What Does Aromantic Mean?

Our culture has some pretty clear ideas about love and romance. From the fairy tales we read as children to the endless stream of romance novels and even the Etsy witches promising to help you find your "one true love," the messaging is everywhere. But for a significant number of people, that narrative has just never fit. Let’s dive into what it means to be "Aro" and explore some of the identities within the aromantic spectrum.

What is Aromanticism?

Simply put, an aromantic person (or "aro") is someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction to others. While many people associate love strictly with romance, there are many different kinds of love, connection and attraction—including platonic, familial, alterous, sexual, aesthetic and more.

The Aromantic Flag

Visual symbols are a huge part of the LGBTQIA+ community. (Sidenote: if you’ve ever wondered about the "A" in that acronym, yep, it can stand for asexual, agender and of course: aromantic!)

The aromantic flag, created by Tumblr user @cameronwhimsy in 2014, uses specific colors to represent the nuances of the aro identity:

• Green and Light Green: These represent the aro-spectrum, covering every aro identity (including those that don’t have names yet).
• White: Represents friendship, platonic and aesthetic attraction, and the validity of all non-romantic forms of love.
• Grey and Black: These acknowledge the diversity of the spectrum—including demiromantic and greyromantic people—as well as the intersection of aros with asexual and allosexual (those who experience sexual attraction) identities.

The Aro Spectrum

Aromanticism is a very, very diverse spectrum. Also note that because romantic orientation is not the same as sexual orientation or gender identity, aromantic people can be of any gender and fall anywhere on the sexual spectrum.

Some arospec folk identify as greyromantic (experiencing romantic attraction rarely), while others are demiromantic (only feeling attraction after a deep emotional bond is formed). The flip side of demiromantic is lithromantic, where romantic attraction is felt initially, but fades after a bond has formed. 

Other folks identify as aroace—meaning they are both aromantic and asexual—while others may be allosexual, meaning they experience sexual attraction without the romantic component. There are many more identities under the aro umbrella, with new labels and definitions evolving as more people put words to their experiences.

This is also a good spot to point out that aro folks don’t necessarily despise romance. Some enjoy the idea of romance, others are indifferent and still others are repulsed by it.

No matter where on the spectrum one is, aromanticism isn’t "missing" something; it’s just a different way of experiencing the world and finding fulfillment outside of traditional romance. Whether you’re aroace, greyromantic, or simply someone who prioritizes platonic soulmates over grand romantic gestures, your way of connecting with others is valid. 💚

Wear Your Pride

For some people, wearing the flag’s colors is a way to find one another and celebrate an identity that is often overlooked, dismissed and misunderstood in mainstream culture. It’s a subtle "I see you" to others on the spectrum, a way to signal your pride to the world, or even just a personal, visual reminder to stay true to yourself.

At RMJ, we believe jewelry is a way to tell part of your story without saying a word. Our Aromantic Pride collection features hand-woven chainmaille in the green, white, grey, and black of the Aro flag. Whether you're looking for subtle earrings for everyday wear or a statement necklace for your next Pride event, we’ve crafted something for every part of the spectrum, and you can easily commission a new design if you don't see what you're looking for!