Aromantic asexual, also known by the abbreviation aroace, means people who are both aromantic (aro) and asexual (ace)[2] or on the aromantic spectrum (aro-spec) and the asexual spectrum (ace-spec).[1][3]
As terms for specific identities, aromantic refers to someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction and asexual means someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction.[2][4]Aromantic asexual people may or may not feel other forms of attraction that are neither romantic nor sexual.[1][3] Some aromantic, asexual, or aromantic asexual people may also feel romantic or sexual attraction for others, but don't feel a need to act on their attraction.[5] They may also only see this attraction as fantasy, which is why some don't feel a need to act on it.[6]
Etymology
The term aroace and its variations are shorthand for "aromantic asexual".[1][2] It combines the shortened form of each, with "aro" short for aromantic, and "ace" short for asexual.[2]
Community
Identities under the umbrella
Oriented aroace
The oriented aroace flag created by biaroace on Tumblr[7]
Oriented aroace refers to someone who is aromantic and asexual and never experiences romantic or sexual attraction, but does experience another form of attraction that is significant enough to acknowledge alongside their aroace orientation.[2][1][3]
Angled aroace
The angled aroace flag created by black-aros on Tumblr[8]
Angled aroace refers someone who is on the aromantic spectrum (arospec) and/or the asexual spectrum (acespec), and experiences some level of sexual and/or romantic attraction, in which one would add that label to their aro-spec and/or ace-spec identity (for example: bisexual and greysexual).[3][9] The term "angled aroace" was coined in 2019 by Tumblr user black-aros after finding out that the oriented aroace identity did not include aroace-spec individuals.[9]
Aroaceflux
The aroaceflux flag by astraldomination.[10]
Aroaceflux refers to someone who is both aroflux and aceflux. Essentially, both their sexual and romantic orientation fluctuates, but generally stays on the asexual and aromantic spectrums. These fluctuations may occur at the same time or they may be independent. Aroaceflux can be an orientation on its own or can be combined with other orientations.[3][11] The term "aroaceflux" was coined by Quora user Ezrasberry in October 2020.[11][12]
A flag design was also included alongside the coining, though the flag itself has no particular meanings.[12] There is an alternative flag design that is a straightforward combination of the main aroflux and aceflux flags at the time.[13] Another design was created by astraldomination on February 29th, 2020, based on toothcity's aroflux and aceflux flag redesigns.[10]
History
The history of the aroace label can be traced back to the broader asexual and aromantic communities, which emerged in the early 2000s as a way for individuals to explore and understand their experiences of limited or absent sexual and romantic attractions. As these communities grew and became more inclusive, individuals who identified as both aromantic and asexual began using the term aroace to specifically highlight their dual orientation.[1]
Flag
The aroace flag, also referred to as the sunset aroace flag[14], was created by Tumblr user aroaesflags on December 11, 2018. The flag was created "with the experiences of aroaces who don’t split their attraction in mind", which is why the flag does not contain purple for asexual nor green for aromantic. It is meant to represent anyone who is on the asexual spectrum and aromantic spectrum together.[15] The specific meanings of the sunset flag are as follows:
- Two shades of blue: Represents "the aroace identity as well as the spectrum of aroace identities and experiences". The choice of color here is intended to be between green, for aromantic, and purple, for asexual.[15]
- White: Wholeness. This is meant to represent aroaces who are "aplatonic, nonamorous, or otherwise not seeking a committed partnership", and also "how we are all whole people on our own".[15]
- Yellow: Love and relationships that exist outside of more conventional ideas of romantic and sexual relationships.[15]
- Orange: Community. Similar to the use of blue on this flag, orange is in between purple and green, for asexual and aromantic respectively. This represents "both the unity of ourselves as aroaces as well as our places in both the aro and ace communities".[15]
An older aroace flag design
There are other alternative designs used as the aroace flag, most of which are some combination of the individual aromantic and asexual flags. In addition, some of these designs were also created before the sunset aroace flag.[16] An example of this is the design shown to the right, which was published on December 6, 2016.[17]
Media
Literature
- Nadia Van Dyne from Marvel Comics[18][19]
- Gwenpool from Marvel Comics[20][21][19]
- Jughead Jones from Archie Comics
- Sir Dinadan from the Arthurian legends
Public Figures
- Alice Oseman[22]
- Jaiden from Jaiden Animations[23]
Television
- Lilith Clawthorne from The Owl House[24][25]
- Alastor from Hazbin Hotel[26]
- Peridot from Steven Universe[27]
- Edd from Eddsworld[28]
- Isaac Henderson from Heartstopper[29]