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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network

@aroaceresearch.bsky.social

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The interdisciplinary Aro/Ace Research Network brings together scholars across Europe working on aromanticism and asexuality.

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 3d

We are thrilled to introduce the Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network this #AceWeek! The network is based at @clsrleeds.bsky.social in the UK and brings together researchers who are working on #asexuality and #aromanticism.

🔗Find out more at aroaceresearch.com

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Reposted by Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network

Caleb Ward @calebw.bsky.social · 1d

It’s Ace Week, and I want to say that one thing I’ve been happy to see in the past few years is how Audre Lorde’s erotic has become a resource for thinking asexual/aromantic embodiment and experience. ♠️

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Read @lukebrunning.bsky.social‘s take on why it is important to have a research network for #asexuality and #aromanticism here 👇

Luke Brunning @lukebrunning.bsky.social · 2d

Why do we need an asexuality and aromanticism research network like @aroaceresearch.bsky.social? Here are some reasons 👇🏻

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

„I want to better understand what attraction is, what its variants are, how (if at all) it might fit into a good life, and whether the notion of a distinctly ‘romantic’ intimacy has a stable meaning.“

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

„My own research has touched upon desire and attraction, and the ways asexual and aromantic lives are often excluded by philosophical theories of attraction.“

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

„A network like this will help catalyse new research into asexuality and aromanticism. Deeper understanding of both communities, and their diverse experiences, enables us to address the longstanding injustice they face.“

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

„I joined the network since research in this area is sorely needed. Sharing and collaboration always produce better work, and help dive research into unexpected and exciting directions.“

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Introducing: Dr Luke Brunning

@lukebrunning.bsky.social is a philosopher at the University of Leeds and co-organiser of @clsrleeds.bsky.social working on topics related to intimacy, relationships and ethics.

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

„My own research is on the philosophical dimensions of asexuality and aromanticism and how these concepts challenge our social norms around love, sexuality, and relationships, and it has been great to see how many people are out there working on aro/ace topics from different perspectives.“

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

“I believe #aromanticism and #asexuality have an important role to play in how we think about love, sexuality and relationships. But I found it hard to find research and others working on these topics. So I set up the network to build a supportive research community and collaborate with others.“

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Introducing: Kristin Käuper

@kristin-kaeuper.bsky.social is a PhD student in philosophy @clsrleeds.bsky.social. They founded the Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network at the start of their PhD to connect with others working on those topics.

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Compulsory sexuality (from compulsory heterosexuality) refers to the social norms and practices around the belief that sexuality and sexual attraction are a universal and necessary part of human existence, i.e. that everyone is and should be allosexual.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Amatonormativity refers to the social norms and practices around the belief that everyone should pursue and prioritize an (exclusive), long-term sexual-romantic relationship in their life as the ultimate goal.

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Alloromanticism
Someone is alloromantic (allo) when they experience romantic attraction towards others, i.e. are not aromantic. Alloromantic people can be asexual or allosexual.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Allosexuality
Someone is allosexual (allo) when they experience sexual attraction towards others, i.e. are not asexual. Allosexual people can be aromantic or alloromantic.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

The Split Attraction Model (SAM) distinguishes different forms of attraction, i.e. sexual, romantic, aesthetic attraction etc. It recognizes that sexual attraction is not the same as romantic attraction, and an individual's sexual orientation may differ from their romantic orientation.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

For example, this includes microlabels such as graysexual/romantic (experiencing attraction rarely or weakly), demisexual/romantic (experiencing attraction only after forming strong emotional bonds), and aegosexual/romantic (experiencing attraction that is disconnected from the self).

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Asexual/Aromantic Spectrum:
Asexuality and aromanticism are not concrete categories; they each describe an asexual and/or aromantic spectrum (together, the aspectrum) that covers experiencing attraction very rarely, only under specific circumstances, or with low or varying intensity.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Aromanticisms in the plural form include the plurality of aromantic subjectivities outside of the dominant white, Western understanding of sexual orientation.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Aromanticism in the singular form is a sexual orientation and identity. Someone is aromantic (aro) when they experience no romantic attraction towards others, or do so to a lesser or varying degree (see: aromantic spectrum).

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Asexualities in the plural form include the plurality of asexual subjectivities outside of the dominant white, Western understanding of sexual orientation.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Asexuality in the singular form is a sexual orientation and identity. Someone is asexual (ace) when they experience no sexual attraction towards others, or do so to a lesser or varying degree (see: asexual spectrum). It should be noted that sexual attraction is not the same as desire or libido.

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

#asexuality and #aromanticism are often misunderstood and the terms are complex to describe the distinct experiences of aro/ace people.

Here are some definitions as a starting point:

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

More information on the research our members are doing is available on the website: 🔗aroaceresearch.com (link in bio)

Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

Some shocking but not surprising facts from the Asexuality in the UK report:

Asexuals face considerable ignorance and potentially intolerance, with as many as with 1 in 4 believing that asexuality is a mental health issue, and 1 in 3 believing that it can be cured with therapy.

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Aromanticism & Asexuality Research Network @aroaceresearch.bsky.social · 2d

3. This is why we want to bring together researchers working on these topics to exchange ideas and research, create an academic community, and increase the visibility of aro/ace scholarship.

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