Some people do not feel romantic love.
They can still have great friends. They can have many kinds of love. It is okay to be this way. We all feel love in our own way. Do you have a best friend?
Some people feel very little romantic love.
They might not feel it at all. This is called being aromantic.
These people can still have great friends. They can also have many kinds of love. Some may want to have children too. They might enjoy being with others in many ways. It is okay to feel love in your own way.
Some people feel very little romantic love. This is called aromanticism. People who feel this way are called aromantics. They are often called "aro" for short.
Being aromantic is not the same as being asexual. Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction. Aromanticism is about a lack of romantic attraction.
Some people fall on a spectrum. This means their feelings change. For example, demiromantic people feel romantic love only after a strong bond. Grayromantic people feel it rarely or weakly.
Aromantic people can still have many kinds of love. They can have close friends. They can also have non-romantic partners. Some may even choose to have children. Many aromantics use the green flag as a symbol. Green is the opposite of red. Red is the color for romantic love. A group called AUREA helps people learn about this. They lead Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week in February. This week helps people find acceptance and understanding.
Aromanticism is a way that people experience romantic attraction. Some people feel very little or no romantic desire toward others. People who feel this way often use the short name "aro." This is different from asexuality. Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction. Aromanticism is about romantic feelings.
Some people find it hard to tell the difference between romantic love and platonic affection. Platonic affection is the kind of love you feel for friends. Aromanticism is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The "A" in that group stands for aromanticism.
This identity works like a spectrum. A spectrum means there are many different ways to feel. Some people are "grayromantic." They might feel romantic attraction only rarely or very weakly. Other people are "demiromantic." They only feel romantic attraction after they form a strong emotional bond. There are even more labels like "aegoromantic" or "lithromantic."
A person might also be "aroflux." This means their romantic feelings shift along the spectrum. Because everyone is different, these labels help people describe their own unique feelings.
People have used the term "aromantic" for a long time. The modern use of the word dates back to 2005. It grew in online groups like the Asexual Visibility and Education Network. Later, people used sites like Tumblr to connect. The Oxford English Dictionary added the word in 2018.
Now, there are many ways to learn about it. A group called AUREA helps teach the public. They also organize Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week. This special week happens every February to help people find acceptance.
There are many facts about how aromantic people live. Some aromantics are also asexual, which people call "aro-ace." Others are "allosexual," meaning they do feel sexual attraction. In the 2020 Aromantic Census, 14.6% of people reported being in non-romantic partnerships.
These partnerships can be very close friendships. Some people also form "queerplatonic relationships." These are intimate but not romantic. Aromantic people can also choose to have children. They can form many types of strong, loving bonds.
Many things in life help us understand this identity. For example, many people use a green flag as a symbol. Green is the opposite of red on a color wheel. Red is often the color for romantic love.
Some people also use an arrow as a symbol. This is because "arrow" sounds like the short name "aro." You might see authors like Alice Oseman writing about these topics. She wrote a book called "Loveless." These stories help show that there are many ways to love and live.
Aromanticism is a romantic orientation. It describes people who experience little to no romantic attraction. The term "aromantic" is often shortened to "aro." This identity is distinct from asexuality. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction. Aromanticism focuses on romantic feelings instead.
While they are different, the two can overlap. Some people are both aromantic and asexual. These individuals are often called "aro-ace." Others are aromantic but feel sexual attraction. These people are called "aromantic allosexuals," or "aroallos." This distinction is explained by the split attraction model. This model states that romantic and sexual attractions are not always linked.
Because romantic attraction is subjective, it can be hard to define. Some aromantic people struggle to distinguish romantic affection from platonic affection. Platonic affection is the love felt for friends. Aromanticism exists on a spectrum. This means there are many different ways to experience it. One type is "grayromantic." These people experience romantic attraction rarely or weakly. Another type is "demiromantic." These individuals only feel romantic attraction after a strong emotional bond forms. Other identities include "lithromantic," where attraction is lost if it is reciprocated. There is also "aegoromantic," where someone enjoys romantic depictions but feels no attraction themselves.
Many more specific labels exist on the spectrum. "Aroflux" describes people whose romantic attraction shifts. "Frayromantic" people feel attraction only toward strangers. They may lose that feeling once a connection deepens. "Cupioromantic" people do not feel attraction but desire a romantic relationship. "Quoiromantic" describes people who are uncertain about their feelings. "Placioromantic" people do not want to receive romantic acts but enjoy performing them. "Apothiromantic" people feel repulsed by romance. "Requiesromantic" people lack romantic attraction due to emotional exhaustion. "Desinoromantic" people experience crushes that never become romantic love. Each label helps people describe their unique experiences.
The modern use of "aromantic" began around 2005. Early communities formed on the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, or AVEN. Social media platforms like Tumblr also helped people connect. The Oxford English Dictionary added the term in 2018. Today, dedicated spaces like Arocalypse.com exist for the community. Organizations like AUREA work to increase recognition and education. AUREA organizes Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week every February. This event was first recognized in 2014. It moved to February in 2015 to follow Valentine's Day. Another group, TAAAP, provides resources and workshops. They published a book in April 2023 called "Ace and Aro Journeys."
Societal pressures can be difficult for aromantics. Philosopher Elizabeth Brake coined the term "amatonormativity." This refers to the assumption that everyone seeks exclusive, long-term romantic relationships. This idea can devalue friendships and other types of bonds. It can also lead to stigma or "arophobia." This is prejudice directed at aromantic people. Despite these challenges, aromantics lead full lives. They can form many types of non-romantic relationships. Some form "queerplatonic relationships," which are intimate but not romantic. In the 2020 Aromantic Census, 14.6% of respondents were in non-romantic partnerships. Aromantic people can also choose to have children. Studies show they are no less likely to have children than alloromantics.
Symbols help the community express their identity. Cameron Whimsy created the aromantic flag in 2014. The main color is green. Green is the opposite of red, which usually represents romantic love. The flag uses two shades of green for the spectrum. White represents platonic love and friendship. Grey and black represent parts of the sexuality spectrum.
Some people wear an "aro ring" on their left middle finger. This is the opposite of the "ace ring" worn on the right hand. The word "arrow" is also used as a symbol. This is because "arrow" sounds like the shortened word "aro."
Literature and media are slowly increasing. Michael Paramo is a leading academic in the field. He published a non-fiction book in 2024.
Other writers include Alice Oseman and Darcie Little Badger. Oseman wrote "Loveless," a novel about an "aroace" college student. Online creators also share their stories. YouTube animator Jaiden Dittfach shared her identity in 2022.
The podcast "Sounds Fake but Okay" focuses on these topics. It won a 2020 award for best LGBTQ+ culture podcast. These works help make aromanticism more visible to the world.
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