Orientations and Identities 101: Aromanticism

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week happens each year the week after Valentine’s Day. This global event exists to raise awareness for those who identify as Aromantic, or Aro for short. In 2020, Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week is from February 16 to February 22.

If you are having an event, discussion, or meetup in or North of Boston in 2020 and want the community to know about it – comment on the post to let us know! 

Aromanticism is a romantic orientation where a person experiences little to no romantic attraction to others. People who identify as Aromantic are, by default, on the non-alloromantic (those who experience romantic attraction) spectrum. What is alloromantic attraction? Well, there is no right answer for what it means for people to experience romantic attraction, so to be Aro is to be not that – even if the that in this instance isn’t definable itself.

Do Aromantic People Experience Platonic Love?

While emotions and attachments are different for everyone, it’s quite common for those on the Aro spectrum to experience love for their close friends and family members. Just because a person doesn’t experience romantic attraction, it doesn’t mean that they don’t experience love.

What’s the Difference Between Aromanticism and Asexuality? 

Aromanticism is a romantic orientation whereas Asexuality is a sexual orientation. Therefore, someone could be aromantic without being asexual and vice versa.

This article in Psychology Today does a pretty good job at separating out what it means to be a romantic sexual, a romantic asexual, an aromantic sexual, and an aromantic asexual – all very different things.

What is Grayromanticism? 

Grayromanticism refers to someone who is on the aromantic spectrum who only experiences romantic attraction rarely. Grayromanticism is similar to demiromanticism (romantic attraction becomes possible when an emotional bond is formed) or frayromanticism (romantic attraction exists towards those they are less familiar with. Click here to see a full glossary of terms. 

What are some resources on Aromanticism?

One of the best resources for Aromanticism is the Aro Renaissance. They have a list of resources, a glossary of terms, and information about Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week.

Here are some articles for further reading:

“Aromantic definition – What it means to be aromantic” – Cosmopolitan, June 2019

“What’s the Difference Between Asexual and Aromantic? We Called in the Experts” – Health.com, February 2019

“What It Means To Be ‘Aromantic,’ According To Aromantic People” – Huffpost, October 2018

“3 People Explain What It Means to Be Aromantic” – Cosmopolitan, August 2018

“YouTuber Connie Glynn aka Noodlerella reveals she’s aromantic” – Metro, February 2018

“Meet the aromantics: ‘I’m not cold – I just don’t have any romantic feelings‘” – The Guardian, October 2017

“That’s So Aromantic!” – Psychology Today, October 2017

“How Pop Culture Denies Aromantic Asexual Existence” – The Mary Sue, February 2016

“This Is What It Means To Be Aromantic, Demiromantic, And Queerplatonic” – HuffPost, February 2016