List of fictional aromantic characters
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This is a list of aromantic characters in fiction, i.e. fictional characters that either self-identify as aromantic or have been identified by outside parties to be aromantic. Listed characters may also be asexual or allosexual (not asexual). Some aromantic people are asexual but some are not.{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Salisbury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex |title=Meet the aromantics: 'I'm not cold – I just don't have any romantic feelings' | Life and style |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |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 }} The term aromantic can be used in relation to various sexual identities, such as aromantic bisexual, aromantic heterosexual, aromantic lesbian, aromantic gay man, or aromantic asexual, but it does not relate to sexual orientation, instead focusing on romantic orientation.{{cite book |editor=Miller SJ |chapter=Glossary of Terms: Defining a Common Queer language |title=Teaching, Affirming, and Recognizing Trans and Gender Creative Youth |pages=299–309 |location=London |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |date=2016 |doi=10.1057/978-1-137-56766-6 |isbn=978-1-137-56766-6 |s2cid=156912799 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-1-137-56766-6%2F1.pdf |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-1-137-56766-6%2F1.pdf |url-status=live }} Aromanticism primarily deals with romantic attraction rather than with sexuality. Some publications have argued that there is an underrepresentation of aromantic people in media,{{cite web |url=https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/ |title=How Pop Culture Denies Aromantic Asexual Existence |publisher=The Mary Sue |date=February 19, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |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 }} in research,{{cite web |first=Nicola |last=Pardy |url=https://www.refinery29.uk/2016/06/113484/what-is-asexual-definition-experiences |title=What Is Asexual – People Share Asexuality Experiences |publisher=Refinery29.uk |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906011928/https://www.refinery29.uk/2016/06/113484/what-is-asexual-definition-experiences |url-status=live }} and that they are often misunderstood.{{cite news |first=Yeow Kai |last=Chai |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singer-songwriter-moses-sumney-does-not-mind-flying-the-freak-flag |title=Singer-songwriter Moses Sumney does not mind flying the freak flag, Entertainment News & Top Stories |newspaper=The Straits Times |date=October 4, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=December 2, 2019 |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 }} Aromantic people often face stigma and are stereotyped with labels such as being afraid of intimacy, heartless, or deluded.{{cite magazine |first=Nivea |last=Serrao |url=http://ew.com/books/2017/07/10/tash-hearts-tolstoy-interview/ |title=Tash Hearts Tolstoy author on depicting asexuality in YA fiction |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201144415/https://ew.com/books/2017/07/10/tash-hearts-tolstoy-interview/ |url-status=live }}
Animated series
Film
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Literature
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Clariel
|2014 |She’s also quite comfortable with her (apparently aromantic) asexuality, a subject which comes up early on in the book; having experimented with sex out of sheer curiosity, she has no inclination to repeat the experience with either men or women, and consistently deflects the interest of potential romantic/sexual partners. Clariel's lack of experience of sexual or romantic attraction are described at multiple points, come up early in the book, and are treated as a core part of who she is as a person. {{Cite web |last=Rocket |first=Stubby the |date=April 11, 2016 |title=Five Books With Asexual Protagonists |url=https://reactormag.com/asexual-ace-characters-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy/ |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=Reactor |language=en-US |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407000116/https://reactormag.com/asexual-ace-characters-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy/ |url-status=live }} |
Ellis
| rowspan="3" |Loveless | rowspan="3" |Alice Oseman | rowspan="3" |2020 | rowspan="3" |Georgia is the main character of Loveless, coming to terms with her sexuality during the events of the book, realizing that she is an aromantic asexual. Georgia also has a conversation with another character, Sunil Jah, who is nonbinary, gay, asexual{{cite web |last1=Foley |first1=Maddy |title=3 YA Writers Share Why They Wrote Books With Asexual Protagonists |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/3-ya-writers-share-why-they-wrote-books-with-asexual-protagonists-9546309 |website=Bustle |access-date=June 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621175124/https://www.bustle.com/p/3-ya-writers-share-why-they-wrote-books-with-asexual-protagonists-9546309 |archive-date=June 21, 2020 |date=June 21, 2018 |url-status=live}} and friends with Jess, an aromantic bisexual. Also, Georgia's cousin Ellis is an aromantic asexual character. |
Jess |
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| Georgia Warr |
Yuki Miyashiro
| The Grimrose Girls | Laura Pohl | October 26, 2021 | Yuki is one of the four main characters in The Grimrose Girls and it's sequel The Wicked Remain. She is aromantic and asexual and it is mentioned throughout both books. |
Sophie Chi
| rowspan="2"|Dear Wendy | rowspan="2" |Ann Zhao | rowspan="2" |April 16, 2024 | rowspan="2" |Sophie and Jo are the two protagonists in Dear Wendy. They are both aromantic and asexual. |
Joanna "Jo" Ephron |
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Firuz-e Jafari
| Naseem Jamnia | 2022 | Firuz-e is aromantic and asexual, or "aroace", in addition to being non-binary.{{cite web|last=Brittain|first=Rachel|title=20 Must-Read Asexual Books For Ace Week|url=https://bookriot.com/must-read-asexual-books|website=Book Riot|access-date=October 24, 2022|date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811135426/https://bookriot.com/must-read-asexual-books |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |url-status=live}} |
Live-action television
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Comics, manga, and graphic novels
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Video games
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See also
{{Portal|LGBTQ|Lists}}
- List of fictional asexual characters
- Timeline of asexual history
- List of fictional polyamorous characters
- List of animated series with LGBT characters
- List of comedy television series with LGBT characters
- List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters: 2010–2015
- List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters: 2016–2019
- LGBTQ themes in Western animation
- LGBTQ themes in anime and manga
References
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Further reading
- [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-does-it-mean-to-be-aromantic_n_5bb501cee4b01470d04de20d What It Means To Be 'Aromantic,' According To Aromantic People], HuffPost, October 6, 2018
- [https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a23304501/aromantic/ Aromantic meaning explained by aro folks], Cosmopolitan, February 24, 2021
- [https://www.aromanticism.org/ Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy] AUREA
- [https://www.them.us/story/facts-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people 7 Facts You Should Know About Aromantic People], them., February 23, 2018
- [http://www.arospecweek.org/ Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF1DTK4U1AM Being Not Straight (Video)], Jaiden Animations, March 22, 2022
{{Aromanticism topics}}
{{LGBTQ fiction}}
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