Member-only story
RELATIONSHIPS
What It Means To Be Aromantic — FYI, I’m Not
As in, Romance Doesn’t Float One’s Boat or Anything Else
First, let’s look at the Definition of “aromantic,” from the Oxford dictionary: a·ro·man·tic — /ˌārōˈman(t)ik/
Adjective: having no interest in or desire for romantic relationships — “I identify as an aromantic asexual.”
Noun: a person who has no interest in or desire for romantic relationships.
Women’s Health has a good introductory article on the subject, which you can read here. And WebMD has a similar article, if you want to browse. A really important thing to know is that there’s a difference between aromantic and asexual, as this article explains, and the two can, but do not always, overlap.
What’s also important to know is that the ability to have romantic feelings toward another person exists on a spectrum — it’s not all or nothing.
In an age of inclusivity, we all need to make room for people who are different from us. But we also need to do some self-exploration to find out where we exist on the romantic spectrum, and how our desires for romance might impact our relationships with others. Because, seriously, how can it not?
