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Protected "Aromantic": Preventative measure in the wake of the Staff announcement. ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite)) [cascading]
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{{Copied|original=LGBTA Wiki, fix the flag section (add info and more flags, research the creation dates), 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=June 29, 2005|caption1=Aromantic|genders=any|attracted=none}}
'''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]]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. The term "Aromantic" may also be used as an umbrella term, referring to anyone on the [[Arospec|Aro Spectrum]].
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>
The term "Aromantic" may also be used as an umbrella term, referring to anyone on the [[Arospec|Aro Spectrum]].
== Etymology ==
==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]].
== Other forms of attraction ==
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]].
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.
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]].
An Aromantic person can have any [[Sexual Orientation|sexual orientation]], including [[Allosexual]] (in which case they also may identify with [[Alloaro]]) and [[Asexual]] (in which case they may also identify as [[Aroace]]). Aros may identify with a sexual orientation in addition to the label of Aromantic to specify who they're interested in sexually, if anyone. For example, a [[Heterosexual]] Aromantic person is sexually attracted to people of a different gender, but is not romantically attracted to them. Not all Aromantics identify with a sexual orientation, some may identify primarily or only as Aromantic ([[Non-SAM Aro]]/[[Aro Neu]]).
Romantic dispositions among Aromantic people can vary. Some Aromantics enjoy and may seek out a romantic relationship despite not feeling the romantic attraction ([[Cupioromantic]]), while thers may be repulsed by the concept of romance, either as a concept applicable to themselves or in general. Terms like [[Romance-Repulsed]], [[Romance-Averse]], [[Romance-Indifferent]], [[Romance-Favorable]], or [[Romance-Ambivalent]] are commonly used to describe these feelings.
== History ==