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Aromanticism

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For the album by Moses Sumney, see Aromanticism (album).

Aromanticism is a romantic orientation in which people don't experience romantic attraction. Aromantic people can be of any sexual orientation and can still desire close relationships. Some aromantics have a type of platonic relationship called a queerplatonic (or quasiplatonic) relationship that is not romantic but is still closer than what most people consider to be a friendship. Individuals who identify as aromantic may have trouble distinguishing the difference between affection of family and friends from that of a romantic partner.[1][2][3]

Terminology

Aromantics are sometimes referred to by informal terms such as aros.[4] The antonym of aromanticism is alloromanticism, the state of experiencing romantic love or romantic attraction to others, while such a person is called an alloromantic.[5][6]

Attributes

One of the attributes of aromantics is that despite feeling little or no romantic attraction, they can still enjoy sex.[7] Aromantics have been represented in comic books, such as Jughead from Archie Comics.[8] Some publications have argued that there is an underrepresentation of aromantics in media[9] and in research.[10]

Aromantics are not necessarily incapable of feeling love. For example they may still feel familial love, or the type of platonic love that is expressed between friends.[11] Some aromantics may claim that they are able to appreciate the type of love or romance that exists in popular culture, such as in movies, romantic books or songs, but only vicariously, and that they do not intuitively experience these feelings themselves.[12][13]

Predicaments

Some aromantics feel that certain cultural aspects such as Valentine's Day are overly romantic, and by extension, exclusionary towards themselves. People who are not strictly aromantic, but whose inclinations overlap with aromantics are said to be on the aromantic spectrum.[14] Aromantic people can sometimes feel marginalized in society due to a perception in many cultures that sexuality should be accompanied by love and romance.[15] Nonetheless, aromantics may identify with other communities such as the asexual or queer community.[16] On many LGBT internet forums, there is no concurrence on how to treat the aromantic community, with some seeking to discard them, while others are welcoming.[17]

Difference from asexuality

Maria Trumpler, a professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies, has made a distinction between asexuality and aromanticism.[18] The divergence between aromantics and asexuals is greatest when an aromantic experiences sexual attraction and the asexual experiences and appreciates romantic attraction.[19] Due to the scope of aromanticism distinguishing itself from whom one is sexually attracted to, 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.[20] This is because aromanticism primarily deals with emotion rather than sexuality or the libido.[21]

References

  1. ^ Janet W. Hardy; Dossie Easton (2017). The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love. Ten Speed Press. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-0-399-57966-0.
  2. ^ Julie Sondra Decker (13 October 2015). The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in LGBT. Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-1-5107-0064-2.
  3. ^ Dedeker Winston (7 February 2017). The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory: Everything You Need to Know About Open Relationships, Non-Monogamy, and Alternative Love. Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-1-5107-1209-6.
  4. ^ https://www.shemazing.net/aromantic-and-asexual-what-do-these-terms-really-mean/
  5. ^ https://hyperallergic.com/410585/in-search-of-the-authentic-selfie/
  6. ^ https://www.bustle.com/p/im-tired-of-my-queer-identity-being-ignored-erased-on-tv-66215
  7. ^ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a9644122/aromantic-definition-meaning/
  8. ^ http://comicsalliance.com/jughead-asexual-aromantic-roundtable/
  9. ^ https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/
  10. ^ https://www.refinery29.uk/2016/06/113484/what-is-asexual-definition-experiences
  11. ^ Parade, Beach Pride, and Beach Pride Parade. "PANTHER."
  12. ^ http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/12/youtuber-connie-glynn-aka-noodlerella-reveals-aromantic-7306105/
  13. ^ Sheehan, Ryan. A-Identity Politics: Asexual Exceptionalism, Precarity, and Activism. Diss. 2015.
  14. ^ https://www.redandblack.com/opinion/opinion-valentine-s-day-is-about-more-than-romance/article_e93581c0-1103-11e8-b496-9fd7cc934a48.html
  15. ^ Oswalt, Sara B., Samantha Evans, and Andrea Drott. "Beyond alphabet soup: helping college health professionals understand sexual fluidity." Journal of American College Health 64.6 (2016): 502-508.
  16. ^ Canning, Dominique A. "Queering asexuality: Asexual-inclusion in queer spaces." McNair Scholars Research Journal 8.1 (2015): 6.
  17. ^ Marks, Benjamin. "" Sick, Dead, or Lying:" A critical textual analysis of asexuality in popular culture." (2017).
  18. ^ https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/02/08/super-ace/
  19. ^ DSURNEY E. OFFICIAL BUSINESS. chance. 2013 Feb 14;91(38).
  20. ^ Youth, Gender Creative. "GLOSSARY OF TERMS: DEFINING A COMMON QUEER LANGUAGE." TEACHING, AFFIRMING, AND RECOGNIZING TRANS AND GENDER CREATIVE YOUTH: 299.
  21. ^ Pinto, Stacy Anne. "ASEXUally: On being an ally to the asexual community." Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 8.4 (2014): 331-343.
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