Aromantic spectrum

The aromantic spectrum, abbreviated as arospec, refers to romantic orientations that are aromantic or are closely related to aromanticism when placed on a spectrum ranging from aromantic to alloromantic.

It is also used by people whose aromantic identities are conditional, unreliable, or atypical to societal expectations, and by people who simply do not wish to label it further. Identities under the aromantic umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.

Community
While it is commonly assumed that romantic and sexual attraction go hand in hand, evidence suggests that a statistically significantly percentage of people experience inharmonious attraction with sexual and romantic orientation. 1% of the sample size (4 people) identified as asexual or aromantic.

Many websites and resources are available for learning more about the community of aromanticism and the spectrum itself, such as AUREA (Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy)''. ''

The words used to describe the aromantic spectrum often mirror those seen in the asexual spectrum.

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW) is an annual, international event that aims to spread awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities. It works to spread awareness of the identity while celebrating the existence of those who identify. It takes place the first full week in February, usually following Valentine's Day. It bean as a way to unify those in the aromantic community who found it difficult to share their experience. The first week was recognized in November 2014, under the name Aromantic Awareness Week, though it was moved to February in 2015. The new date also included the use of the word "spectrum" in a strive to be inclusive to all.

Aegoromantic
Aegoromantic, less commonly known as anegoromantic, also previously known as autochorisromantic, describes those who enjoy the concept of romance but do not have a desire to participate in romantic activities. Aegoromantic individuals may have romantic fantasies, enjoy romantic media, or engage in shipping in fandoms, but they tend to feel little to no romantic attraction in real life and typically do not desire a romantic relationship.

Apothiromantic
Apothiromantic is a person who does not feel any romantic attraction and is repulsed by it.

Aroflux
Aroflux is an identity that operates along the aromantic/alloromantic spectrum. People who identify as aroflux may experience their romantic orientation as fluctuating between experiencing and not experiencing romantic attraction, or that attraction is being experienced to alternating or changing degrees.

Autoromantic
Autoromantic people may elicit romantic attraction from themselves, by themselves. They may not desire romantic activities with others, but may enjoy being romantically intimate with themselves.

Bellusromantic
Bellusromantic involves having an interest in conventionally romantic things without desiring a relationship.

Cupioromantic
Cupioromantic describes those who do not experience attraction but do desire a romantic relationship. The term "cupio", as a verb, is the Latin word for "I desire."

Desinoromantic
Desinoromantic people do not experience "full-on" romantic attraction, but do experience "liking" someone instead of loving them romantically; the attraction then goes no further.

Frayromantic
Frayromantic people only feel romantic attraction to people that they do not have a strong emotional bond with. Once they form an emotional bond with that person, that attraction disappears or fades.

Grayromantic
Grayromantic includes (but is not limited to) people who feel very low amounts of romantic attraction, rarely feel romantic attraction, only feel romantic attraction under specific circumstances, or are not sure if they experience romantic attraction. It may be considered a romantic equivalent to gray-asexuality.

On the aromantic spectrum flag, grayromantics are represented by the paler green stripe underneath the first green stripe. A flag specifically for grayromanticism was created by an unknown person, though the flag's set up looks similar to a common graysexual flag. The flag was made available online as early as August 21, 2015.

Lithromantic
Lithromantic or lithoromantic, alternatively called akoiromantic or akoineromantic, describes someone who feels romantic attraction but does not want it reciprocated, or loses that attraction when it is reciprocated. They may enjoy romantic relationships in theory, but may stop feeling romantic attraction once in a relationship or stop enjoying it.

The term was originally coined as "lithromantic" by Ian, who uses the Tumblr screenname stopanthropomorphizingme, sometime by May 22, 2014.

Quoiromantic
Quoiromantic, also known as WTFromantic, describes not being romantically categorizeable, being unable to tell the difference between differing kinds of attraction, being unsure about experiencing romantic attraction or not, and/or not feeling the concept of "romantic attraction" to be relevant to oneself. The term "wtfromantic" was first used flippantly by Sciatrix in 2011, and "quoiromantic" was proposed as a synonym by Cor in 2012. Quoi is the French word for "what."

Recipromantic
Recipromantic people only experience romantic attraction after knowing that the other person is romantically attracted to them&mdash;that is, when it is reciprocated.

Flag
The main flag used for the aromantic spectrum is the flag for aromantic itself, as shown in previous sections. An alternative aromantic spectrum flag design was posted to Tumblr on August 6, 2020, by Potion of the Flag Archive blog. It has five equal-sized horizontal stripes, and the creator suggested the following meanings for the colors: dark green for aromanticism in all forms, light green for diversity in attraction and experiences, light yellow for the aromantic community and its history, teal for pride in an aromantic identity, and dark teal for recognition of aromanticism as its own separate identity from asexuality.

Resources

 * AUREA, the Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy