Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week!
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness week generally occurs for the first, full week after Valentine’s Day starting on Sunday. This year it will go from February 19-25 as the 19th is the first Sunday after Valentine’s Day.
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week exists to raise awareness about aromanticism and the aromantic identity.
ASAW is a time to share our stories and experiences, make campaigns, and discuss aromanticism in general. It’s a time to raise awareness and shed light on the top of aromanticism and the aromantic identity.
Additionally, during Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, organization like Aromantic Alliance, Aromantic Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education. and Advocacy (AUREA), offer resources, events and support to aromantic individuals.
With all that said, what does it mean to be aromantic?
Someone who is aromantic experiences little to no romantic attraction and/or experience it differently than what society would deem as “normal” or not have the desire for a romantic relationship. Aromantic is an umbrella term for those on the aromantic spectrum. For instance, some aromantics experience no romantic attraction at all. Some aromantics only experience romantic attraction in certain circumstances which would put them on the gray area of the spectrum. Demiromantic people only experience romantic attraction after developing a strong emotional bond. Frayromantics are the opposite of this and only experience romantic attraction to those with whom they don’t share a strong emotional bond with. There are many other micro-labels like aegoromantic (which I I myself am!), apothiromantic, aroflux, bellusromantic and cupioromanric, and greyromantics who do experience romantic attraction, but it may only be occasionally or under specific coruncstances, like demiromantics and frayromantics.
People who are aromantic may experience other types of attraction, like sexual attraction. Or they may not experience sexual attraction (signifying they may be asexual). Some aromantic people don’t experience any other types of attraction whether that be romantic, sexual, or platonic. Some may experience very few types of attraction without being completely devoid of all types of attraction. I experience a LOT of aesthetic attraction, but I am aromantic, asexual, and aplatonic. It’s very clear that there is a very wide spectrum of experiences, and no aromantic is exactly the same as another!
