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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 do not 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 and attributes

A symbol for aromanticism

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.[4] An informal term for an aromantic person is aro.[5] The A in the expanded LGBT acronym LGBTQIA, is interpreted by some to stand for aromantic.[6][7]

One of the attributes of aromantics is that despite feeling little or no romantic attraction, they can still enjoy sex[8] and form relationships, albeit platonic ones.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12] Aromantics may also not experience grief and sorrow at the end of relationship.[13]

Discrimination

Some publications have argued that there is an underrepresentation of aromantics in media[14] and in research,[15] and that they are often misunderstood.[16] Aromantics sometimes face stigma and are stereotyped with labels such as being heartless, callous or deluded.[17][18] Amatonormativity, a concept that elevates romantic relationships over non-romantic relationships, has been said to be damaging to aromantics.[19] Aromantics can sometimes feel coercive pressure from relatives and family to enter a romantic relationship, being told that that is the norm.[20] Aromantics may be mocked and infantilized, while female aromantics may be treated as promiscuous.[21]

Visibility

An aromantic flag

Within the LGBT community, aromantics can face falsification or erasure of their existence.[22] There are organizations that have advocated for advancing aromantic representation, such as the Green Party in the United Kingdom[23], Ace & Aro in Canada[24] and Queers & Allies in the United States.[25] There has also been depiction of aromantic characters in popular culture, such as Jughead, from the Archie comics[26] and Rae, from the webcomic Always Human.[27]

Scope

Many aromantics are asexual, and the vast majority of online aromantic communities are asexual[5][non-primary source needed], but 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.[28] This is because aromanticism primarily deals with emotion rather than sexuality or the libido.[29] Some activists have argued for adding aromantics to the LGBT community.[30] There are however, some people who conflate the terms asexual and aromantic as meaning the same thing.[31][32] RnB singer Moses Sumney (himself an aromantic[33]) has argued in favor of the viability of aromanticism within relationships in his songs[34] in order to normalize it.[35] Designer Landon Parks has issued a Kinsey scale that factors in aromanticism as a representation.[36] Reresentation of aromantics in the media is increasing.[37]

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.bustle.com/p/im-tired-of-my-queer-identity-being-ignored-erased-on-tv-66215
  5. ^ a b https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex
  6. ^ https://www.bustle.com/p/equinox-gyms-pride-video-the-lgbtqalphabet-leaves-out-important-letter-63252
  7. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/15/lgbtq-glossary-slang-ally-learn-language/101200092/
  8. ^ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a9644122/aromantic-definition-meaning/
  9. ^ http://highlandecho.com/lets-talk-sexuality-and-religion-asexuality-and-aromanticism/
  10. ^ Parade, Beach Pride, and Beach Pride Parade. "PANTHER."
  11. ^ http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/12/youtuber-connie-glynn-aka-noodlerella-reveals-aromantic-7306105/
  12. ^ Sheehan, Ryan. A-Identity Politics: Asexual Exceptionalism, Precarity, and Activism. Diss. 2015.
  13. ^ https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/nejzjq/science-explains-how-to-trick-yourself-into-getting-over-your-broken-heart
  14. ^ https://www.themarysue.com/pop-culture-denies-aro-ace/
  15. ^ https://www.refinery29.uk/2016/06/113484/what-is-asexual-definition-experiences
  16. ^ http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singer-songwriter-moses-sumney-does-not-mind-flying-the-freak-flag
  17. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex
  18. ^ http://ew.com/books/2017/07/10/tash-hearts-tolstoy-interview/
  19. ^ https://wearyourvoicemag.com/more/culture/romance-not-universal-necessary
  20. ^ https://www.thehofstrachronicle.com/category/hofstra/intersectionality
  21. ^ Asexual and aromantic, Felix Editor and Joanna Wormald, 10th February 2017, felixonline
  22. ^ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-farnsworth/not-just-sexuality_b_8954892.html
  23. ^ https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/05/10/pinknews-qa-submit-questions-green-party-leaders-caroline-lucas-jonathan-bartley/
  24. ^ https://www.dailyxtra.com/lets-talk-about-asexuality-67258
  25. ^ https://scaddistrict.com/2017/09/18/new-savannah-lgbt-center-scad-club-offer-resources/
  26. ^ https://www.bustle.com/p/im-tired-of-my-queer-identity-being-ignored-erased-on-tv-66215
  27. ^ https://comicsverse.com/always-human-queer-sci-fi-love-story/
  28. ^ Youth, Gender Creative. "GLOSSARY OF TERMS: DEFINING A COMMON QUEER LANGUAGE." TEACHING, AFFIRMING, AND RECOGNIZING TRANS AND GENDER CREATIVE YOUTH: 299.
  29. ^ Pinto, Stacy Anne. "ASEXUally: On being an ally to the asexual community." Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 8.4 (2014): 331-343.
  30. ^ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/aromantic-demiromantic-queerplatonic_n_5948256.html
  31. ^ https://kotaku.com/what-we-liked-and-didnt-like-about-the-new-season-of-bo-1803753899
  32. ^ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-farnsworth/not-just-sexuality_b_8954892.html
  33. ^ http://thecollegevoice.org/2017/11/20/moses-sumneys-aromanticism-is-a-libidinal-soundtrack-for-sensual-awkwardness/
  34. ^ https://hyperallergic.com/412046/genuine-alternatives-the-war-on-drugs-fever-ray-julien-baker-moses-sumney/
  35. ^ https://uproxx.com/music/moses-sumney-aromanticism-vinyl-me-please/
  36. ^ http://www.newstalk.com/The-PurpleRed-Scale-may-be-set-to-replace-The-Kinsey-Scale
  37. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2017/06/21/i-fell-in-love-with-my-friend-with-benefits/?utm_term=.d99c1f2ba795
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