It typically occurs during the first full week following Valentine’s Day. ASAW started in 2014 and was started largely due to those in the aromantic community struggling to feel like their experiences were included in such a romanticized holiday. The week is an annual event that is celebrated throughout the world to raise visibility and increase acceptance of aromantic spectrum (arospec) identities and the issues facing this community. The observance of ASAW not only allows the community and its allies to celebrate aromantic identities, but it also creates an opportunity to inform the public about aromanticism.
Aromanticism originally grew out of the asexual community. Although there is some overlap between the asexual community and the aromantic community, they are quite distinct: Aromanticism is a romantic orientation (as opposed to a sexual one) that describes people whose experience of romance is disconnected from normative societal expectations, which is often due to experiencing little to no romantic attraction or being uninterested in romantic relationships. Asexuality is a sexual orientation in which individuals do not typically experience sexual attraction to others, or very little sexual attraction to others and/or do not experience interest in sexual activity. Although aromantic people can be in relationships, these may be more platonic or sexual than romantic. An aromantic person (aro) can have any sexual orientation or gender identity.
Aromanticism is a spectrum that includes a variety of related identities. The plethora of identities that encompass this spectrum include grayromantic, demiromantic, quoiromantic, lithromantic, and others. Some choose to not fully identify with the aromantic label at all. Grayromantic individuals do not experience sexual attraction. People who identify as demiromantic need to establish an emotional bond with a person before they can develop romantic feelings towards that individual. Those who are quoiromantic are not able to distinguish romantic attraction from platonic attraction and are therefore unsure if they have experienced it. Lithromantic refers to people who feel a romantic love towards another person but do not want those feelings reciprocated.
As understanding and acceptance of aromanticism continues to increase more celebrities and other notable high-profile people will help bring awareness to aromanticism. Currently celebrities like Michaela Coel and Alice Oseman identify as aromantic. Celebrating Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week brings visibility to those who identify within the aromantic spectrum and allows for a broader understanding regarding these orientations, so that they can continue to be embraced and celebrated.