#nonpartnering
I think one thing that’s always bothered me with aromantic representation in fanfiction is that one, it’s extremely limited because fanfiction is highly romance-focused (especially with queer romance), and two, most aromantic rep I see in fanfiction is in the form of queerplatonic relationships. Which QPRs are great! They’re fantastic! But it gets to be a problem when it’s the only form of representation we have.
Because there are so many aromantic people out there who don’t want to be in a relationship, who don’t see the merit in being in a QPR, who may oppose or may even be downright repulsed by the thought of being in any kind of relationship with other people. And sometimes, I feel like allos put aros in QPRs because it’s still a relationship and they can “love in other ways”.
I guess I’m trying to say is that in a way, having our only representation be queerplatonic relationships feels… isolating, because it makes it seem like we still have to be in a close relationship, just not in a romantic one. It makes it seem like nonamorous, non-partnering, and loveless aros don’t exist. I don’t feel seen. In a way, if putting aromantic characters in QPRs is the standard for aro fanfiction, isn’t that just another brand of amatonormativity?
Maybe someone else can word this more eloquently, but those are just my thoughts on it.
