Dating and being in a relationship might seem like a universal desire. But what if it doesn’t interest you? You might be aromantic. If you aren’t sure how to tell, take the quiz we made for you. Read on if you want to know what being aromantic means and what are the signs of being aromantic.

Aromantic – what is that?

Aromantic describes a person who experiences little to no romantic attraction. Aromantic people feel emotionally fulfilled without a romantic relationship. They find it challenging to feel the emotional connection required to build a romantic relationship and have no interest in such a relationship. They can still feel love, just in different forms.

Am I aromantic or traumatized? Some people are convinced that if someone identifies as aromantic or asexual, that must mean they are traumatized or otherwise hurt. However, it’s simply not true!

Being aromantic

Being aromantic does not equal being asexual. An asexual person typically doesn’t have sexual desire. Some people might only experience it when a strong emotional connection is present. Others feel it sometimes or never at all. Am I Aromantic?

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Identify

People can identify as both aromantic and asexual, but these two identities can also show up distinctly and separate for a person.

Feel

Aromantics can still feel sexual attraction, but it doesn’t culminate in a desire for a romantic connection. They prefer to maintain platonic relationships – for example, with family members or friends.

There are many misconceptions about aromanticism. Being aromantic doesn’t mean you don’t have feelings, you’re not capable of love, or you can never be in a relationship. It’s entirely possible for an aromantic person to build fulfilling connections with other people.

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How to tell if you are aromantic?

Here are a few signs that suggest you might be aromantic. Not all of them apply to every aromantic individual, but they could be a start to your self-identifying journey. Am I Aromantic?

You don’t experience romantic crushes. You never went through that phase of drawing hearts in your notebooks, butterflies in your stomach and sighing longingly when your crush passed you in the hallway. When your friends were talking about their infatuations, you felt left out, maybe even forced to lie about your romantic feelings. Am I Aromantic?

What human feeling do you think you are?

You don’t relate to romantic stories in films and books. You struggle to understand why the characters make life-changing decisions based on romantic love. Why aren’t they more pragmatic? You find these stories confusing. Am I Aromantic? You might also feel like romantic plots in media are boring or not needed.

You experience sexual attraction, but it’s disconnected from the concept of romance. For you, even a deep sexual connection doesn’t lead to a relationship. Am I Aromantic? You just don’t think about it that way.

You don’t have a desire to be in a romantic relationship. People around you actively look for “the one”, dream about their wedding day, and complain about being alone. However, that’s not your thing at all. Am I Aromantic?

You might still decide to date and enter into relationships, but for other reasons than romance. Perhaps your partner is a great platonic friend, they’re great in bed, or they provide you with financial stability. Romantic attraction is at the very bottom of things you desire in a relationship. Am I Aromantic?

You develop strong connections with other people, but don’t want to do things typically associated with romance (sharing a bed, holding hands, kissing, etc.). The definition of romantic behaviors might vary from person to person. Am I Aromantic?

Big romantic gestures don’t do it for you. If someone tries to woo you with hearts, flowers, and sappy monologues, it’s more of a turn-off for you than anything else. Of course, we all have different concepts of what is romantic, and what feels corny for you might be OK for someone else. Am I Aromantic?

Do you identify with any of these signs? It could mean you are on the spectrum. Aromanticism and asexuality are both considered asexual spectrum identities. Other identities on the spectrum include:

• Gray-romantic or gray-sexual – describes individuals who fall somewhere in the middle of aromantic and romantic or asexual and sexual. They only experience romantic or sexual feelings under certain conditions.
• Demiromantic or demisexual – refers to people who only experience romantic or sexual attraction after forming an emotional bond with someone.
• Lithromantic or akoiromantic – describes those who might feel romantic attraction towards another person but don’t want it reciprocated. Their feelings fade if that happens.
• Recipromantic or reciprosexual – refers to people who only experience a romantic or sexual attraction if they know the other person feels the same way.

Perhaps you’re not aromantic, but have a friend or a loved one who is. Are you wondering how you can support them? There are things you can do to be a supportive ally. Am I Aromantic?

Respect their romantic orientation. You might not fully understand what it means, but it’s a part of that person’s identity, it’s how they feel. Listen to what they have to say and try to be accommodating.

Don’t make assumptions and judgments. If you don’t understand something, it’s alright to ask questions, but be respectful. The person might not want to share, and they have the right to it. Request if it is okay for you to ask questions and learn more about them.

Don’t be dismissive. Remember that people understand themselves and their own emotions better than you ever will. Don’t disregard their feelings or insist that they change their minds. Don’t try to force people into romantic situations they don’t want to be in. Am I Aromantic?

Do you think you could be aromantic? We have just the right quiz for you. Take the test and see if you might be on the aromantic spectrum! Have fun!