An aromantic (often shortened as aros) is an individual who experiences little to no romantic attraction to any person of any gender. The aro culture is represented by a flag with 4 horizontal stripes,
black, grey, white and
green. You might find many wearing white rings on their left middle
finger as a symbol of their aromanticity. The aromantic community often overlaps with the asexual community and they share many values.
It can be hard to understand aromanticity without being able to defferentiate between platonic, sexual and romantic attraction, so I'
ll explain that first!
Platonic attraction: The desire to be
friends with someone, no more.
Romantic attraction: This is the desire to be in a romantic
relationship with someone, this does not include sex or intimacy. Only the
wholesome parts of your typical
relationship, like dates, kissing, handholding, loveletters ect.
Sexual Attraction: Sexual attraction is the desire to have sex with someone, simple as that.
Now that you know the difference, here are some variations of aromanticity:
Repulsed Aromantic: These are Aros who want absolutely nothing to do with romance.
Greyromantic: People who experience very little romantic attraction, or only feel it under certain curcumstances.
Demiromantic: Only feel romantic attraction after a strong emotional bond is formed.
Aromantic Asexuals: Aromantics who don't feel sexual or romantic attraction.
Note that aros can still have romance and aces can still have sex.
Examples:
(Tom) Hey that guy over there is
hot, I'd love to hook up.
(
Harry) I thought you were aromantic?
(Tom) Yeah, but I'm a
gay aromantic, I just don't feel the emotional connection. I still feel sexual attraction though.
(Guy over there) Haha, you can't get in my pants anyway, I'm asexual and aromantic!
