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{{Copied|original=LGBTA Wiki, add discrimination section + conflation of aromanticism with asexuality and how it affected aphobia and erases non-ace aros}}
{{Orientation|image1=[[File:Aromantic.png|The Aromantic Flag]]|type=Amative, Aspec, Arospec|exclusivity=|coined_by=|coining_date=}}▼
'''Aromantic''' (often shortened to '''Aro''') is a romantic orientation defined by a lack of [[Romantic Attraction|romantic attraction]], or a lack of desire for romantic relationships. Romantic attraction is often defined as the desire to be in a romantic relationship and/or do romantic acts with a specific person. For non-aromanticAromantic people ([[Alloromantic|alloromantics]]s) romantic attraction is involuntary and even occurs when someone doesn't know the other person (though one might not act on it). Aromantic people do not have an innate desire to be in a romantic relationship. They might also feel disconnected from the idea of romance. ▼
While there is some misconception of Aromantics being "loveless" and "heartless", a person being Aromantic does not necessarily say if the person is capable, or incapable, of love. Some Aros may widen the meaning of love and embrace it in other ways, like platonic friendships, familial relationships, and etc. Others may embrace the identity of loveless to declare that love is not necessary for one to be happy, rejecting the notion that love is needed for one to be human.<ref>https://aroworlds.wordpress.com/2019/07/16/i-am-not-voldemort-an-essay-on-love-and-amatonormativity/</ref>
Because Aromanticism revolves around romance specifically, Aros may still feel other non-romantic attraction. Aros who experience [[Platonic Attraction|platonic attraction]] may describe their "platonic crushes" as a "squish". While those who do not experience platonic attraction may call themself [[Aplatonic]].
▲{{Orientation|image1=[[File:Aromantic.png|The Aromantic Flag]]|type=Amative, Aspec, Arospec|exclusivity=|coined_by=|coining_date=}}
Aside from platonic attraction, some Aromantic people may also experience other [[Tertiary Attraction|tertiary attractions]], which are attractions outside of sexual and romantic, and may use specific labels to describe this attraction. Examples of tertiary attractions include [[Aesthetic Attraction|aesthetic]], [[Platonic Attraction|platonic]], and [[Sensual Attraction|sensual]] attraction.
▲'''Aromantic''' (often shortened to '''Aro''') is a romantic orientation defined by a lack of [[Romantic Attraction|romantic attraction]], or a lack of desire for romantic relationships. Romantic attraction is often defined as the desire to be in a romantic relationship and/or do romantic acts with a specific person. For non-aromantic people ([[Alloromantic|alloromantics]]) romantic attraction is involuntary and even occurs when someone doesn't know the other person (though one might not act on it). Aromantic people do not have an innate desire to be in a romantic relationship. They might also feel disconnected from the idea of romance.
Some Aromantics desire romantic relationships, while others dont. For those who don't, they may find intimate companionship in their non-romantic relationships, like [[Queerplatonic|queerplatonic relationships]], platonic life partners, and [[Tertiary Attraction|others]]. They may also be content with themself, and don't need, or don't want, an intimate relationship at all, in which case they may call themself [[Nonamy|Nonamorous]].
Romantic dispositions among aromanticAromantic people can vary. Some aromanticsAromantics mayenjoy stilland have ormay seek orout a romantic relationship despite not feeling the romantic attraction to anyone ([[cupioromanticCupioromantic]])., Otherwhile aromanticsthers may be repulsed by the concept of romance, either as a concept applicable to themselves or in general. Terms like [[romanceRomance-repulsedRepulsed]], [[romanceRomance-averseAverse]], [[romanceRomance-indifferentIndifferent]], [[romanceRomance-favorableFavorable]], or [[romanceRomance-ambivalentAmbivalent]] are commonly used to describe these feelings.
The term "aromanticAromantic" may also be used as an umbrella term, referring to anyone on the [[Arospec|aromanticAro spectrumSpectrum]].
== Etymology ==▼
The term aromantic uses the Latin prefix a- which means 'a lack of'. ▼
==Pronunciation==
[[File:Aromantic.ogg]]
== Romantic Attraction ==
Due to the ambiguous nature of romantic attraction it can sometimes be difficult to identify when one is aromantic. Romantic attraction is sometimes defined by the actions that one takes during a relationship, such as holding hands, kissing, or cuddling. However, none of these activities alone necessarily indicate romantic attraction. These actively are only considered romantic if one personally considers them romantic in nature and does them with romantic intent. An aromantic person might enjoy some or all of these activities in non-romantic contexts, but does not like them in romantic context. Because of this some queerplatonic relationships or close friendships can sometimes resemble or be mistaken for a romantic relationship; with the difference being that in a queerplatonic relationship the participants agree that it is non-romantic, and in a romantic relationship the participants agree that it is romantic in nature. Therefore, the nature of a relationship is best defined by the intentions of the participants. If one or any partners feels romantic attraction and all partners agree to a romantic context, then the relationship is considered romantic.
This can make it difficult to identify when one is aromantic, especially when one has trouble distinguishing between romantic feelings and platonic feelings. If this is the case one might identify as [[platoniromantic]], [[idemromantic]], [[nebularomantic]], [[sensualarian]] or [[quoiromantic]].
== History ==
The term aromantic was first coined in an AVEN thread titled 'Relationship Definitions' in June 2005<ref>https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/9433-relationship-definitions/</ref>. While this is not the first use of the [[Split Attraction Model (SAM)|split attraction model]] it is one of the first mentions of the term aromantic. After this there is very little mention of aromanticism until 2010, when aromanticism begin to gain a community on AVEN.
== Aromantic Flag and Symbols ==
[[File:Aromantic (2).png|thumb|The first proposed aromantic flag.|alt=]]
[[File:Aromantic (3).png|thumb|The second proposed aromantic flag.|alt=]]
The first proposed aromantic flag had four stripes. Green, because it's the opposite of red, the most commonly associated romance color. Yellow, representing platonic love, because yellow roses represent friendship. Orange, for [[Greyromantic|greyromantics]], because it's in between red and yellow. And black, representing [[Allosexual|alloromantics]] that "reject traditional ideas of romance". This flag was later changed because it closely resembled the Rastafarian flag, and because it had a stripe representing alloromantics.
The second proposed aromantic flag was a five striped flag. With dark green and light green representing the spectrum of aromantic identities. A yellow stripe representing friendship, and a grey and black stripe representing the spectrum of sexual identities in the aromantic community. The design was later altered; changing the yellow stripe to white; due to it causing sensory problems for certain individuals. The meaning of the stripes was kept the same during the redesign.
Another aromantic flag was coined by [[User:Cryptocrew|Cryptocrew]] at [[User:Hayden000|Hayden000s]] request on January 16th of 2021 and was first published on a post one day later. The yellow flower represents platonic love or [[Alterous Attraction|alterous]]/queerplatonic and desires, dark green represents lack of romantic attraction, light green represents the greyromantic spectrum, the black represents a disconnect or disinterest in romantic acts, the upside-down white hearts represent community and how aromantic people can love, just not how people expect them to.
There are several other symbols used to represent aromantics and aromantic love. One is an arrow, due to aromantic often being shortened to aro, which is pronounced the same way. Like asexuals, aromantics also use the symbol of the spades to represent themselves, and [[aroace]] people especially use the ace of spades. Also similar to asexuals, some aromantic people wear a white ring on the middle finger of their left hand (the opposite hand of the black asexual ring). Aromantics have also started using the symbol of a green heart, representing non-romantic love. An older, lesser used, symbol is an aardvark which seems to have originated from a meme.
▲== Etymology ==
▲The term aromantic uses the Latin prefix a- which means 'a lack of'.
== Resources ==
<references />
[[Category:Needs Work]]
[[Category:Orientation]]
[[Category:Aspec]]
[[Category:Arospec]]