Exploring Aromanticism Through an Online Qualitative Investigation With the Aromantic Community: "Freeing, Alienating, and Utterly Fantastic"

James A Fowler; Marini Mendis; Alex Crook; UnYoung Chavez-Baldini; Tabitha Baca; Judith A Dean

doi:10.1080/19317611.2024.2311158

Exploring Aromanticism Through an Online Qualitative Investigation With the Aromantic Community: "Freeing, Alienating, and Utterly Fantastic"

Int J Sex Health. 2024 Feb 14;36(1):126-143. doi: 10.1080/19317611.2024.2311158. eCollection 2024.

Authors

James A Fowler¹, Marini Mendis¹, Alex Crook², UnYoung Chavez-Baldini², Tabitha Baca¹, Judith A Dean^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
² Aromantic-Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (AUREA), Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
³ The University of Queensland, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Poche Cente for Indigenous Health, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Abstract

Objective: To explore what aromanticism is, common misconceptions about this identity, and the experiences people have connecting with an aromantic identity.

Methods: An online, international open-ended survey with a convenience sample of aromantic individuals (N = 1642) analyzed with thematic analysis.

Results: To identify as aromantic involves a spectrum of experiences with romance commonly tied to experiencing stigma. Connecting with an aromantic identity allows for a greater understanding of the self and a connection to a community.

Conclusions: Future research is needed to explore the experiences and perspectives of this community to gather better understanding of their needs and how to prevent/limit stigmatizing experiences.

Keywords: Aromantic; aromantic-spectrum; attraction; identity; qualitative.

Grants and funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.