Aromanticism#Sub-identities on the aromantic spectrum

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Aromanticism is defined as "having little or no romantic feeling towards others: experiencing little or no romantic desire or attraction".{{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}} The term aromantic was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://public.oed.com/updates/new-words-list-june-2018/|title=Oxford English Dictionary: New words list June 2018|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}}

The opposite of aromanticism is {{Visible anchor|alloromanticism|text=alloromanticism}}, defined as a romantic orientation in which one experiences romantic love or romantic attraction to others.{{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 }} 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).{{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 }} As the experience of romantic attraction is subjective, some aromantic people may find it difficult to determine whether they experience romantic attraction.{{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 }} As such, those who are aromantic may have trouble distinguishing platonic affection from romantic affection.{{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 }}{{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 }}{{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 }}

Aromantic people may form non-romantic relationships of all types, and may be able to enjoy sexual relationships.{{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 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1 |url-status=live |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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429220240/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1 |archive-date=2023-04-29 |access-date=2023-03-26|url-access=subscription }} They may also choose to have children, and studies indicate that aromantic individuals are no less likely to have children than alloromantic individuals.{{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 }} This is because aromanticism is independent of sexuality or libido,{{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}} and while many aromantic people are asexual, many are also allosexual. Aromantic individuals who are allosexual are called aromantic allosexuals or aroallos.{{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}} Due to this, aromantic people who are not asexual can also identify with other sexual orientations, such as "aromantic bisexual" or "aromantic heterosexual".{{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}} 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".{{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 }}

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. Individuals who do not experience platonic attraction are named as aplatonic.{{Citation |last=Jenkins |first=Nathan Bernstein, Maximus |title=A Brief Manifesto Against Asexual Respectability Politics |date=2024 |work=Asexualities |pages=111–118 |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003178798-10/brief-manifesto-asexual-respectability-politics-nathan-bernstein-maximus-jenkins |access-date=2024-05-15 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781003178798-10|isbn=978-1-003-17879-8|url-access=subscription }} 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.

Some have argued that aromanticism is under-represented,{{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 }} under-researched,{{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 }} and frequently misunderstood.{{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 }}

In society at large, aromantic people are often stigmatized and stereotyped as being afraid of intimacy, heartless, or deluded.{{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 }} 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 damaging to aromantics.{{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}}

In the initialism LGBTQIA+, the A stands for aromanticism, alongside asexuality and agender.{{cite web |date=11 February 2015 |title=GLAAD - A is for Asexual, Agender, Aromantic |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/asexual-agender-aromantic |url-status=dead |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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}

• Aromantic – someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction.
• Grayromantic – someone who may be experiencing romantic attraction rarely, only under certain circumstances, or only weakly.
• Demiromantic – someone who experiences romantic attraction but only after forming a close non-romantic bond with the person.
• Aegoromantic – someone who does not feel romantic attraction, but enjoys the depiction of romantic love.
• Lithromantic – someone who experiences romantic attraction, but does not want it to be reciprocated and may lose that attraction if it is reciprocated.
• Recipromantic - someone who experiences romantic attraction, but only after they know the other person is romantically attracted to them.{{cite web|url=https://www.asexuals.net/aromantic-spectrum-from-aro-to-z/|title=Aromantic spectrum - From Aro to Z|access-date=10 March 2025}}
• Cupioromantic – someone who does not experience romantic attraction, but desires a romantic relationship.{{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 }}
• Aroflux – someone who experiences their romantic attraction to be shifting on the aromantic spectrum.
• 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.
• Quoiromantic – someone who is uncertain if they experience romantic attraction or cannot tell if their feelings are romantic, sexual or platonic in nature.
• Placioromantic – someone who feels little to no desire to receive romantic acts but has interest in performing them to someone else.{{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 }}
• Apothiromantic – someone who does not experience romantic attraction and feels repulsed by romance or averse to romantic activities.{{Cite book |last=Barron |first=Victoria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XQqjEAAAQBAJ&dq=apothiromantic&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}}
• Requiesromantic – someone who does not experience romantic attraction because of emotional exhaustion.

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.

One of the earliest uses of the modern term "aromantic" dates back to 2005.{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}{{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}} AUREA is also the leading organizer of the annual Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week held in February.{{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}}{{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}}

Another community organization, {{vanchor|The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project}} (TAAAP), focuses on providing resources around both asexuality and aromanticism to the public.{{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}} 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.{{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=978-1839976384|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}}{{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 }}

{{see also|Aromantic flag|LGBT symbols}}

The {{visible anchor|flag|text=Aromantic Pride Flag}} was created in 2014 by Cameron Whimsy.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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 }}

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.{{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}}

This was chosen as the opposite of the ace ring which is a black ring worn on the right hand.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW) is held annually during the first full week after Valentine's Day (beginning on Sunday). In 2025, it will be 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. 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. ASAW is led and organized by the Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (AUREA) and members of the aromantic community.

ASAW has been officially recognized by a handful of states in the United States including Washington State.{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}

{{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}}{{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 }}

{{See also|List of fictional aromantic characters}}

File:MichaelParamo.png 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.{{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.}}]]

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.https://bookshop.org/lists/aromantic-spectrum-awareness-week

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){{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=978-1839970016 |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 }}
• Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity (April 2023)
• Hopeless Aromantic: An Affirmative Guide to Aromanticism (July 2023){{cite book |last=Rendle |first=Samantha |date=21 July 2023 |title=Hopeless Aromantic: An Affirmative Guide to Aromanticism |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1839973673 |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 }}
• Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism, and Agender Identity (February 2024){{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}}

The interdisciplinary journal known as AZE, created by Michael Paramo in 2016, showcases the works and experiences of aromantic, asexual and agender people.{{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}}{{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}}{{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 }}

File:Jaiden Animations (VidCon 2017).png published a video on coming out as aro-ace in 2022.]]

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.{{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}}{{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}}

Popular YouTube animator Jaiden Dittfach published a video in March 2022, coming out as aromantic asexual, also known as aro-ace.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}

{{Discrimination sidebar}}

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.{{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}}

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 permanent romantic relationships.

Although aromantics and asexuals have existed for as long as humans have, the terminology and openness has only gone mainstream more recently.{{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}}

Aromantic people are often left out of discussions and representations, including within the LGBTQIA+ community itself. 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.{{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 }}{{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 }}{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/matthews-place/why-the-a-doesnt-stand-for-ally-b31395c06150|title=Why the A doesn't stand for Ally|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}}

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.{{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}}

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.{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}

It is worth noting that sometimes this erasure of aromantic identities even happens within the aspec community itself, with people assuming that aromanticism and asexuality are the same thing, when in actuality they are different things and many aromantic people do not identify as asexual.{{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}}{{cite web|url=https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/sex-and-love/what-is-aromantic|title=What Does it Mean to be Aromantic - 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}}

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.

As the general term of aromanticism is still relatively young, studies on aromanticism in the scientific research field are still scarce and under-researched{{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 }} and of the few studies that exist, many treat aromanticism as a sub-set of asexuality.{{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 }}

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.{{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 }}{{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 }}

The concept that there is a distinction between romantic and sexual orientation has not been studied extensively yet,{{cite book|first=Anthony F. |last=Bogaert |title=Understanding Asexuality |date=9 August 2012 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1442200999}} but the diversity of attraction has been progressively recognized in newer studies.{{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 }}{{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 }}

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.

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."{{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}}

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".{{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 }}

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. 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.

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.{{Citation |last=Hiramori |first=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}}

Aromanticism as its own term originated within the asexual community online, but newer research is acknowledging that romantic and sexual orientation are not one and the same and attitudes towards recognition of this separation and difference are changing.

A contributing factor to this is that many people have difficulty distinguishing between romantic and sexual attraction as they intertwined for most people and that between 19% and 28% of asexual individuals do also identify as aromantic.{{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}}{{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 }}

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.

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".{{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}}

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 [https://www.aromanticism.org/en/research 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.{{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}} The census received 9,758 responses from aromantics 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 overrepresented 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.

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.{{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}}

{{Portal|LGBTQ|Human sexuality}}

• Asexuality
• List of people on the aromantic spectrum
• List of fictional aromantic characters
• Platonic love
• Queerplatonic relationship
• Romantic orientation

{{Reflist}}

• [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}}

{{LGBTQ|identities}}

Category:2005 neologisms

Category:Asexuality

Category:Romantic orientation

Category:LGBTQ studies