History UsefulNotes / Aromantic

Aromantic people can and sometimes do engage in romantic relationships, whether attraction is there or not. Romance and dating can be fun, so regardless of any pull and attraction to any specific person, aromantics may choose to have romantic relationships. However, it is also true that aromantic people are less likely to prioritize romance the way alloromantics do. Aromantics are likely to fear being alone or loneliness, and being AloneAmongTheCouples.

Another relationship that is most recognized in the aromantic community and prized there is a queerplatonic or quasiplatonic relationship: a life partnership without romance that is also not quite friendship. While they may look like romantic relationships to alloromantic people,[[note]]People who experience romantic attraction[[/note]] many aromantics clearly distinguish the terms and relationships.

* CelibateHero: While this is also an UsefulNotes/{{Asexuality}} trope, the lack of romance inherent in most of these characters cause them to look a lot like aromantic characters.

Aromantic characters, like asexual characters, suffer a dearth of explicit representation, especially in mainstream media. When aromantics exist at all, they are often portrayed as cold, TheStoic, heartless individuals like the VillainousAromanticAsexual, or perhaps robots or aliens who don't quite understand love regardless. Nonetheless, plenty of real humans are aromantic, and not being romantically attracted to others impacts other emotions in no way.

* PragmaticPansexuality: Sleeping with someone that they're not actually interested in to further their own goals? If they're not interested in ''anyone'', they're likely to come across as aromantic and asexual (or even be aromantic and/or asexual canonically), especially a VillainousAromanticAsexual.

* VillainousAromanticAsexual: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: A character who feels neither sexual nor romantic attraction and is portrayed as monstrous, villainous, or otherwise heartless because of it.

* DidYouThinkICantFeel: In defiance of common assumptions, aromantic people have a full range of feelings and often have large, emotional hearts.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as grayromantic (which is also often used as the umbrella term for gray-spectrum romantic identities like demiromantic, which is when romantic attraction only occurs after an emotional bond has been formed) where attraction happens infrequently or in unexpected circumstances[[/note]], but while asexuality and aromanticism are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone who identifies with one term does not necessarily identify with the other. Aromantic individuals who still feel sexual attraction are referred to as "aromantic allosexuals", or "aroallo" for short.

While aromanticism has many shades of gray to it, including only experiencing romantic attraction after getting to know someone emotionally[[note]]demiromantic[[/note]] or intellectually[[note]]encephaloromantic, formerly known as sapioromantic[[/note]], romantic attraction that quickly fades[[note]]often a form of akoi or lithoromanticism, in which romantic attraction fades when reciprocated[[/note]], or exclusively to unavailable or fictional people[[note]]fictosexual[[/note]], fiction almost exclusively portrays aromantics as uninterested in romance and experiencing no attractions at all.

While aromanticism has many shades of gray to it, including only experiencing romantic attraction after getting to know someone emotionally or intellectually (demi or gray-romanticism), romantic attraction that quickly fades, or exclusively to unavailable or fictional people (akio and lithoromanticism), fiction almost exclusively portrays aromantics as uninterested in romance and experiencing no attractions at all.

While aromanticism has many shades of gray to it, including only experiencing romantic attraction after getting to know someone emotionally or intellectually, romantic attraction that quickly fades, or exclusively to unavailable or fictional people, fiction almost exclusively portrays aromantics as uninterested in romance and experiencing no attractions at all.

* CelibateEccentricGenius: Any character who eschews romance is likely to end up being called aromantic for one reason other another.

* IntentionalHeartbreaker: An unfortunate stereotype of aromantic people (and asexual people) is that they lead alloromantics on, oftetn by simply existing, while being uninterested in a romantic relationship.

This is a negative stereotype that hurts the community. Other common misconceptions of aromantic people include being friendless, as if romantic attraction is required to have platonic relationships as well, and being "boring" and incapable of meaningful relationships.

Since society is centered around building romantic partnerships for life and having children[[note]]This is known as "amatonormativity"[[/note]], life can be difficult for people uninterested in such things, especially if they remain single. While the negative stereotypes around lack of romantic attraction lead many aromantics to be asked constantly if they even have ''friends'', aromantic people have friends and often prioritize those relationships more highly than alloromantics, since they're less inclined to prioritize romance just because it is romance.

Since society is centered around building romantic partnerships for life and having children, [[note]]This is known as "amatonormativity"[[/note]] life can be difficult for people uninterested in such things, especially if they remain single. While the negative stereotypes around lack of romantic attraction lead many aromantics to be asked constantly if they even have ''friends'', aromantic people have friends and often prioritize those relationships more highly than alloromantics, since they're less inclined to prioritize romance just because it is romance.

Aromantics are likely to prioritize friendships more highly than those who are not. Another type of relationship that is most recognized in the aromantic community and prized there is a queerplatonic or quasiplatonic relationship: a life partnership of building a life and future together. While they may look like romantic relationships to alloromantic people,[[note]]People who experience romantic attraction[[/note]] many aromantics clearly distinguish the terms and relationships.

This is a negative stereotype that hurts the community. Other common misconceptions of aromantic people include being friendless, as if romantic attraction is required to have platonic relationships as well.

Aromantics are also likely to fear being alone or loneliness, and being AloneAmongTheCouples. Since society is centered around building romantic partnerships for life and having children, life can be difficult for people uninterested in such things, especially if they remain single.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as grayromantic (which is also often used as the umbrella term for gray-spectrum romantic identities like demiromantic, which is when romantic attraction only occurs after an emotional bond has been formed) where attraction happens infrequently or in unexpected circumstances[[/note]], but while asexuality and aromanticism are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone who identifies with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

[[caption-width-right:290:The aromantic pride flag]]

Aromantics are likely to prioritize friendships more highly than those who are not. Another type of relationship that is most recognized in the aromantic community and prized there is a queerplatonic or quasiplatonic relationship: a life partnership of building a life and future together. While they may look like romantic relationships to alloromantic people,[[note]]People who experience romantic attraction[[/note]] many aromantics clearly distinguish the terms.

Aromantics in fiction, when they exist at all, are often portrayed as cold, TheStoic, heartless individuals like the VillainousAromanticAsexual, or perhaps robots or aliens who don't quite understand love regardless. Nonetheless, plenty of real humans are aromantic, and not being romantically attracted to others impacts other emotions in no way.

Obviously, the list is not particularly long. Aromantic characters, like asexual characters, suffer a dearth of representation, especially in mainstream media. However, many creators, especially aromantic creators, are working to improve the representation and lengthen the list of tropes associated with it all the time.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as grayromantic (which is also often used as the umbrella term for gray-spectrum romantic identities like demiromantic) where attraction happens infrequently or in unexpected circumstances[[/note]], but while asexuality and aromanticism are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone who identifies with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as grayromantic (which is also often used as the umbrella term for gray-spectrum romantic identities) where attraction happens infrequently or in unexpected circumstances, and demiromantic, where romantic attraction ''only'' ever happens after an emotional bond has been formed[[/note]], but while they are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone who identifies with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

Aromantics are likely to prioritize friendships more highly than those who are not. Another type of relationship that is most recognized in the aromantic community and prized there is a queerplatonic or quasiplatonic relationship: a partnership involving creating a life together and building a future around one another. While they may look like romantic relationships to alloromantic people,[[note]]People who experience romantic attraction[[/note]] many aromantics will distinguish the terms.

Aromantics in fiction are, when they exist at all, often portrayed as cold, TheStoic, heartless individuals like the VillainousAromanticAsexual, or perhaps robots or aliens who otherwise don't quite understand love. Nonetheless, plenty of real humans identify with this identity, and not being romantically attracted to others impacts other emotions in no way. This is a negative stereotype that hurts the community.

* BetterAsFriends: Characters who have tried romance and decided they didn't like it may come across as aromantic.

* ConfirmedBachelor: A character who doesn't want to get married? Bingo, common among aromantics. Although many aromantics do get married (even if only for the tax benefits!) or have partnered relationships of some kind, characters who stay resolutely single often come across as aromantic.

* MistakenForRomance: Being mistaken for being in a romantic relationship is as common for aromantic people in real life as much as it is in fiction, especially aromantic people who are very close to their friends or have a QPP.

* UnwantedHarem: What kind of person wouldn't want a harem? The kind who isn't attracted to any of them.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as grayromantic (which is also often used as the umbrella term for gray-spectrum romantic identities) where attraction happens infrequently or in unexpected circumstances, and demiromantic, where romantic attraction ''only'' ever happens after an emotional bond has been formed[[/note]], but while they are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone identifying with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

* BetterAsFriends: Characters who have tried romance and decided they didn't like it may come off as aromantic.

* MistakenForRomance: Being mistaken for being in a romatnic relationship is as common for aromantic people in real life as much as it is in fiction, especially aromantic people who are very close to their friends or have a QPP.

* PlatonicLifePartners: This frequently appears to an aromantic audience like a Queerplatonic Relationship.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as demiromantic where attraction happens infrequently or in unexpected circumstances[[/note]], but while they are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone identifying with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities [[note]]such as demiromantic where attraction happens sometimes or in unexpected circumstances[[/note]], but while they are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone identifying with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

!! Tropes that may be associated with aromanticism include:

* ChasteHero: This trope and its place in portraying a character who is not in-tune with romance ''or'' sex, often makes them look like an aromantic asexual.
* ConfirmedBachelor: A character who doesn't want to get married? Bingo, common among aromantics. Although many aromantics do get married (even if only for the tax benefits!) or have partnered relationships of some kind, characters who stay resolutely single often come off as aromantic.

* MistakenForRomance: This is common for aromantic people in real life as much as it is in fiction, especially aromantic people who are very close to their friends or have a QPP.
* ObliviousToLove: Aromantics are often as unaware of romantic cues as asexuals are to sexual ones.
* PlatonicLifePartners: This often appears to an aromantic audience like a Queerplatonic Relationship.

Aromantic people are those who feel romantic attraction to others rarely, never, or only under specific circumstances, the same way UsefulNotes/{{Asexual}} people feel sexual attraction. This is a UsefulNotes/RomanticOrientation counterpart to asexuality, with the same spectrum of gray-spectrum identities, but while they are almost exclusively seen together in fiction, someone identifying with one term does not necessarily identify with the other.

Queerplatonic relationships are often abbreviated as "QPR" and queerplatonic partners are abbreviated as "[=QPPs=]." A queerplatonic partner may also be affectionately called a "Zucchini," but the term is not as common as it used to be.

Aromantics in fiction are, when they exist at all, often portrayed as cold, TheStoic, heartless individuals like the VillainousAromanticAsexual, or perhaps robots or aliens who would otherwise not quite understand love. Nonetheless, plenty of real humans identify with this identity, and not being romantically attracted to others impacts other emotions in no way. This is a negative stereotype that hurts the community.

Aromantics are likely to prioritize friendships more highly than those who are not. Another type of relationship that is most recognized in the aromantic community and prized there is a queerplatonic or quasiplatonic relationship: a partnerships involving creating a life together and building a future around one another. While they may look like romantic relationships to alloromantic people, many aromantics will distinguish the terms.

Queerplatonic relationships are often abbreviated as "QPR" and queerplatonic partners are abbreviated as "QPPs." A queerplatonic partner may also be affectionately called a "Zucchini," but the term is is not as common as it used to be.

* CelibateHero: While this is also an UsefulNotes/{{Asexuality}} trope, the lack of romance inherent in most of these character cause them to look a lot like aromantic characters.
* ChasteHero: Like the above, this trope and it's place portraying a character who is not in-tune with romance ''or'' sex, often makes them look like an aromantic asexual.

Aromantics in fiction are, when they exist at all, often portrayed as cold, TheStoic, heartless individuals like the VillainousAromanticAsexual, or perhaps robots or aliens who would otherwise not quite understand love. Nonethless, plenty of real humans identify with this identity, and not being romantically attracted to others impacts other emotions in no way. This is a negative stereotype that hurts the community.

Obviously, the list is not particularly long. Aromantic characters, like asexual characters, suffer a dearth of representation, especially in mainstream media. However, many creators, especially aromantic creators, are working to improve the representation and lengthen the list of tropes associated with it all the time.