Edge Rewrite
everything Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

// request.cf · coarse context

A page that knows where it met you.

Only coarse request metadata is shown. This demo does not display or persist visitor IP addresses.

Country
US
Cloudflare location
CMH
Connection
HTTP/2
Language
Not provided

Ray ID: a40de5f66f319de8

Jump to content

// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs aromantic asexuality a flower? No, it doesn't attract.

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Aroace)

Aromantic asexual
EtymologyThe combination of aromantic (aro) and asexual (ace) using the split attraction model
DefinitionThe lack of both romantic and sexual attraction to others
Abbreviations
Parent category
Other terms
Associated terms
Flag

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]

Just like asexuality and aromanticism, aro-ace identities exist on a spectrum.[5]

Over a quarter of asexual people also identify as aromantic, with just over 40% of aromantic people identifying as asexual. Aroace individuals may feel alienated from the broader LGBTQ community due to amatonormativity.

Community and symbols

The most popular aro-ace flag[citation needed] consists of five horizontal bars, including (from top to bottom) orange, yellow, white, and two shades of blue. Tumblr user aroaesflags designed the flag.[6] The two shades of blue represent the spectrum of aroace identities and experiences. White represents wholeness, yellow represents love and relationships outside of more conventional ideas of romantic and sexual relationships, and orange represents community. According to the creator, blue sits between aromantic green and asexual purple on the color wheel, while orange sits between green and purple in the opposite direction.[7][8]

The ace of spades playing card is also used as a symbol of aromantic asexuality, with the ace of hearts symbolizing romantic asexuality.[9][10]

Demographics

A 2020 study from the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that 26% of asexual people also identify as aromantic,[11] while the 2020 Asexual Community Survey found the overlap to be 29%.[12] The Aromantic Census, also in 2020, found that 42% of aromantic people also identified as asexual.[13]

Stigma and social invisibility

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, though this often reinforces feelings of loneliness.[14]

Many aro-ace people also struggle with amatonormativity and allonormativity, social assumptions that treat romantic and sexual attraction as more important and contribute to aro/ace erasure and stigma.[15][16][17]

Alice Oseman's graphic novel Loveless follows the story of Georgia, a college student discovering her identity as aromantic and asexual.[18] Oseman herself is aroace, and draws upon some of her experiences in the novel.[19]

References

  1. ↑
    • "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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Ace/ Aro Spectrum Definitions". OXFORD UNIVERSITY LGBTQ+ SOCIETY. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  6. ↑ "i originally sent this to the person ..." Tumblr. Archived from the original on 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  7. ↑ "What You Need To Know About The Aroace Flag". Gayety. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  8. ↑ "Aroace Flag Meaning: Colors, Hex Codes & Major Variations". 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  9. ↑ "Asexual symbol explained". Asexuals.net. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Williams, Isabel (28 July 2014). "ACE: Asexual Identities and Resource Guide". Campus Pride. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ Tessler, Hannah; Winer, Canton (1 November 2023). "Sexuality, romantic orientation, and masculinity: Men as underrepresented in asexual and aromantic communities". Sociology Compass. 17 (11). Wiley-Blackwell: 1–20. doi:10.1111/soc4.13141. ISSN 1751-9020. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  13. ↑ Tessler & Winer 2023, pp. 6–7.
  14. ↑ "Aromantics & Asexuals - The AroAce Identity". Counseling Schools. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  15. ↑ cline, nicholae. "Library Research Guides: Asexuality: Home". guides.libraries.indiana.edu. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
  16. ↑ "Creating Change 2021 – Amatonormativity and Relationship Anarchy – The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project". 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
  17. ↑ "AUREA - Amatonormativity 101". AUREA. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
  18. ↑ Knight, Lucy (19 November 2022). "Heartstopper author Alice Oseman: 'If you don't have sex and romance, you feel like you haven't achieved'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  19. ↑ Knight 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aromantic_asexuality&oldid=1376434123"