Romantic orientation: Difference between revisions

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Affectional orientation (or romantic orientation) is used both alternatively and side-by-side with sexual orientation.^[1] It is based on the perspective that sexual attraction is but a single component of a larger dynamic. To holders of this view, one's orientation is defined by whom one is predisposed to fall in love with, whether or not one desires that person sexually. Lately, the predominant use of the term "sexual orientation" is considered to reduce a whole category of desires and emotions, as well as power and connection, to sex.

This is an important concept amongst the asexual community where it is often referred to as romantic orientation and the term affectional orientation is rarely used. It does however retain its separation from sexual attraction and as such is seen by many as an orientation within an orientation amongst the asexual community. Taking from the fact that amongst this community this is known as the romantic orientation, the prefixes of homo-, hetero-, bi-, pan-, poly-, demi- and a- have been used to form terms such as heteroromantic, biromantic and so on.^[2] It is a common term and part of every day conversation on the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) forums, and many members will refer to themselves as "[romantic orientation] asexuals".

However, some asexuals who identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bi or pan before asexual, or simply prefer that terminology, will sometimes refer to themselves as "straight asexual" or "asexual lesbian". This simply means the same thing as a "heteroromantic asexual" or a "homoromantic asexual." Each sexual orientation will generally have a romantic counterpart, for example "pansexual" becomes "panromantic" and "homosexual" becomes "homoromantic", adding the prefix of the sexual orientation onto the word "romantic".

One who lacks a romantic orientation, or is incapable of feeling romantic attraction, is known as aromantic. Aromantics can still have a sexual orientation (e.g., "aromantic bisexual" or "aromantic heterosexual"). A person who feels neither romantic nor sexual attraction is known as an aromantic asexual.

Identities

People may engage in purely emotional romantic relationships.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

aromantic: lack of romantic attraction towards anyone
biromantic (also ambiromantic): romantic attraction towards males and females (but not necessarily at the same time) – the romantic aspect of bisexuality
heteroromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of a different gender – the romantic aspect of heterosexuality
homoromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of the same gender – the romantic aspect of homosexuality
panromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of every gender – the romantic aspect of pansexuality
polyromantic: romantic attraction towards multiple, but not all, genders. The romantic aspect of polysexuality.
andromantic, gyneromantic, and ambiromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) expressing masculinity or femininity or intersex/third gender-mixing (respectively) without implying the gender of the individual experiencing the attraction; often used by asexuals with a non-binary gender identity. The romantic aspect of androphilia, gynephilia, and ambiphilia.

Notes

^ Crethar, H. C. & Vargas, L. A. (2007). Multicultural intricacies in professional counseling. In J. Gregoire & C. Jungers (Eds.), The counselor’s companion: What every beginning counselor needs to know. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. ISBN 0-8058-5684-6. p.61.
^ http://www.asexuality.org/en/index.php?showtopic=44350&st=60
^ Cite error: The named reference Sex and society was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Westphal, Sylvia Pagan (2004). "Feature: Glad to be asexual". New Scientist. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Relationship FAQ The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), 2008). Retrieved 22 December 2011.
^ Asexuality (Wellington, N.Z.: Gay Line Wellington, 2000–2010). Retrieved 22 December 2011.

References

Wells, J. W. (1989). "Teaching about Gay and Lesbian Sexual and Affectional Orientation Using Explicit Films to Reduce Homophobia". Journal of Humanistic Education and Development. 28 (1): 18–34.

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[1] Crethar, H. C. & Vargas, L. A. (2007). Multicultural intricacies in professional counseling. In J. Gregoire & C. Jungers (Eds.), The counselor’s companion: What every beginning counselor needs to know. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. ISBN 0-8058-5684-6. p.61.

[2] ttps://www.asexuality.org/en/index.php?showtopic=44350&st=60

[Sex_and_society-3] Cite error: The named reference Sex and society was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[New_Scientist-4] Westphal, Sylvia Pagan (2004). "Feature: Glad to be asexual". New Scientist. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[5] Relationship FAQ The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), 2008). Retrieved 22 December 2011.

[6] Asexuality (Wellington, N.Z.: Gay Line Wellington, 2000–2010). Retrieved 22 December 2011.

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 ==Identities==
+People may engage in purely emotional [[Romance (love)|romantic]] relationships.<ref name="Sex and society"/><ref name="New Scientist">{{cite web |author=Westphal, Sylvia Pagan (2004) |url=http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6533 |title=Feature: Glad to be asexual|work=[[New Scientist]] |accessdate=11 November 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071219003148/http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6533| archivedate= 19 December 2007 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>[http://www.asexuality.org/home/relationship.html ''Relationship FAQ''] The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), 2008). Retrieved 22 December 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.gayline.gen.nz/asexual.htm ''Asexuality''] (Wellington, N.Z.: Gay Line Wellington, 2000–2010). Retrieved 22 December 2011.</ref>
 * '''aromantic''': lack of romantic attraction towards anyone
 * '''biromantic''' (also '''ambiromantic'''): romantic attraction towards males and females (but not necessarily at the same time)&nbsp;– the romantic aspect of [[bisexuality]]