ic t i s n a m ic t m o i s n r a a m m o f r o a e f o r e u r t u t c i c i p p a a g g n n i i t t n n i i a a PP Art and Writing by Kasey Liu
Hugging, kissing, gifting a box of chocolates. These are all actions associated with romantic relationships, but these actions provoke little to no romantic attraction for those on the aromantic spectrum. However, that doesn’t mean aromantic people don’t experience love at all. Alex Golding, a member of the San Mateo Pride Center team, shares his insight on the different types of attraction. “Connections to people are made up of many different aspects. Not all relationships have to involve having a romantic partner,” Golding said. Those on the aromantic spectrum can still have intimate relationships with others, such as platonic, spiritual, and familial relationships. For example, one may feel extremely close to their best friends or parents but not in a romantic manner. Additionally, although sexual and romantic attraction are often grouped together, it is essential to note that they are not the same. While sexual attraction delineates sexual interest, romantic attraction delineates a desire for romantic interaction. Aromanticism, often abbreviated as aro, describes feeling little to no romantic attraction. On the other hand, asexuality, often abbreviated as ace, describes feeling little to no sexual attraction. Though some may identify as aroace (both aromantic and asexual), not all aromantic people are asexual, and not all asexual people identify as aromantic. According to a 2019 study conducted by the UCLA Williams Institute, about 1.7% of United States adults identify as asexual. Of this 1.7%, according to a 2019 survey conducted by the Asexual Community Survey, 38.9% of asexuals identify on the aromantic spectrum. However, it is essential to note that very few studies are conducted on the asexual and aromantic communities, so these conclusions may not be representative of the population as a whole. A common identity on the aromantic spectrum is demiromantic, which describes people who can only experience romantic attraction after a strong emotional bond has been formed. Some may also identify as grayromantic, which describes those on the aromantic spectrum but do not fully identify with the aromantic label. Despite these labels, it can be a struggle to determine one’s place on the aromantic
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