Aromantic asexuality
 | This article needs more citations. (August 2026) |
| Etymology | The combination of aromantic (aro) and asexual (ace) using the split attraction model |
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| Definition | The lack of both romantic and sexual attraction to others |
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| Flag | |
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| Flag name | Sunset aroace flag |
| Designer | Aroaesflags |
Aromantic asexual, colloquially shortened to aroace or aro-ace, is a romantic and sexual orientation characterized by experiencing little to no romantic and sexual attraction. The name comes from combining the two attraction minorities, aromanticism and asexuality, specifically the shortened versions of their names: "aro" for aromantic and "ace" for asexual, and forming a combined term using the split attraction model.[2][3][4]
A 2020 study found that 26% of asexual people also identify as aromantic.[5]
Just like asexuality and aromanticism, aro-ace identities exist on a spectrum.[6]
Community and Symbols
[edit]The aroace flag was made by Tumblr user aroaesflags. The orange represents community, the yellow represents love and relationships outside of conventional norms, white represents wholeness, and the two shades of blue represent the spectrum of aroace identities. Blue was chosen because it’s between green and purple, the two colors often associated with asexuality and aromanticism.[7][8]
Stigma and Social Invisibility
[edit]Several aro-ace people report struggling with social invisibility, even among the LGBTQ+ community. While this often contributes to feelings of loneliness, some also use it as a means of camouflaging at work or school.[9]
Many aro-ace people experience amatonormativity and allonormativity, which are the assumptions that romantic relationships are a universal experience and that everyone experiences sexual attraction, respectively.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ↑
- "GSD Center celebrates National Coming Out Day".
- Project, The Ace and Aro Advocacy (2023-04-21). Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-639-1.
- Filardo-Llamas, Laura; Roldán-García, Alba (July 2025). "Between "Queer" and "Cishet men". Lexical Creativity, Gender Identities and Sexualities in Linguistic Labels in Tumblr". Journal of Language and Discrimination. 9 (1): 1–27. doi:10.3138/jld-2025-0501. ISSN 2397-2637.
- ↑ Lienhard, Alissa (May 2024). ""I'll Call it Platonic Magic": Queer Joy, Metafiction, and Aro-Ace Autofictional Selves in Alice Oseman's Loveless". In Progress: A Graduate Journal of North American Studies. 2 (1): 59–72. doi:10.15488/17355.
- ↑ Sheshadri, Shruti; Chandrasekaran, Agharsh (2024-04-21). "Hopelessly AroAce: An Exploration in the Margins". International Journal of Human Rights Education. 8 (1). ISSN 2691-8633.
- ↑ Leyda, Julia; Seymour, Nicole (2024-09-01). "Aromantic Comedy: The Aro/Ace Aesthetics of Together Together". Camera Obscura: Feminism, Culture, and Media Studies. 39 (2 (116)): 131–162. doi:10.1215/02705346-11207841. ISSN 0270-5346.
- ↑ Antonsen, Amy N.; Zdaniuk, Bozena; Yule, Morag; Brotto, Lori A. (July 2020). "Ace and Aro: Understanding Differences in Romantic Attractions Among Persons Identifying as Asexual". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 49 (5): 1615–1630. doi:10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1. ISSN 0004-0002. PMID 32095971.
- ↑ "Ace/ Aro Spectrum Definitions". OXFORD UNIVERSITY LGBTQ+ SOCIETY. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ aroaesflags. "Requests: Closed". Tumblr. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ vieve, Petter (2023-12-29). "The Aroace Flag: Symbolizing Aromantic Asexuality with Pride". Rubblemagazine. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ "Aromantics & Asexuals - The AroAce Identity". Counseling Schools. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "Creating Change 2021 – Amatonormativity and Relationship Anarchy – The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project". 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
- ↑ "Ep 226: Allonormativity and Amatanormativity". Sounds Fake But Okay Podcast. 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
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