arospecawarenessweek

[arospecawarenessweek]

Arospec 🔀: Nakarai + Bellusromantic

Bellusromantic: an aromantic who has interest in doing traditionally romantic things (e.g. holding hands, dating, kissing) without being in a romantic relationship

[arospecawarenessweek]

by the way, if you're weird about aromantic heterosexual cisgender men, i kill you. if that man wants a purely sexual relationship with a woman and communicates that with her, and she agrees, hell yes. good for them. you have no right to be a bitch about that. that's frankly none of your god damn business. he's not "emotionally abusive" for wanting a specific type of relationship. you're being stupid and weird. and weirdly misogynistic, by assuming that women are inherently these helpless victims that have no agency or autonomy.

you're literally being the "the myth of consensual sex" meme when you talk shit about cishet aro men in purely sexual relationships with women.

[arospecawarenessweek]

nothing breaks my heart more than the way that even allo people who understand what aromanticism is view aromantic ideas as inherently having no value outside of the aromantic community. I’ve seen/heard allo people say things that clearly show that they view all aromantic insights/philosophies as only being useful to aromantic people. they respond to important and well thought out ideas with a statement about their own alloromanticism, as if to say “that’s great and all, but I’m allo, so it doesn’t have anything to do with me.” there is such much wisdom to be found in aromantic perspectives, and alloros at large are only ever half listening.

[arospecawarenessweek]

Here’s recommendation 6 of 8! #Aromantic participants from PRIDEnet’s community listening sessions in collaboration with ThePRIDEStudy shared their thoughts around representation of the #aromantic community in health research. #ASAW2025

Read more at pridenet.org/reports

[Image Description:

Image 1: A square graphic that reads “Recommendation 6: To ensure better representation of the aromantic community in health research, include aromantic community members from the beginning (e.g., study design) and engage them throughout, including sharing of results. Familiarize yourself with the terms used and discourse happening within the community.” The text is in a box bordered in green. Next the text is clipart of a doctor holding a clipboard with a thought bubble. Inside the thought bubble is the aromantic flag. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Based on responses from aromantic participants” with a green arrow pointing to the right.

Image 2: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “I think one of the big benefits is also tied to one of my concerns, but I've participated in this aro [aromantic] and ace [asexual] research at an academic level for a long time. Like at least five years that I've been doing these studies, and the majority of them, I never see the results. I never see what comes out of them. I never see what actually could help my community.  As a leader within my community and my section of the aroace [aromantic and asexual] community, [ ... ] it's just not - like, I just don't ever get to know what happened with that data.”   At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 3: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “... having that active social media connection that you're forming relationships with these people that you're studying, you know their terms, you know their concerns, and that they can also benefit from your work as well.” Next to the quote is a clip art of social media posts with the aromantic flag.  Under the quote is a black text box that reads: “Read more recommendations from aromantic participants at: PRIDEnet.org/reports.”  At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awarness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

End Image Description.]

[arospecawarenessweek]

Happy aro awareness week!

here is my 2023 aro week art! f2u as long as you include image description/alt text ^^

[ID: various aromantic user boxes. 1: green text reads “this user… aro awareness week edition!” The artwork is of a dragon with its wings, outstretched and colored with the aromantic flag colors. 2: text, “this user is aromantic.” Drawing of a yellow giraffe with an aro flag. 3: text, “this user is greyromantic.” Drawing of a cat, holding a grey romantic flag. 4: text, “this user is Demiromantic.“ Drawing of a deer and the Demiromantic flag. 5: text, “this user is Cupioromantic.“ Drawing of a pink cow and the cupioromantic flag. 6: text, “this user falls under the aro umbrella.“ Drawing of a dog, holding an umbrella with the arrow flag colors, raindrops with other aro, flags fall around them. End ID.]

[arospecawarenessweek]

Have a re-make of this animation of the AroAllo flag for aro-week! Less pixelated and a bit smoother, too :D

[arospecawarenessweek]

Explore recommendation 5 of 8 from PRIDEnet's community listening sessions in collaboration with ThePRIDEStudy! Aromanticism is not an issue to be fixed. Let’s affirm their experiences without pathologizing aromanticism. #ASAW2025

Read more at pridenet.org/reports

[Image Description:

Image 1: A square graphic that reads “Recommendation 5: Allow aromantic people to be seen as whole and complex and not as having an issue that needs to be fixed. Do not pathologize aromanticism. Understand that the layered identities and experiences of aromantic people may at times be related, but do not have causality relationships.” The text is in a box bordered in green. Next the text is clip art of a group of diverse people.  At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Based on responses from aromantic participants” with a green arrow pointing to the right.

Image 2: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “I'm very open about being disabled, and I have other conditions that cause me to lose consciousness. And my mental health was brought in, and my choice of how I partner was brought in to an assessment of my disabilities and of my chronic conditions because it was unfathomable that maybe these things were entirely separate. Because in the minds of the doctors, they'd stated things like, 'Well, maybe you don't like partnering because you have all of these chronic illnesses and they're all related, and you don't actually have your identity.' Rather, you're just ill and that makes it too hard for you to be partnering. Which personally doesn't apply to me, and it's incredibly difficult.”  At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report. 2024 January.

Image 3: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “I think, as a start, one of the main things is for people to actually know what aromanticism is because I feel like that's still a lot outside of the queer community. It's not well known or not known in the sense that we want to be known. As people kind of think of it as a problem or something to be fixed a lot of times, which can kind of lead to, you know, like, oh, you know, you have to go to therapy and fix this issue because you don't experience romantic love, that sort of thing.”  At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 4: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “ ... understanding that this is a real orientation and something that is not a problem to be solved, I think that's the main first step because that's still a big problem.”  Under the quote is a black text box that reads: “Read more recommendations from aromantic participants at: PRIDEnet.org/reports.”  At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PrideNet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

End Image Description.]

[arospecawarenessweek]

[Image description: black and white cartoon figure in a walking pose, holding one hand out with a finger up, shooting out a large aro flag beam that covers the left side of the image]

HAPPY AROMANTIC AWARENESS WEEK TO ALL THE HOTTEST BITCHES THAT CELEBRATE!!!

SHOUT WITH JOY! THE AROMANTIC BEAM BE UPON YE!!!

[arospecawarenessweek]

I just realized it’s Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW) so I just wanna shout out my fellow demiromantic peers!

You are still part of this community no matter how “invisible” you might be in the spectrum!

This message also goes out to any aroflux, frayromantic, grayromantic, Lithromantic, and recipromantic that may be reading this! You are just as important as the rest of the community, be proud! 💚🤍🩶🖤

[arospecawarenessweek]

Aromantic Fantasy Book Recs!

It's Aro Week, so here are a few of my favourites!

List:

The Bruising of Qilwa by Jamnia

Fire Becomes Her by Thor

Elatsoe by Little Badger

Kaikeyi by Patel

Tarnished are the Stars by Thor

The Once and Future Witches by Harrow

A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows by Bailey

Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty by Pearce (hiya, yours truly)

Also a couple more recent reads (I made the graphics a while ago):

City of Strife by Arseneault : a super epic fantasy series with great political drama & intricate worldbuilding

The Last Girls on Earth by Anderton : YA dystopian books that, although super short and exciting, have amazing character development

Pillow Forts and Hurricanes by Scialla : a short, fluffy NA book with a QPR

[arospecawarenessweek]

Check out recommendation 4 of 8 from PRIDEnet’s community listening sessions in collaboration with ThePRIDEStudy! See the diversity of thoughts and experiences of the #aromantic community around romantic attraction and partnership. #ASAW2025

Read more at pridenet.org/reports

[Image Description: 

Image 1: A square graphic that reads “Recommendation 4: Acknowledge the diversity in individual attitudes towards romantic attraction and partnership within the aromantic community with an increased awareness of the disparities that some individuals face associated with romantic attraction and/or partnering. Some aromantic people are in partnering relationships while others are not, which can have economic, medical and legal implications."The text is in a box bordered in green. Below the text are cliparts of, from left to right: a stack Yen bills, a medical report and a courtroom gavel. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Based on responses from aromantic participants” with a green arrow pointing to the right.

Image 2: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “...just the assumption that like, oh, of course you want this [romance] because it's totally normal to want this. Everyone wants this. And, yeah, it's awkward when you don't want that... I have the same thing in a very different problem in that I am an incredibly tactile person. I love nothing more than to cuddle and snuggle with people, and people see that and they're like, oh, well, I don't get it. You clearly like this person cause you're, like, sitting in their lap. And it's like, no, I just like hugs. So it's sort of the same idea of like, well, you did this in the past, so that doesn't make sense that you're aro [aromantic].” To the right of the text is a clipart of two blob-figures hugging. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 3: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “I feel like I am a queer person. I belong in queer spaces, but I am also sort of romance-repulsed, sort of sex-repulsed, and a lot of queer folks who are not aro [aromantic] or not ace [asexual], that's their safe space to be very, very open about their sexuality or their romantic attraction, and they deserve that space to be able to do that. So it's, yeah, it's hard to find sort of like what is that balance[...].” At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 4: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “Another thing that I would say is just the way that health insurance works in this country and how if you're going to get health insurance for a partner's employer, they'll typically want you to be married. I feel like the expansion of who we're able to include, like if we're under the system where we have to get healthcare through our employers, we should be able to elect people outside of our immediate family.” Under the quote is a black text box that reads: “Read more recommendations from aromantic participants at: PRIDEnet.org/reports.” To the right of this text is a clipart of a clipboard with a health insurance application. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

End Image Description.]

[arospecawarenessweek]

[Image description: two-part comic titled "Words people say arbitrarily like they only mean one thing (as usual)".

Top:

Taller person on the left: Don't you ever get sad that you'll never find true love?

Shorter person wearing aro flag on the right: What d'you mean?

Bottom:

Shorter person wearing aro flag on the right: I found true love the moment I was lucky enough to be born to a caring family. And time and time again every time I made a new friend. I think I'm good.]

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week is on again, so time for me to be annoying about wording again

[arospecawarenessweek]

Here’s part 3 of 8 from PRIDEnet’s community listening sessions in collaboration with ThePRIDEStudy: Do not conflate asexual orientation/identity with #aromantic orientation/identity. Check out these community quotes! #ASAW2025

Read more at pridenet.org/reports

[Image Description:

Image 1: A square graphic that reads “Recommendation 3: Do not conflate asexual orientation/identity with aromantic orientation/identity. In the care environment, this does not mean you should always address them separately. Since some people split their sexual and romantic attractions while others do not, people should be given the option to have them addressed separately or together.” The text is in a box bordered in green. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Based on responses from aromantic participants” with a green arrow pointing to the right.

Image 2: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “I'm aro allo [aromantic and allosexual*] and often get mistaken for aroace [aromantic and asexual*], even by health professionals, which sometimes means they don't think of certain sexual health needs I might have.” Under the quote are two text boxes with definitions. The first text box is green and reads: “*Allosexual (allo): Describes a person who experiences sexual attraction or is not on the asexual spectrum.” The second text box is grey and reads: “*Asexual (ace): Commonly describes someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction, abbreviated to ace.” At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 3: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “Honestly, the thing that I find most troublesome is when people, especially outside the community, but I've seen it from people in the community as well, assume that all aros* are like a subset of asexuality. And I have absolutely no beef with aroaces *. [ ... ] Trying to find any kind of representation, any kind of discussion around aromanticism that doesn't center asexuality in the broader society can be a little bit difficult.”  Under the quote is a text box with definitions that reads “aros: aromantic people. aroaces: people who are both aromantic and asexual.” The word “aros” is highlighted in green. The word “aroaces” is highlighted in grey. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

End Image Description.]

[arospecawarenessweek]

Is aro week the same time every year or does it change? I feel like I always miss it :/

It's the first full week (starting on a Sunday) after Valentine's Day, so it's the same time of the year but the dates will vary.

It happens to be a very busy time of the year for me, because here in Sydney, it's the first week of the Mardi Gras (Pride) season. 😅

[arospecawarenessweek]

i know aro week is still over a week away but this aro week please be inclusive of aroallos. pleasepleaseplease dont just acidentally turn this into aroace week.

[arospecawarenessweek]

For #ASAW2025, check out recommendation 2 of 8 from PRIDEnet’s community listening sessions in collaboration with ThePRIDEStudy. Hear directly from voices in the #aromantic community about their experiences in healthcare settings.

Learn more at pridenet.org/reports

[Image Description:

Image 1: A square graphic that reads “Recommendation 2: Health researchers and healthcare providers should educate themselves about aromanticism and the aromantic community to build trust and reduce the amount of emotional labor that some people experience in medical and health settings”. The text is in a box bordered in green. Under the text is clip art of two people, one of whom is using crutches, facing towards a person in scrubs and a lab coat. The medical professional has an attached speech bubble with an aromantic flag inside. At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Based on responses from aromantic participants” with a green arrow pointing to the right.

Image 2: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “I feel like I can’t be honest when asked about anything sexual/ romantic. I personally have no interest in either and never have, but I’ve had doctors say things like ‘you’re just waiting for the right person’ and I sort of vaguely go along with it since I think it makes the appointment easier so I can just get the checkup and then be done with it. I feel like if someone can’t be honest with healthcare providers, it leads to the potential for a medical issue to be overlooked.” At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 3: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “They see a medical solution when they hear about aromanticism and asexuality. As well as, of course, in the mental health field, saying, ‘Well, what can we do to get you out of that? How can we fix that?’ Which they’re not aware they’re performing conversion therapy because they don’t think of it the same way they would think of being gay. But that’s what we need, to have so much more education to be like, this is what you were saying when you were saying that to me.” At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

Image 4: A square graphic featuring a quote from a community listening session participant. It reads “And if I… press the little aromantic button, then maybe I would be like, maybe don’t ask if I have a significant other that they could call or ask if they could be, like, is there a family member or a friend instead? So, like if they have that little button thing, maybe it’s less like they’re gathering you’re information and, more like, this is for us to help you. How do you want it to pertain to how you want us to use it, that kind of thing.” At the top of the graphic are the words “Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, #ASAW2025”. At the bottom of the graphic is a text box with the PRIDEnet and AUREA logos. The logos are connected by the words “In collaboration with”. Next to this is another text box that reads “Stanford University School of Medicine and PRIDEnet. Community Listening Sessions with Aromantic People: Summary and Recommendation Report 2024 January.

End Image Description.]

[arospecawarenessweek]

The overlap in Aro Week and SoulAce day makes me feel kinda emotional I won't lie. With the antiblackness of the aspec community it can feel really bleak as a Black aspec. But knowing the Black aspec community is growing, knowing we're developing our own activism, and frameworks, knowing Black asexuality and Black aromanticism is becoming more visible and we're making a Black aspec culture brings me some hope.