#aro week
ASAW 2021 - Feb 24th
Alloaro Advocacy
We Are More Then Just Valid. We Are More Then Just A Part Of A Broader Community. We Are Alloaro. We Are Here.
Probably one of the biggest things I believe the aspec community as a whole needs to work on is alloaro advocacy and awareness. I have talked about it many times before, but community lean is heavily in favor of aces and aroaces at the moment, which alienates a large part of us from discussion and community development. Aspec stands for Ace Spectrum AND Aro Spectrum, so it should accommodate all identities under those two highly diverse Spectrums equally. Here are some things that would benifit alloaro’s in the community that are sorely needed.
Spaces To Express Our Allosexuality
Imagine being in a community you no doubt belong to, and yet having nothing in the way of access to spaces where you can express yourself. Allosexuality is a big part of alloaro expression, and aromanticism is very different when frames by Allosexuality and not Asexuality. We need spaces where we feel comfortable enough to talk about experiences and feelings. Spaces we currently don’t have, because of the overwhelming anxiety that talking about our sexuality will alienate us further in our own community.
Curbing The Communities Sex-Negative Attitude
I am going to be very blunt with this one. There is a big difference between being Sex-Repulsed and shaming others for their allosexuality. Its rarely overt, but it still happens in aspec spaces. The constant degrading of allosexuality by aces and aroaces, and placement of romantic attraction (and more specifically a lack of sexual attraction) above allosexuality. Not only is this damaging to alloaro’s, but also sex-positive aces who also get drowned out under the deluge of negativity.
Boosting Alloaro Voices
Say it with me now. “That’s so valid”. The sentiment is appreciated, but here is the thing. We shouldn’t have to be told we are valid. We should feel validated by the community. One of the best ways to do this, is boosting alloaro voices. Don’t talk over us in issues that involve us. Invite alloaro’s to express their experiences and issues with the community themselves and don’t settle for second hand representation through other identities. Prove to us we are valid, beyond saying a single sentence and standing in the background.
These are just 3 examples things that can be done to boost Alloaro Advocacy in the community, but there are plenty more things that can be done. If you take anything away from this post, let it be this. Just like I said in the beginning, Aspec stands for Ace and Aro. All identities under both spectrums should be recognized equally. Alloaro’s. Alloaces. Aroaces. Anyone in those spectrums deserves to be recognized.
Balthazar, Lord Of The Aromantics, wishes you a happy Aromantic Awareness Week
HAPPY AROMANTIC AWARENESS WEEK!!!!
This is a message to all us aro’s out there. This week is about us. Its our time to shine and kick amatonormativity in the shins! I take a lot of pride in being aromantic and you should too. We aren’t broken or heartless, we have emotions and goals and lives. We are more then just a valid part of this community, we ARE thie community! So happy Aro Week yall, and as always, No Romo
OF COURSE this includes:
Asexual Aros
Allosexual Aros
Trans Aros
Nonbinary Aros
Lesbian Aros
Gay Aros
Bisexual Aros
Pansexual Aros
Autistic Aros
Disabled Aros
Aros of Color
Closeted Aros
Out and Proud Aros
Romance-Repulsed Aros
Romance-Indifferent Aros
Romance-Favorable Aros
Younger Aros
Older Aros
Christian Aros
Muslim Aros
Jewish Aros
Aros of All Faiths
Aros across the Ace-Spectrum
Aros Across the Aro-Spectrum
All yall are valid and beloved <3
IT’S HERE, IT’S THE ARO AWARENESS WEEK!! I HOPE Y'ALL AROS/GREYS/DEMIS ROMANTIC COOL PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT WEEK ️
Some sceneries inspired by aro flag palettes!
Feel free to use, credit appreciated ;)
A Loveless Fairy Tale
This is kind of a personal project of mine! I wasn’t sure if I would ever publish it, but I also really want feedback on it. The main idea was to create a fairy tale with an aromantic character as the protagonist, and make it relevant to the story.
So I made up this little tale about love, beauty, and understanding.
Details are left ambiguous since the goal was to write a fairy tale, also known as something easily reinterpreted and transformed while maintaining the core intact. I wrote it in one go about a year ago and I tried to correct some mistakes before putting it out there, tho some may have slipped under the radar.
A warning before you read, there is some arophobic comments.
Long ago, there existed a beautiful place where riches and splendours lined the walls. Many sought it out, looking for fortune, fame, and sometime love, as the place was rumoured to be inhabited by the most beautiful creatures you could lay eyes upon. But despite all its allure, the place was cursed, few returned alive and even fewer sane. For this place was a trap, laid by a deity that was fueled by mankind’s adoration of itself. Trapped in luxury, surrounded by splendours and even the shadows of past loves, they willingly stayed in the illusion, feeding the creature and making it’s power more potent. With time, the reputation of this place as cursed settled, and instead came warriors seeking to defeat the beast lurking the walls. None succeeded, tempted by what the deity offered them.
One day, a warrior came to seek the deity. They remained unfazed by their illusions and trickery, and finally confronted the entity. They had not come here with the intention to fight it or rob it. But to negotiate, to free its victim and end its reign. The deity was intrigued by this strange person. They had not succumbed yet, but it was only a matter of time as its power was great and it appreciated a challenge. It had corrupted the mind of many already, this one shall be no exception.
It tried appealing to their greed, but the warrior had been a simple labourer, happily satisfied with what few they owned. It tried appealing to their sloth, but they couldn’t imagine a day where they wouldn’t want to create and make things on their own. it tried appealing to their lust, but they remained unfazed as the entity showed them beautiful men and women aplenty. It was growing impatient. It was beauty incarnate, and no one could not love it. Adore it. But it had a trick even the strongest mind could not resist. Invading their mind, it saw the people they cared about, the people they loved. And it took their form. Before the warrior’s eyes, people from their simple life started appearing. Their parents and neighbours, their childhood friends. But the warrior saw through its tricks. For it had rendered them beautiful, perfect, hollow.
It grew frustrated, trying everything in its power to sway them, but they did not falter.
“I AM BEAUTY” it screamed, “and I will make you adore me”
“You are not. You’re hollow. You do not understand true beauty” spoke the warrior.
The deity grew angry at this, and it considered trying to kill them and be over with it. But it’s ego was great, and it had been hurt. How could somebody not love it? Surely they must be a heartless monster. But it wanted, no it Needed to be Adored by All. and so it talked with the warrior, asking them about what they found beautiful. The warrior explained how they found imperfections beautiful, how the quirks of something rendered it unique. They talked about the beauty of actions, of landscapes, of words, of arts. And so the entity tried to lure them with what it had learned they found beautiful. But it never worked.
The deity started following the warrior, obsessed at the idea of making them love it. The warrior was happy with this, as others were finally freed from its reign. Slowly, it became more agreeable, nicer, focusing on actions and words rather than appearances. It took the form of a plain person instead of a magnificent one. It began noticing imperfections and appreciating them instead of trying to get rid of them. It was learning how to love, and it was starting to fall in love with the warrior. They had spent months together, and the deity had fallen completely for them. It had become beautiful in a true way, and people started adoring it for what it was. It did not need traps and illusions to get what it wanted. But one thing still resisted its beauty. The warrior did not desire it. It tried everything to make them love it, but they never would admit to it, and it never felt that they loved it the way others did. It grew frustrated again, being loved by all but the one it loved.
“I am beautiful now”
“You are”
“Then why don’t you love me?”
“I do not love anyone, not my parents, not my neighbours, not my friends, and not even you.”
The entity got scared. It had been right.
“You must be a heartless monster, not loving anyone like you do.”
“I do not love people, but I find them beautiful. I enjoy their company and their presence, their impact on the world and how they make it even more beautiful by existing.”
“Then you do love them”
“I do not. I appreciate them in my own way. Many do not understand how, I don’t expect you to”
“I want you to appreciate me even if I don’t understand you”
“I already do”
And so the deity started noticing how they had been treating it, the gestures, the gifts and the time they had spent together, and it saw that they truly did appreciate it, in this special way that they refused to call love. And it was happy.
They lived happily ever after, spreading kindness and beauty wherever they went.
The end! For now.
Here we go again! It’s AroSpec Awareness Week!
You can go check out my blog for more info! I made many posts last year, and will probably do the same this year.
Image ID under the cut
[Image ID: Five digitally drawn pictures. They all have a green gradient background that fade into each other.
Image 1: A simple cartoon character with short brown hair, white skin and green cheeks. They’re dressed in the colors of the aro flag (green, light green, white, grey, black). They’re gesturing towards a central text in capital handrawn white letter that reads “It’s time for Aro-Spec Awareness Week 2022”. Another text typed in black says “From Feb 20th Until Feb 26th”. Two white arrows are at the bottom of the image as decorations.
Image 2: The text is divided into three blocks and reads: “What does aro-spec mean ? It’s short for "aromantic spectrum”. Arospec people don’t experience romantic attraction, or experience it differently.“ aromantic spectrum is written in green, romantic attraction is written in a dark red, and the rest is black. The same character previously described is standing on the right of the text as if they were saying the words. They’re drawn a second time underneath the text, holding a green umbrella while saying "It’s an umbrella term!”. The same two white arrows are at the bottom of the image as decorations.
Image 3: The text reads: “However, arospec and acepec are two different experiences. Not every aro is ace, not every ace is aro. That distinction between romantic and sexual attraction is based on the SAM! (Split Attraction Model)”. The words are typed in black except for the word aro which is green, and the word ace which is purple. A handwritten note on the side reads: “It can be used by anyone too!”. The character is at the bottom of the screen and says in parenthesis: “Tho there are non SAM aro out there”. The same two white arrows are at the bottom of the image as decorations.
Image 4: The image is filled with text with the exception of the character’s head poking out of the bottom. It says in a handwritten white text: “Transcript at the end”. At the top of the image is written “Some Vocabulary for the road:”. Underneath is a list of terms in bold capital letters and their definition. “Allo: Being non-aro (alloromantic) or non-ace (allosexual)” ; “Amatonormativity: The assumption that everyone must want a lifelong monogamous romantic and sexual relationship.” ; “Romance Repulsed/Favorable: How someone feels about romance! Some aro do like romance, others want nothing to do with it, and some are neutral.” ; “QPR: Queer Platonic Relationship! An unique kind of commitment, determined by the people in it.”
Image 5: The character is sitting on the decorative arrows at the bottom of the panel. White text above and next to them read: “This has been a brief introduction! There’s a lot more to learn… so follow ASAW and be aware of your local aros! Thanks for reading!”
End ID]
It’s aromantic awareness week!
An aromantic person is someone who doesn’t feel romantic attraction. This is the briefest description ever though, so if anyone wants to know more about it just shoot me a message and I’d be happy to answer any questions!
Note: Obviously not all aromantic people value friendship or other relationships more than alloromantic people (people who DO feel romantic attraction), and those aro people are just as valid and nice! <3
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yes yes i am coming out of hibernation to say: happy aro week to anyone who it applies to :)
This week is Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week ! Or aro week for short
If you didn’t know, I’m aroace ✨
If you have any questions, I’ll gladly answer them !
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Babe wake up, its aro week
Happy aro week, I hope all aros commit some extra special acts of vandalism and arson this week
It’s time
ALTCustom design for a customer who requested for Aroace pride kawaii cats on pancakes - see 2nd image.
Do we have any aroace in here?
Letme know if you love this design. I’ll be happy to make it available for you at irenekohstudio.com if you do.
xoxo
Irene
February’s WritingTipWed! Every Wednesday I post a writing tip on my Twitter! If you want to see these weekly, follow me @/EmilyLaJaunie.
～✦～✦～✦～✦～✦～✦～✦～✦～✦～✦～
#WritingTipWed 29 - While it can be frustrating, it’s perfectly normal to keep rewriting your story before it becomes the first draft. Major world/character changes are often the cause and this will inevitably make your story better in the end.
#WritingTipWed 30 - When writing about love, try not to prioritize romantic love over platonic love. Don’t fall into the tired trap that friendship is below/lesser than romantic relationships.
#WritingTipWed 31 - Authors should support authors, but we don’t always know the best way, especially for minorities. It’s #BlackHistoryMonth, so here is an article to explain 10 Ways to Support Black Authors.
#WritingTipWed 32 - It’s#AromanticSpectrumAwarenessWeek! The aro character I want is the one whose partner is also fine with not making anything a “date”, not doing generic romantic gestures, and needing alone time. Add what you want to see!
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Post 6 (Final Post): Have Pride!
I made a aromantic/arospec icon and banners that are free to use and I would love for you to @ me if you use them!
I also posted some Aromantic Arrow Stickers on my etsy shop!
And always remember that it’s okay if you’re not comfortable with displaying your pride flag or just don’t want to. All that matters is that you have pride in who you are and you remember to love yourself, and that you are loved.
This has been an amazing Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2021
I will continue to spread awareness and positivity about aros as part of my blog so stay tuned!
Post 1: It’s a Spectrum;Post 2: Aromantics Aren’t Broken;Post 3: What Not To Say to Aros;Post 4: Aros Are Awesome; Post 5: What Is My Aromantic Label?
[ID: Six images each comprised of overlayed, semi-transparent rectangles and lines to create a square and diamond multi-colored pattern. Last image is six arrows arranged in two columns. All arrows have six rectangle feathers at one end. The first arrow on each column in diagnoal with a banner wrapped around it, the top and bottom of the banner fanning out. The words “Aro” and “Adored” on the top and bottom banner respectively. The second arrow, instead of a straight stick, has a heartbeat pattern (the line fluctuates up and down growing larger toward the middle) with an heart in the middle. The third arrow is a straight lined arrow with a hollow heart in the middle. The fourth is the same except there is a gap between the top left side of the heart and the stick, and a gap between the bottom right of the heart and the stick. All these are on a semi-transparent constellation and ghost background. End description.]
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Post 5: What Is My Aromantic Label?
This is a brief/incomplete guide. Visit lgbta.wikia.org/wiki/Aromantic_Spectrum to learn more and find more labels!
Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2021
Each day I’ll be posting something to spread awareness and positivity about aros!
Post 1: It’s a Spectrum;Post 2: Aromantics Aren’t Broken;Post 3: What Not To Say to Aros; Post 4: Aros Are Awesome; Post 6 (Final Post): Have Pride!
[ID: A infographic with arrows pointing to rounded corner blocks that have the name and definition of a aromantic spectrum label based on factors and yes/no questions. From the title block “What is my aromantic label?” four arrows point to four blocks, two on each side. First block on the left is “Alicoromantic: I know I’m somewhere on the Aro-spec but no Aro-spec label fits or I don’t know which Aro-spec fits me best”. Second block, below first, is “Aroallo: I am aro or aro-spec and also allosexual (not asexual)”. On the right the first block is “Greyromantic: I relate with aromanticism, yet feel there are parts of my experience that aren’t fully described by the word aromantic”. Second block, below first, is “Quoiromantic: I challenge or reject romantic orientation as not personally useful, don’t know my romantic orientation, or don’t want to define my orientation”.
From the title block an arrow points upward to “Am I repulsed by/aversed to romance?”. “Kinda” points upward to “Acoromantic: I want to act on my romantic attraction but I have a strong aversion to do so because of apprehension or bad experiences with romantic relationships or activities”. “Yes” points to the right, then up, then right again to two blocks, with “or” in between them (all multiple blocks have “or” between them). First block is “Apothiromantic: I am romance repulsed, either for myself or in general. I don’t seek out romantic relationships and dislike romantically coded acts like kissing or cuddling”. Above it, second block is “Omniaromantic: I do not feel romantic attraction under any circumstances, I am not interested in engaging in romantic activities or relationships, and I don’t wish to talk about romance or romantic activities”. “No” points to the left to “Do I desire romantic relationships?”. “Yes” points up to “Cupioromantic: I do not experience romantic attraction but I still desire a romantic relationship. I may also sometimes feel romantic attraction but want a relationship even without that attraction”. “No” points to the left, then up, then to the right, and then down to two blocks. First block is “Aegoromantic: I enjoy the concept of romance but have a disconnect between myself and romance. I enjoy romance in media, but don’t desire a relationship. My romantic fantasies may be viewed from a third-person perspective where I’m just a disembodied observer”. Second block is “Bellusromantic: I am interested in traditionally romantic activities, like kissing/cuddling, but not in the context of a romantic relationship.
I don’t feel romantic attraction and don’t want a romantic relationship”.
From the title block an arrow points downward to “Dependent romantic attraction” which an arrow then points to the right to “Aliquaromantic: I only experience romantic attraction under certain circumstances. This can be considered an umbrella term”. Arrow points down to “Is my attraction dependent on other’s feelings?” and “Yes” points downward to three blocks. First block is “Apresromantic: I experience romantic attraction only after another attraction is felt, such as platonic, aesthetic, sensual, and/or sexual attraction”. Second block is “Demiromantic: I don’t experience romantic attraction until I have formed a deep emotional connection (platonic, sexual, or other) with someone”. Third block is “Frayromantic: I only experience romantic attraction towards those that I am not deeply connected with, and I lose that attraction as I get to know the person”. “No” points to left and then down to three blocks. First block is “Lithromantic: I may experience romantic attraction but I do not want it reciprocated, and I am uncomfortable at the thought of someone being romantically attracted to me”. Second block is “Proculromantic: I only feel romantic attraction to those who I can never be in a relationship with, such as fictional characters, or celebrities”. Third block is “Recipromantic: I do not experience romantic attraction unless I know that the other person is romantically attracted to me first”. From title block an arrow points down and then left to “Fluctuating aromanticism” and another arrow points to three blocks below it. First block is “Aroflux: My romantic orientation fluctuates but generally stays on the aromantic spectrum. I may feel very strongly aromantic one day and less aromantic another day”. Second block is “Aro-jump: I am normally alloromantic, but I experience sudden and intense brief spikes of aromanticism before returning just as suddenly to my normal alloromanticism”. Third block is “Arospike: I experience rare and sudden spikes of romantic attraction for a varied amount of time (one day to months) before returning to my normal level of aromanticism”.
In the middle of the infographic at the top there is a block titled “Neurodivergent”. Arrow points up to “Arovague: My orientation is partially or fully influenced by my neurodivergency”. From main block arrow points right, then up, and then right again to “Nebularomantic: I can’t distinguish the difference between romantic and platonic attraction”. “Neurotypical?” points downward to “Platoniromantic”. From main block arrow points down to “Requisromantic: I have limited or no romantic attraction, interest, or activity due to emotional exhaustion from romantic experiences, dealing with romance, or from something else that is emotionally draining”. End description.]
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Post 4: Aros Are Awesome
A reminder to all my fellow aros! We are amazing!
Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2021
Each day I’ll be posting something to spread awareness and positivity about aros!
Post 1: It’s a Spectrum;Post 2: Aromantics Aren’t Broken; Post 3: What Not To Say to Aros; Post 5: What Is My Aromantic Label?; Post 6 (Final Post): Have Pride!
[ID: Three horizontal arrows in a stacked formation with a phrase coming up from the top of each arrow. 1st phrase: Aros are awesome. 2nd phrase: Aros are adored. 3rd phrase: Aros are amazing. End description.]
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Post 3: What Not To Say To Aros
Don’t ever say these things to an aromantic, but also to people in general when talking about romance/dating.
Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2021
Each day I’ll be posting something to spread awareness and positivity about aros!
Post 1: It’s a Spectrum; Post 2: Aromantics Aren’t Broken; Post 4: Aros Are Awesome; Post 5: What Is My Aromantic Label?; Post 6 (Final Post): Have Pride!
[ID: Three statements on what not to say to aros.
1. You just haven’t fallen in love yet. This is a dismissive/invalidating statement. just like allos can want to date after seeing people dating in media/real life, aros can know they don’t feel romantic attraction/want to date.
2. You’ll find the right one eventually. This a dismissive/invalidating statement. you are equating an aro’s lack of romantic attraction/desire to find a partner to them not meeting “the one” yet. There is no such thing as “the one”; no one is made for another person. Aromanticism is not something to be “cured” by a “special someone”. It is an orientation that doesn’t need to be fixed.
3. You’ll change your mind. This a dismissive/invalidating statement. While it is perfectly normal for an aro’s aromanticism to fluctuate, it is not for you to decide/assume that it will and it is certainly not up to you to decide that an aro will stop being aro after XYZ. Aromanticism is not a phase. End Description.]
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Post 2: Aromantics Aren’t Broken
There’s nothing wrong with not wanting a romantic partner. Having a life partner isn’t required to be happy or to have a fulfilling life. What other’s assume will make you happy may only make you miserable. Do what makes you happy and comfortable.
Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2021
Each day I’ll be posting something to spread awareness and positivity about aros!
Post 1: It’s a Spectrum; Post 3: What Not To Say to Aros; Post 4: Aros Are Awesome; Post 5: What Is My Aromantic Label?; Post 6 (Final Post): Have Pride!
[ID: There is a vertical two-headed arrow splitting the image into two sections. Both sections have a title with three statements underneath it; statements are separated by a small heart in the middle. The smaller section on the left is titled “Broken”. First statement is “A romantic relationship is the ultimate life goal”. Second is “You can’t be happy without a partner.” Third is “Assuming all attraction is romantic/sexual.” The larger right section is titled “Not Broken”. First statement is “Being happy with yourself is the ultimate life goal.” Second is “Being happy being single/with your friends.” Third is “Aesthetic, Platonic, Alterous and Sensual Attraction exist.” End Description.]
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Post 1: It’s a Spectrum!
Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week!
Each day I’ll be posting something to spread awareness and positivity about aros!
Post 2: Aromantics Aren’t Broken; Post 3: What Not To Say to Aros; Post 4: Aros Are Awesome; Post 5: What Is My Aromantic Label?; Post 6 (Final Post): Have Pride!
[ID: Text at the top reads: In the Aromantic Spectrum the attitude towards romance varies from person to person. There is a two-headed arrow with a heart on either end and in the middle below the top text. A line descends from each heart to just above the text below it. Text on the left reads: Romance-repulsed; romance or romantic activities are disgusting, revolting, or otherwise uncomfortable for themselves and/or in general. Text in the middle reads: Romance-neutral; no strong feelings about romance one way or another for themselves and/or in general. Text on the right reads: Romance-positive; enjoys romance and romantic activities for themselves and/or in general. End description.]
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