Directing Community Growth
Written by the AUREA team
Word count: 1105 words
Estimated reading time: approx. 5 minutes
The future of the aromantic agenda is pointed firmly in the direction of in-person communities. A majority of aromantics want to know other aros and be around them. There are often half-joking statements made about aro communes, places being created where we could live outside of expectation. The reality of what this journey will look like is not so clear, but assumptions can be made.
Strength in numbers
AUREA is currently working on what appears to be the largest international Aro Census ever recorded. We’re close to closing that research project (so get in quick if you haven’t already) and learning about the people who make up the aro-spec community. Recently The Trevor Project, an American crisis intervention and suicide prevention service for LGBTQ youth, ran a national survey on mental health. They talked to 40,000 youths and 10% IDed as asexual. Through a breakdown of asexualitity it was found that 13% of those asexuals identified as aromantic. Which means we have confirmation that at least 520 people out of that 40,000 were aro.
These aren’t inspiring numbers. That’s why we need to look at where these people are coming from. This survey was run online using targeted ads on social media. They aimed for people aged 13-24 and the survey was open for four months. If you aren’t American, if you aren’t young, if aren’t online, if you aren’t queer online, if you aren’t on the social media platforms they used, if you ignore ads no matter how well targeted, if to the nth degree. The variables involved in this research, in all research, are vast. That isn’t to say The Trevor Project did a poor job of researching American LGBTQ youth, this is about perspective.
Our community
Where do our variables lie? What about our biases? Until the extensive analysis of the results of the Aro Census is complete we can’t speak in concrete facts. We can however make educated guesses. Many aromantics learn about aromanticism through tumblr. An important question to ask then is what kind people does tumblr attract? Young people, predominantly white, and likely from the U.S. This is then the predictable shape of the aromantic community. We know there is more diversity to us than that, but how much more?
And taking that a step further: we’re a young community. We are grassroots. How will the current shape of us direct, and possibly limit, our growth.
What we plan
In the midst of this global crisis many plans have been, thankfully, put on hold. Still we plan for after, or least, when things have settled. And meeting other aros is on people’s minds. If you’re in a position to, of course you would consider it. We’ve written a guide on how to build friendships and we’ve written an introductory piece on community building. Reading those is informative in more ways than one. What exactly did we prioritise when writing them?
In the how-to piece we’re quick to talk about ease. Find people who are already near you, so neighbours, classmates, people with shared interests. We recognise proximity as being your best bet. After the general friend making info, we turn to LGBTQ groups, so our articles for making friends says anyone first and then queers. We say find a place that you should belong and then see if you’ll fit.
In the community building article we practically begin the piece with a disclaimer: “these guidelines will work best in a city or college setting.” That certainly sets the scene. Accessibility is what comes up next, you shouldn’t pick somewhere with a price and it has to be a place disabled people can access. After all the ‘what you need to know before you begin’ information, we say (from experience): “No matter where you live, there is a good chance you will be the only person to show for your first few meetups.” And later, nearing the end: “For an article titled ‘Aro Edition’ very little of this is aro-specific.”
There is a grim reality surrounding aromantic communities. This is going to be hard work. It will be rewarding with time.
What we’ve got
When discussing aro community projects two names tend to crop up - Seattle Aces & Aros and The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project (TAAAP). These groups are often behind the big things happening in the community and if they aren’t then individual members from those groups likely are. These groups are centred in Seattle and the DC Metro Area, places in the U.S., but have grown to work nationally and internationally, online and offline. While this article is predominantly about our success through meetups, that is absolutely not the only way we can go. The work we do online is important. This is our beginning.
We have the means to reach people that older, well-established identity groups didn’t in the past. We can look at who we are, where we are, and what we’re doing right now and figure out what we’re missing. Despite how difficult getting off the ground, or on the ground so to speak, is going to be we have perspective. Right now AUREA often suggest aros who want to meet other aros join their school LGBTQ groups or they start their own aro-spec meetups. We have the resources at the moment to begin a network of aro university groups across the world. And it is equally important that we recognise that if you aren’t in university, if you aren’t young, if you aren’t in a populated area, if you can’t be there in person, if it isn’t safe to be out, if the majority of white people live in predominantly white areas, then who are we reaching?
Going forward
When the Aro Census 2020 results are analysed we will release those results for you to see and we will share our thoughts and findings. The ideas discussed in this piece can go deeper. We can take those facts and set community goals. There is no doubt that the people who took part in the project aren’t every single aro there is, that there are countless people in the world who we have yet to find. And they will be found. There is always an aro somewhere, working on something, that will be seen. Plans are being made for ASAW as we speak. People are arranging meetups despite not knowing when they will be able to. There is always time to get involved with community growth, there is always room for more. In the beginning stages of in-person community growth as we are, we have the ability to set the groundwork that is as inclusive and intersectional as it can possibly be - as long as we are aware.