What's Going On: December 2021

Written by the AUREA team Word count: 350 words

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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This December topic for Carnival of Aros is Attitudes Towards Romance. Our host Ian says, “By ‘attitudes,’ I mean how aromantic people feel about romance–whether you identify as romance repulsed, romance favorable, romance indifferent, or romance adverse, your voice is important in this community.” Find more information and his list of prompts here.

Aros in the media

“Beyond Awareness: Creating a Space for Asexual and Aromantic People” is a panel sponsored by the UMass Stonewall Center. This informative and interesting talk features Yasmin Benoit, an asexual model and activist; Jule Sondra Decker, author of The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality; and the leaders of SpACE+ at UMass Amherst: August and Leon. If you’re looking to learn and maybe take on space creation for yourself, check this video out - these folks know what they’re talking about.

The escalating costs of being single in America by Anne Helen Petersen 

We don’t seem to like or respect single people and their choices. It doesn’t matter how many songs or books or movies seem to champion the triumphs of the single person. Our societal actions — the way we support and reward people — suggest otherwise.

A breakdown of how the number of single people is growing in the United States. Peterson interviews half a dozen people about living expenses for a single person, including one of our own: an aromantic asexual. 

I’m Gay, Aromantic, and in Love by Helianthos

How labels that seem contradictory can intersect

Helianthos talks about partnering, love and romance, and accepting what makes us happy and who we are is complex. 

7 People Who've Never Been In A Relationship Share What It's Like by Brittany Wong

Some lifelong singles say they're on their own by choice, while others are actively looking for love.

Single people - including a couple of a-specs - talk about their experiences being single and their hopes for the future. 

Aromantics Address

Papo Aromantic