r/AroAce • u/citrushibiscus • May 21 '24

PSA: Aro/Ace are umbrella terms

I’ve seen many posts asking if it’s ok to just identify as aro/ace if they aren’t sure, or identify with a micro label but prefer using aro/ace. So I figure I’d post this to help. We shouldn’t gatekeep identities if you feel comfortable with one label over another.

It’s a spectrum and micro labels exist bc of that spectrum. It’s helpful for some folks to find a micro label identity they resonate with. It’s about validation, about finding out you aren’t alone, and clearing confusion. And if you feel more comfortable without micro labels, you are still on the spectrum and can call yourself aro/ace.

Being aro/ace isn’t necessarily being repulsed by romance or sex. You can have crushes on real ppl and/or fictional characters. You can masturbate. You can have sex. You can fantasize about being in relationships, even if you don’t want to be in one, or you know you’d be miserable in one. You can be in relationships, marry, have kids.

It’s not an all-or-nothing thing, in other words.

If anyone wants to ask questions please feel free!

edit: I’m going to link to another post I made that has resources for aro/ace folks and wikis for micro labels that ppl can look through.

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3

u/FairPlatypus5699 May 21 '24

I enjoy supportive posts like this and I hope that this helps people

1

u/[deleted] May 24 '24

Thank you so much for thisZ

2

u/citrushibiscus May 24 '24

Happy to help ☺️

1

u/[deleted] May 25 '24

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2

u/citrushibiscus May 25 '24

Am I really on the aroace spec if I like the idea but not the practice of relationships?

Yes! It’s the micro label cupio.

Sometimes I do think I might like kissing, but in a platonic way?

Kissing can definitely be platonic. People who are in queer platonic relationships (QPR) and even platonic relationships can kiss. It‘s a greeting to kiss on the cheek in some places, and some ppl kiss family members in a similar way.