=Springer International |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-98971-6_12 |isbn=978-3-319-98971-6 |editor2-last=Coulter |editor2-first=Natalie}}|{{Cite journal |year=2020 |title=Intersectional Stigma Management Communication, Demi-Rhetoricity, and Critical Health Communication: Affirming (Neuro) Queer Subjectivities |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/d60c07cc2480ffe2bcf112359e081d00/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y |journal=The University of Utah}}}}</ref> ** '''Platoniromantic''' – not able to distinguish between platonic or romantic feelings.<ref>{{Cite conference |last1=Wang |first1=Kelly |last2=Milton |first2=Ashlee |last3=Rosenbloom |first3=Leah Namisa |last4=Melder |first4=Erika |last5=Lerner |first5=Ada |last6=Devito |first6=Michael Ann |title='How would I know what I would want from or with them?': Supporting A-Spec Approaches to Developing Relationships Through Online Platforms |book-title=CHI '26: Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3772318.3791253 |date=2026 |article-number=907 |pages=1–20 |language=en |doi=10.1145/3772318.3791253 |doi-access=free |isbn=979-8-4007-2278-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |degree=PhD |last1=Tuthill |first1=Shelby D. |date=2023 |title=Building connection and reducing isolation: a group therapy intervention for LGBTQ+ young adults |url=https://api.mountainscholar.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/8d336647-7180-4ad2-9c00-e96b7128f754/content |publisher=University of Colorado |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Cameron |first=Rose |url= |title=Difference and Diversity in Counselling and Psychotherapy |date=2025-04-05 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1-0362-0221-7 |language=en}}</ref> * '''Placioromantic''' – someone who feels little to no desire to receive romantic acts but has interest in performing them to someone else.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fine |first=Julia Coombs |date=2019-03-07 |title=Performing graysexuality: A segmental and prosodic analysis of three voices employed in the construction of the graysexual self |url=https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/jls.18003.coo |journal=Journal of Language and Sexuality |language=en |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=1–29 |doi=10.1075/jls.18003.coo |s2cid=150456875 |issn=2211-3770 |access-date=2023-10-05 |archive-date=2023-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103104629/https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/jls.18003.coo |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> * '''Apothiromantic''' – someone who does not experience romantic attraction and feels repulsed by romance or averse to romantic activities.<ref name=":18">{{Cite book |last=Barron |first=Victoria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XQqjEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT12 |title=Amazing Ace, Awesome Aro: An Illustrated Exploration |date=2023-06-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-715-2 |language=en|page=12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Neves |first=Silva |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=14pjEQAAQBAJ&dq=%22aroflux%22+OR+%22aro-flux%22+aromantic&pg=PP1 |title=Sexual Diversity: Being Human through Understanding and Acceptance |date=2025-05-29 |publisher=Karnac Books |isbn=978-1-80013-372-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":17" /> * '''Requiesromantic''' – someone who does not experience romantic attraction because of emotional exhaustion.<ref name=":18" />
Beyond the above listed commonly used terms that people on the aromantic spectrum may use to identify with, there are also a series of newer emerging terms that are not yet commonly used by the community.<ref name="aureaidentity" />
==Community== One of the earliest uses of the modern term "aromantic" dates back to 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aromantic History – AUREA|date=October 13, 2019|url=https://www.aromanticism.org/en/news-feed/aromantic-history|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321220608/https://www.aromanticism.org/en/news-feed/aromantic-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAQ: Orientation – The Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN)|date=February 9, 2005|url=https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/873-faq-orientation/page/3/|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211815/https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/873-faq-orientation/page/3/|url-status=live}}</ref> The early online community around aromanticism formed on the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), an online community around asexuality, and social media platforms such as Tumblr.
Since then a dedicated online community centered around aromanticism has formed online on ''Arocalypse.com'' as well as other social media platforms.
In order to gain wider acceptance and recognition, a volunteer-formed organization, the ''{{vanchor|Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy}}'' (AUREA), was formed to increase recognition of and education on aromanticism and help people on the aromantic spectrum gain wider acceptance by the general public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a9644122/aromantic-definition-meaning/|title=Your Everything-to-Know Guide on What It Means to Be Aromantic|date=20 May 2022|website=Cosmopolitan|access-date=29 April 2023|archive-date=3 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403084337/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a9644122/aromantic-definition-meaning/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/living-single/202102/why-coupling-is-no-longer-compulsory|title=Why Coupling Is No Longer Compulsory|date=20 February 2021|website=Psychology Today|access-date=29 April 2023|archive-date=29 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429210350/https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/living-single/202102/why-coupling-is-no-longer-compulsory|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="womenshealth" /> AUREA is also the leading organizer of the annual ''Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week'' held in February.<ref name="aboutASAW">{{cite web|url=https://www.arospecweek.org/about-asaw/|title=About ASAW|website=arospecweek.org|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326214815/https://www.arospecweek.org/about-asaw/|access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="lgbtqnationasaw">{{cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/02/ready-celebrate-big-aromantic-holiday-year/|title=Are you ready for Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week?|date=15 February 2021|website=lgbtqnation.com|access-date=21 April 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211814/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/02/ready-celebrate-big-aromantic-holiday-year/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Another community organization, ''{{vanchor|The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project}}'' (TAAAP), focuses on providing resources around both asexuality and aromanticism to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://taaap.org/home/|title=About TAAAP – The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project|access-date=2023-03-26|archive-date=2023-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211812/https://taaap.org/home/|url-status=live}}</ref> They do so by creating and hosting workshops, developing educational materials, and engaging in outreach within the LGBTQIA+ community and general public. The organization has also written a book titled ''Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing your Asexual or Aromantic Identity'' that was published in April 2023.<ref name=":8">{{cite book|last=The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project|date=21 April 2023|title=Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity|publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-638-4|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/1372279113|access-date=26 March 2023|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327022442/https://www.worldcat.org/title/1372279113|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lauren |date=20 February 2023 |title=Jessica Kingsley Publishers unveils five new books on asexuality and aromanticism |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/jessica-kingsley-publishing-unveils-five-new-books-on-asexuality-and-aromanticism |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=The Bookseller |language=En |archive-date=2023-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529020128/https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/jessica-kingsley-publishing-unveils-five-new-books-on-asexuality-and-aromanticism |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Symbols=== {{see also|Aromantic flag|LGBT symbols}} The {{visible anchor|flag|text=Aromantic Pride Flag}} was created in 2014 by Cameron Whimsy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queer Community Flags|url=https://www.queerevents.ca/queer-corner/blog/queer-community-flags|access-date=March 11, 2023|website=queerevents.ca|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404191338/https://www.queerevents.ca/queer-corner/blog/queer-community-flags|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="flagorigin">{{cite web|title=whoops yeah i just realised i never actually made a proper post for this version of the flag with meanings and stuff (Origin of the Aromantic Flag)|date=November 16, 2014|url=https://cameronwhimsy.tumblr.com/post/102698477928/whoops-yeah-i-just-realised-i-never-actually-made|access-date=March 11, 2023|publisher=Cameron Whimsy|website=tumblr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319173943/https://cameronwhimsy.tumblr.com/post/102698477928/whoops-yeah-i-just-realised-i-never-actually-made|archive-date=19 March 2023}}</ref> The main color, green, was chosen as it is the opposite of red, which is most commonly associated with romantic love. The two shades of green represent the aromantic spectrum, white represents platonic love and friendship, and grey and black represent the different parts of the sexuality spectrum.<ref name="flag">{{cite web|title=What is the aromantic flag|date=June 2022|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/06/what-is-the-aromantic-flag/|access-date=March 11, 2023|website=lgbtqnation.com|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211812/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/06/what-is-the-aromantic-flag/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gillespie |first1=Claire |title=22 Different Pride Flags and What They Represent in the LGBTQ+ Community |url=https://www.health.com/mind-body/different-pride-flags-what-they-represent |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=Health.com |archive-date=19 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719233822/https://www.health.com/mind-body/different-pride-flags-what-they-represent |url-status=live }}</ref>
A {{visible anchor|ring|text=white ring}} may be worn on one's left middle finger to indicate one's identity on the aromantic spectrum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aromantic Ring?!|date=March 29, 2015|url=https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/116225-aromantic-ring/|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319210047/https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/116225-aromantic-ring/|url-status=live}}</ref> This was chosen as the opposite of the ace ring, which is a black ring worn on the right hand.<ref>{{cite web|title=All about beautiful ace and aro rings|date=July 30, 2022|url=https://gayagendashtuff.com/all-about-beautiful-ace-and-aro-rings/|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319210038/https://gayagendashtuff.com/all-about-beautiful-ace-and-aro-rings/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Another symbol often used by aromantic people is arrows or an arrow, as the word ''arrow'' is a homophone to the shortened word "aro" used by aromantic people to refer to themselves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asexuals.net/aromantic-flag-and-symbols-explained/|title=Aromantic flag and symbols explained|date=6 June 2020|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325211817/https://www.asexuals.net/aromantic-flag-and-symbols-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200"> File:Aromantic Pride Flag.svg|The aromantic pride flag File:Aromantic Ring.png|Aro ring, a white ring most commonly worn on the left middle finger File:Aromantic Arrow Pin.png|A pin depicting an arrow with the fletching representing the aromantic pride flag colors </gallery>
===Events=== ====Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week==== Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW) is held annually during the first full week after Valentine's Day (beginning on Sunday). In 2025, it was observed from February 16–22.
The event was first recognized from November 10–17, 2014, and was subsequently moved to February in 2015 to be held the week after Valentine's Day.<ref name="aboutASAW" /> It is an awareness period that was created to celebrate, raise awareness of, and bring acceptance to aromantic spectrum identities and the issues people on the aromantic spectrum face.<ref name="lgbtqnationasaw" /> ASAW is led and organized by the Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (AUREA) and members of the aromantic community.<ref name="lgbtqnationasaw" />
ASAW has been officially recognized by a handful of states in the United States, including Washington State.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 25, 2021|title=Washington Becomes 5th State to Recognize Aro Week|url=http://www.seattleacesandaros.org/2021/02/25/washington-becomes-5th-state-to-recognize-aro-week/|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211812/http://www.seattleacesandaros.org/2021/02/25/washington-becomes-5th-state-to-recognize-aro-week/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lgbtq.wa.gov/events/aromantic-spectrum-awareness-week|title=Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week|website=lgbtq.wa.gov|access-date=21 April 2023|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421232609/https://lgbtq.wa.gov/events/aromantic-spectrum-awareness-week|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Aromantic Visibility Day ==== The first annual ''{{Visible anchor|Aromantic Visibility Day}}'' was held on 5 June 2023. It was organized by a call to action on Twitter to give visibility to people on the aromantic spectrum using the Hashtag ''#AromanticVisibilityDay'' and spread across social media including Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit and various online forums and a cover interview by ''Hello!'' magazine with aromantic-asexual author Alice Oseman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/494758/heartstopper-alice-oseman-asexuality-aromanticism-young-fame-social-media|title=Heartstopper's Alice Oseman on asexuality, young fame and surviving social media|date=6 June 2023|access-date=6 June 2023|website=HELLO! magazine|archive-date=9 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709182431/https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/494758/heartstopper-alice-oseman-asexuality-aromanticism-young-fame-social-media/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Cultural representation== {{See also|List of people on the aromantic spectrum}}
Aromanticism is rarely depicted in media, {{fv span|but is slowly gaining more widespread acceptance and representation.|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |date=February 19, 2016 |title=How Pop Culture Denies Aromantic Asexual Existence |url=https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/ |access-date=April 15, 2018 |publisher=The Mary Sue |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406190655/https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Books and literature=== {{See also|List of fictional aromantic characters}}
[[File:MichaelParamo.png|thumb|upright|alt=Michael Paramo.|Michael Paramo was referred to as "one of the globe's leading aro academics" by ITV's ''Woo'' and published a non-fiction book on the subject in 2024.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Kyle |first=MacNeill |date=2024-02-14 |title=The new aromantics flying the flag for the misunderstood identity |url=https://planetwoo.itv.com/posts/aromantic-asexual-valentines-day |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Planet Woo, ITV |quote=Mexican-American writer Michael Paramo is one of the globe's leading aro academics... they published Ending the Pursuit, a book questioning society's normative views on sex, gender and romance.}}</ref>]]
As aromanticism is slowly becoming more widely recognized and accepted, additional literature about it is being published. TAAAP created a list of book recommendations as part of the Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week |url=https://bookshop.org/lists/aromantic-spectrum-awareness-week |website=Bookshop.org |author=The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project (TAAAP) |access-date=2025-09-08 }}</ref>
Some other famous aromantic writers are Alice Oseman and Darcie Little Badger. Oseman's young adult novel ''Loveless'' focuses on a college freshman as she learns about her aroace identity.
====Non-fiction==== A series of non-fiction books concerning aromanticism have been published since 2023: * ''Sounds Fake But Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else'' (February 2023)<ref>{{cite book |first1=Sarah |last1=Costello |first2=Kayla |last2=Kaszyca |date=21 February 2023 |title=Sounds Fake But Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-001-6 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/1342623375 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219095332/https://www.worldcat.org/title/1342623375 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":15" /> * ''Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity'' (April 2023)<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":15" /> * ''Hopeless Aromantic: An Affirmative Guide to Aromanticism'' (July 2023)<ref>{{cite book |last=Rendle |first=Samantha |date=21 July 2023 |title=Hopeless Aromantic: An Affirmative Guide to Aromanticism |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-367-3 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/1368355923 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327045505/https://www.worldcat.org/title/1368355923 |url-status=live }}</ref> * ''Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism, and Agender Identity'' (February 2024)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paramo |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzLPEAAAQBAJ |title=Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism and Agender Identity |date=2024-02-08 |publisher=Unbound Publishing |isbn=978-1-80018-286-8 |language=en}}</ref>
====Journals==== The interdisciplinary journal known as ''AZE'', created by Michael Paramo in 2016, showcases the works and experiences of aromantic, asexual and agender people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://psychcentral.com/health/exploring-asexuality|title=The "A" in LGBTQIA+|date=26 October 2021|access-date=14 April 2023|website=psychcentral.com|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415011919/https://psychcentral.com/health/exploring-asexuality|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattlepride.org/news/aromantic-spectrum-awareness-week-feb-19-25|title=Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2023 – Resources on Aromanticism|date=13 February 2023|access-date=14 April 2023|website=seattlepride.org|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415011915/https://www.seattlepride.org/news/aromantic-spectrum-awareness-week-feb-19-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About AZE |url=https://azejournal.com/about |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=AZE journal |archive-date=2023-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414204504/https://azejournal.com/about |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Online media=== [[File:Jaiden Animations (VidCon 2017).png|thumb|upright|alt=Jaiden Dittfach.|Popular YouTube animator Jaiden Dittfach published a video on coming out as aro-ace in 2022.<ref name=":16" />]] The podcast ''Sounds Fake but Okay'' by Sarah Costello and Kayla Kaszyca focuses on aromanticism and asexuality and has been credited with helping increase public representation of the ''aspec'' (aromantic and asexual) community and has won the 2020 Discover Pods Award for best LGBTQ+ Culture Podcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.them.us/story/aromanticism-asexuality-podcasts|title=These Podcasts Are Paving the Way for Aromantic and Asexual Representation|date=20 February 2020|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201193408/https://www.them.us/story/aromanticism-asexuality-podcasts|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.discoverpods.com/winners-2020-discover-pods-awards/|title=Announcing the winners of the 2020 Discover Pods Awards|date=9 November 2020|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217040759/https://awards.discoverpods.com/winners-2020-discover-pods-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Popular YouTube animator Jaiden Dittfach published a video in March 2022, coming out as aromantic asexual, also known as aro-ace.<ref name=":16">{{cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/jaiden-animations-aroace-youtube-2657026931.html|title=YouTuber Jaiden Animations Comes Out as Aroace|first=Matt|last=Moen|website=Paper Magazine|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2022|archive-date=March 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324075031/https://www.papermag.com/jaiden-animations-aroace-youtube-2657026931.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pride.com/comingout/2022/3/21/youtuber-jaiden-animations-comes-out-aroace-heres-what-means|title=YouTuber Jaiden Animations Comes Out as Aroace, Here's What That Means|first=Taylor|last=Henderson|website=Pride|date=March 21, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2022|archive-date=March 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325095433/https://www.pride.com/comingout/2022/3/21/youtuber-jaiden-animations-comes-out-aroace-heres-what-means|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/jaiden-animations-coming-out-video-perfectly-treads-the-line-between-public-and-private/|title=Jaiden Animations' Coming Out Video Perfectly Treads The Line Between Public And Private|first=Issy|last=van der Velde|website=TheGamer|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2022|archive-date=March 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323213012/https://www.thegamer.com/jaiden-animations-coming-out-video-perfectly-treads-the-line-between-public-and-private/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Discrimination and cultural erasure== Discrimination, fear and prejudice against aromantic people, commonly referred to as "arophobia", or when directed at both aromantic and asexual people, "aphobia" is prevalent in both the general public as well as within the LGBTQIA+ community.<ref name=":12">{{cite web|url=https://www.asexuals.net/aphobia/|title=Aphobia, understanding the discrimination and effects|date=29 January 2023|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325211826/https://www.asexuals.net/aphobia/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Elizabeth Brake coined the term amatonormativity in the book ''Minimizing Marriage'', meaning "the pressure or desire for monogamy, romance, and/or marriage". As aromanticism is directly counter to many western societal expectations, aromantic people face continued pressure and prejudice to conform to the "social norms" and form romantic relationships.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13" />
Although aromantics and asexuals have existed for as long as humans have, the terminology and openness has only gone mainstream in recent times.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|date=July 6, 2021|title=Why aromantic and asexual people belong in LGBTQIA+ community|url=https://news.temple.edu/news/2021-07-06/why-aromantic-and-asexual-people-belong-lgbtqia-community|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211821/https://news.temple.edu/news/2021-07-06/why-aromantic-and-asexual-people-belong-lgbtqia-community|url-status=live}}</ref>
Aromantic people are often left out of discussions and representations, including within the LGBTQIA+ community itself.<ref name=":7"/> This extends to some people's and media organizations' misuse of the expanded ''LGBTQ'' acronym itself, wherein some people mistakenly claim that ''A'' in ''LGBTQIA+'' stands for ally. In actuality, the ''A'' in ''LGBTQIA+'' represents aromanticism, asexuality and agender.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mercado |first=Mia |date=June 8, 2017 |title=Equinox Gym's Pride Video 'The LGBTQ Alphabet' Leaves Out An Important Letter |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/equinox-gyms-pride-video-the-lgbtqalphabet-leaves-out-important-letter-63252 |access-date=2018-04-15 |website=Bustle |archive-date=2020-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810223928/https://www.bustle.com/p/equinox-gyms-pride-video-the-lgbtqalphabet-leaves-out-important-letter-63252 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dastagir |first=Alia E. |date=June 15, 2017 |title=LGBTQ definitions every good ally should know |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/15/lgbtq-glossary-slang-ally-learn-language/101200092/ |access-date=2018-04-15 |work=USA Today |archive-date=2021-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404084233/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/15/lgbtq-glossary-slang-ally-learn-language/101200092/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Place |first1=Matthew's |url=https://medium.com/matthews-place/why-the-a-doesnt-stand-for-ally-b31395c06150|title=Why the A doesn't stand for Ally|work=Medium |date=19 May 2020|access-date=26 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211811/https://medium.com/matthews-place/why-the-a-doesnt-stand-for-ally-b31395c06150|url-status=live}}</ref>
This erasure extends into modern TV media, including that of the character Jughead Jones, who is asexual and aromantic: in the 2017 television show ''Riverdale'', the writers chose to depict Jughead as a heterosexual despite pleas from both fans and Jughead actor Cole Sprouse to retain Jughead's asexual aromantic identity to allow the community to be represented.<ref>{{cite web|title=Riverdale's' Asexual Erasure Can be Harmful|date=April 14, 2017|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/riverdales-asexual-erasure-can-be-harmful|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205000100/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/riverdales-asexual-erasure-can-be-harmful|url-status=live}}</ref>
Aromantic heterosexual men face the challenge of being labeled a womanizer by those ignorant of aromanticism. Sociologist Hannah Tessler writes:
{{blockquote|Men who identify as aromantic and heterosexual must navigate how to approach relationships that would potentially involve sex without being perceived as a player or fuckboy. This involves conversations about their identity as aromantic in the early stages of dating, often before meeting up or getting involved with that person.<ref name="x387">{{cite journal | last1=Tessler | first1=Hannah | last2=Winer | first2=Canton | title=Sexuality, romantic orientation, and masculinity: Men as underrepresented in asexual and aromantic communities | journal=Sociology Compass | volume=17 | issue=11 | date=2023 | issn=1751-9020 | doi=10.1111/soc4.13141 | url=https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soc4.13141 | access-date=2025-06-12 | article-number=e13141 | url-access=subscription }}</ref>}}
To counteract the stigma and discrimination against aromantic people, various community and health and wellness organizations have published articles and educational materials to educate the public.<ref name="theguardian" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourspectrum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/What-is-Aphobia.pdf |title=Aphobia: Common Attitudes and Expressions|date=October 2021|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315230712/https://www.ourspectrum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/What-is-Aphobia.pdf|archive-date=15 March 2023|website=ourspectrum.com|publisher=Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pflag.org/resource/aromantic-resources/|title=Aromantic Resources – PFLAG|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211812/https://pflag.org/resource/aromantic-resources/|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the misunderstandings about aromanticism is that it hinders one from living a fulfilling life. Academic Michael Paramo writes:
{{blockquote|Aromantic people endure accusations that coming out is conceding to a life without love or purpose in the absence of romantic relationship formation. Romantic expectations are inherently connected to sexual expectations, since romance without sex (and vice versa) is not viewed as satisfactory enough toward achieving fulfilling relationships or a healthy life. Aromantic people have identified how this presumption can originate from the (hetero)romantic expectation that women should pursue their 'Prince Charming,' or a man who will 'complete' them, and that men should, to some extent, express some interest in forming a relationship with a woman (although with far less social pressure than women).<ref name="z331">{{cite book | last=Paramo | first=Michael | title=Ending the Pursuit | publisher=Unbound | publication-place=London | date=2024-02-08 | isbn=978-1-80018-285-1 | page=31}}</ref>}}
The English aromantic and asexual activist Yasmin Benoit called out that this erasure expands to official government offices, such as the Government Equalities Office not yet acknowledging aromanticism in their latest LGBT Survey and people having to label themselves under "other" instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/21022023-activist-shares-her-story-for-aromantic-awareness-week|title=Activist shares her story for Aromantic Awareness Week|date=21 February 2023|access-date=28 March 2023|website=SWLondoner|archive-date=30 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330041847/https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/21022023-activist-shares-her-story-for-aromantic-awareness-week|url-status=live}}</ref>
It is worth noting that sometimes this erasure of aromantic identities even happens within the aspec community itself, with people equating aromanticism and asexuality although many aromantic people do not identify as asexual.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-does-aromantic-mean|title=Aromanticism: What Does It Mean? – WebMD|date=27 June 2021|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211810/https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-does-aromantic-mean|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/sex-and-love/what-is-aromantic|title=What Does it Mean to be Aromantic – Shape|work=Shape |date=28 December 2021|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211811/https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/sex-and-love/what-is-aromantic|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the Aromantic Census 2020, 82.43% of respondents reported not being taken seriously, being ignored, or being dismissed by others. 48.34% reported having experienced attempts or suggestions to "fix" or "cure" them. 70.51% of respondents indicated some impact of discrimination against their aromantic identity.<ref name=":0" />
==Research== As the general term of ''aromanticism'' is still relatively young, studies on aromanticism in the scientific research field are still scarce and under-researched<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10">{{cite journal |first1=Ben |last1=Brandley |first2=Marco |last2=Dehnert |date=17 March 2023 |title="I am not a Robot, I am Asexual": A Qualitative Critique of Allonormative Discourses of Ace and Aro Folks as Robots, Aliens, Monsters |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=71 |issue=6 |pages=1560–1583 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2023.2185092 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2023.2185092 |pmid=36929881 |s2cid=257583622 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211809/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2023.2185092 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and of the few studies that exist, many treat aromanticism as a sub-set of asexuality.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Ana Catarina |last1=Carvalho |first2=David L. |last2=Rodrigues |date=2022 |title=Sexuality, Sexual Behavior, and Relationships of Asexual Individuals: Differences Between Aromantic and Romantic Orientation |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-02187-2 |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=2159–2168 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02187-2 |pmid=35334025 |hdl=10071/25315 |s2cid=242569971 |access-date=2023-03-26 |archive-date=2023-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211813/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-02187-2 |url-status=live |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
In April 2023 two University of Toronto professors launched the Asexuality and Aromanticism Bibliography to better collect and track academic articles on asexuality and aromanticism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aschaiek |first=Sharon |date=11 April 2023 |title=English scholars develop unique resource for asexuality and aromanticism research |url=https://www.utoronto.ca/news/english-scholars-develop-unique-resource-asexuality-and-aromanticism-research |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=University of Toronto |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529020128/https://www.utoronto.ca/news/english-scholars-develop-unique-resource-asexuality-and-aromanticism-research |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Olivia |date=17 May 2023 |title=Resources on asexuality and aromanticism studies are more accessible than ever |url=https://xtramagazine.com/power/identity/asexuality-aromanticism-bibliography-251072 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=xtramagazine.com |archive-date=2023-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517191250/https://xtramagazine.com/power/identity/asexuality-aromanticism-bibliography-251072 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The concept that there is a distinction between romantic and sexual orientation has not been studied extensively yet,<ref name=":9">{{cite book|first=Anthony F. |last=Bogaert |title=Understanding Asexuality |date=9 August 2012 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-0099-9}}</ref> but the diversity of attraction has been progressively recognized in newer studies.<ref name=":14">{{cite journal |first1=Emily M. |last1=Lund |first2=Katie B. |last2=Thomas |first3=Christina M. |last3=Sias |first4=April R. |last4=Bradley |date=21 November 2016 |title=Examining Concordant and Discordant Sexual and Romantic Attraction in American Adults: Implications for Counselors |journal=Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling |pages=211–226 |volume=10 |issue=4 |doi=10.1080/15538605.2016.1233840 |s2cid=151856457 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15538605.2016.1233840 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211810/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15538605.2016.1233840 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite journal |first1=Alyssa N. |last1=Clark |first2=Corinne |last2=Zimmerman |date=5 April 2022 |title=Concordance Between Romantic Orientations and Sexual Attitudes: Comparing Allosexual and Asexual Adults |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-02194-3 |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=2147–2157 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02194-3 |pmid=35380311 |s2cid=247955047 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=18 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218225035/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-02194-3 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
A 2022 study on concordance between romantic orientation and sexual attitudes found that while there is some concordance between romantic orientation and sexual orientation, the two were not a complete match, suggesting that the experience of split attraction between romantic and sexual orientation exists both in allosexual as well in asexual people. The authors also note that they were surprised that out of their sample population, as compared to asexual participants, only few allosexual people self-identified as aromantic and hypothesize that this may be due to the unfamiliarity with the concept and term.<ref name=":11" />
According to Debra Laino, an AASECT-certified clinical sexologist and relationship coach, one of the most common misconceptions around aromantic people is that they do not want to have sex. She explains that "aromantic people can still feel sexual attraction, but they might not identify with the way romance is often present in current media and culture."<ref name="womenshealth">{{cite web|url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a26116061/aromantic-definition-sexuality-meaning/|title=Aromantic Definition – What it Means & How It Differs From Asexuality|date=25 April 2022|access-date=26 March 2023|publisher=Women's Health|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326114101/https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a26116061/aromantic-definition-sexuality-meaning/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A research article from 2021 discusses zines and their role within the aromantic and asexual community to help people navigate their identity and the authors note that aromanticism is "too often explored as a tag-on to asexuality".<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Ela |last1=Przybylo |first2=Kaiya |last2=Jacob |title=The Erotic Worldmaking of Asexual and Aromantic Zines |journal=QED: A Journal on GLBTQ Worldmaking |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=25–48 |date=1 February 2021 |url=https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/msup/qed/article-abstract/8/1/25/286334/The-Erotic-Worldmaking-of-Asexual-and-Aromantic |doi=10.14321/qed.8.1.0025 |s2cid=238938385 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211811/https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/msup/qed/article-abstract/8/1/25/286334/The-Erotic-Worldmaking-of-Asexual-and-Aromantic |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
===Prevalence=== The representation of aromantic people within the general population is not yet well understood. Of the population of asexual people, which is believed to be approximately 1% of the general population, about 26% also identified as aromantic.<ref name=":3"/> There is however not much qualitative or quantitative research around how many allosexual people also identify as aromantic, thus making it hard to say how much of the general public identifies as aromantic.
One study of 414 American adults found that about 1% of participants indicated that they were not romantically attracted to either sex (i.e. aromantic). The study also found that about 10.6% of participants had discordant (different) romantic and sexual orientations.<ref name=":14" />
One population-based survey of sexuality in Japan found that 1.6% of participants did not report either romantic attraction or sexual attraction and 0.8% of participants have sexual attraction but do not have romantic attraction.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Hiramori |first1=Daiki |title=Understanding Sexual Orientation Identity, Sexual/Romantic Attraction, and Sexual Behavior beyond Western Societies: The Case of Japan |date=2020-03-13 |url=https://osf.io/ds8at |access-date=2024-11-24 |doi=10.31235/osf.io/ds8at |last2=Kamano |first2=Saori|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
===Calls for more research on aromanticism=== Aromanticism as its own term originated within the asexual community online, but newer research is acknowledging that romantic and sexual orientation are distinct, and attitudes towards recognition of this separation and difference are changing.<ref name=":11" /> A contributing factor to this is that many people have difficulty distinguishing between romantic and sexual attraction as they intertwined for most people<ref name=":9" /> and that between 19% and 28% of asexual individuals do also identify as aromantic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-aromantic#aros-but-not-an-ace|title=Never Been Interested in Romance? You could be Aromantic|date=29 October 2021|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325222124/https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-aromantic#aros-but-not-an-ace|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Lijun |last1=Zheng |first2=Yanchen |last2=Su |title=Patterns of Asexuality in China: Sexual Activity, Sexual and Romantic Attraction, and Sexual Desire |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=47 |pages=1265–1276 |date=30 January 2018 |issue=4 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-018-1158-y |doi=10.1007/s10508-018-1158-y |pmid=29383460 |s2cid=254266864 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325222127/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-018-1158-y |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Calls for more research around aromanticism and asexuality are highlighted by a recent study centered on the thematic analysis of online communications within the aromantic and asexual community, which highlights that allonormativity is prevalent in the field of communication studies and needs to be combated in order to provide qualitative academic work around aromanticism and asexuality.<ref name=":10" />
In January 2024, PRIDEnet, a project of Stanford University School of Medicine, published a report as a result of a series of research community listening sessions with members of the aromantic community held in 2023 in recognition of the need for more affirming research related to the aromantic community to "address the lack of information surrounding the social, mental, and physical health of aromantic people and help us understand the challenges faced by and the resilience of the aromantic community".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pridenet.org/s/PRIDEnet_Aromantic_CLS_Summary_Report_final_2024-01-30.pdf|title=Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendations Report|date=30 January 2024|access-date=8 February 2024|publisher=Stanford University School of Medicine}}</ref>
===Community research=== The Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (AUREA) is supporting researchers interested in studying the field of aromanticism and hosts an archive of research on aromanticism. Some of the research listed is peer-reviewed, but the organization has also supported some community surveys.
A census was performed by AUREA in 2020 to gather information of the aromantic community.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.aromanticism.org/aro-census|title=The Aro Census 2020 Report|date=July 2021|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211814/https://www.aromanticism.org/aro-census|url-status=live}}</ref> The census received 9,758 responses from aromantic people around the world. Of the respondents, a majority identified as asexual, but about a third of respondents did not identify as asexual, highlighting that aromanticism is not strictly a subset of asexuality and should not simply be categorized as such. The census authors acknowledged that the respondent participant pool was over-represented by people identifying as asexual as well as other geographic, demographic and linguistic skews as the census was only available in English and due to the predominantly online recruitment method. The organization is planning to repeat the census on a semi-annual basis, but has not yet released the 2022 census.{{Update inline|date=November 2025}}
Another community survey was performed in 2021 within the aromantic community specifically targeting the allosexual aromantic community to highlight the existence of aromantic people that are not asexual. The survey had 647 responses; the majority of respondents identified as queer at 43% and only 8.8% as heterosexual.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WlLiH46EkjQmEJcm05N6ApppKJlD9jsi4V_zlR4YpGE/edit#heading=h.eksecayc2ebk|title=Allo Aro Survey Results|date=2021|access-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203041031/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WlLiH46EkjQmEJcm05N6ApppKJlD9jsi4V_zlR4YpGE/edit|archive-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|LGBTQ|Human sexuality}} * List of people on the aromantic spectrum * List of fictional aromantic characters * Platonic love * Queerplatonic relationship
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.aromanticism.org/en/resources Aromantic-Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (AUREA) – Resources on Aromanticism] * [https://www.arospecweek.org/ Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW)] * [https://taaap.org/ The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project (TAAAP)] * [https://pflag.org/resource/aromantic-resources/ Aromantic Resources] by PFLAG * [https://www.arocalypse.com/ Arocalypse.com – An online forum centered on people on the aromantic spectrum]
{{Aromanticism topics|state=expanded}} {{LGBTQ|identities}}
Category:Aromanticism Category:2005 neologisms Category:Asexuality Category:Romantic orientation Category:LGBTQ studies