[[File:A-spec.svg|thumb|220x220px|The main a-spec flag.|alt=A flag with four coloredcoloured rectangles. The top- right is dark green, the top left is black, the bottom right is graygrey, and the bottom left is purple. There is a white star in the middle. ]]
[[File:Aspec.png|thumb|The original aloe vera a-spec flag.|220x220px180x180px]]
[[File:A spec flag.png|thumb|219x219px180x180px|The redesigned aloe vera a-spec flag.]]
[[File:Aroace aspec flag.jpg|alt=|thumb|AThe striped Aa-Specspec flag .|217x217px180x180px]]
[[File:Alt A-Spec Flag.jpg|thumb|180x180px|Alternative a-spec flag.]]
'''A-spec''' (or '''A-spectrum''') is an [[Umbrella Term|umbrella term]] for all identities on the [[Asexual Spectrum|asexual spectrum]] and [[Aromantic Spectrum|aromantic spectrum]] spectrums. ItA-spec can bedescribe usedan forindividual who anyoneis on the asexual spectrum, the aromantic spectrum, or [[Aroace Spectrum|both]].
This termA-spec is also sometimes used more broadly to include other identities that use the "a-" prefix, such as [[Agender|agender]] and [[Aplatonic|aplatonic]].<ref>{{Archive|URL=2020.08.09-195810/https://asafetynet.tumblr.com/post/112827135411/a-spectrum-safety-net}}</ref> [[Aroace Agender|aroaceAroace agender]] is sometimes referredcalled toAAA-spec as(pronounced AAA"triple-A-spec").
== Controversy ==
Aces[[Asexual]] and aros[[Aromantic|aromantic]] individuals have sometimes been accused of appropriating the term "a-spec" from the autistic community. This is impossibleHowever, as the term was created in 2015 specifically for aces and aros and hashad no prior usage history before that point.<ref>https{{Archive|URL=2018.04.14-072616/http://historicallyace.tumblr.com/post/161502315942/do-you-per-chance-know-when-asexuals-first}}</ref><ref>{{Archive|URL=2022.02.03-130600/https://apersnicketylemon.tumblr.com/post/189192893072/aspec-does-not-and-has-never-meant-autism}}</ref>
WithWithin the aceasexual and aroaromantic communities, the use of the term "a-spec" has also been criticized for introducing confusion through frequent misuse, particularly regarding asexuals using "a-spec" when only asexual spectrum (ace-spec) individuals are relevant, or through saying "a-spec and aro-spec", implying that aro-specthe aromantic spectrum is not inherently included under the a-spec umbrella. Unfortunately, for some individuals, "a-spec" and "ace-spec" are phonetically indistinguishable when spoken aloud.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2022.02.03-130945/https://shades-of-grayro.tumblr.com/post/190426507065/again-im-not-critiquing-the-usefulness-of-a-word}}</ref>
== History ==
The term a-spectrum was introduced by Tumblr users [https://www.tumblr.com/warriorsdebt warriorsdebt], whes, and [https://www.tumblr.com/strategicgoat strategicgoat] introduced the term a-spectrum in 2015.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2020.08.09-200247/https://warriorsdebt.tumblr.com/post/157795101420/wetwareproblem-aphobephobe-wetwareproblem}}</ref>
== Flag ==
TheTumblr auser [https://www.tumblr.com/the-specmoon-is-aroace flag wasthe-moon-is-aroace] created by Tumblrthe user The-Moona-Is-Aroacespec flag on March 2525th, 2019.<ref>https://web{{Archive|URL=2022.archive02.org/web/2020080918554204-122940/https://the-moon-is-aroace.tumblr.com/post/183702972387/a-new-flag-for-the-aspec-community-just-an-idea-i}}</ref> The compass rose in the middle is a symbol ofsymbolises how individuals all experience [[Attraction|attraction]] in different waysdifferently, if at all. The green and purple are on opposite sides of the quadrant to show that [[Asexual|asexuality]] and [[Aromantic|aromanticism]] are their own separate and independent identities, with the black and grey quadrants connecting them. Black represents the [[Aroace|aroace]] community, and grey represents grey communities.
TheTumblr aloeusers vera[https://www.tumblr.com/sapphic-squirrel asapphic-specsquirrel] flagand was[https://www.tumblr.com/hetaces hetaces] designed bythe Tumblraloe usersvera Sapphica-Squirrelspec and Hetacesflag with help from the Inclusionist Discord Server, and wasthey posted it on November 1717th, 2019.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2021.12.07-223350/https://sapphic-squirrel.tumblr.com/post/189130109062/hello-everyone-i-want-to-present-a-community-flag}}</ref> It was designed to mimic the [[Sapphic|sapphic]], [[Achillean|achillean]], [[Diamoric|diamoric]], and [[Pluralian|pluralian]] flags with three stripes and one plant. The green is for aromantics, the purple for asexuals, and the grey is for the grey area between "a-" identities and [[Allosexual|"allo-]]" identities (which would represent [[Greyasexual|greyasexuals]], [[Greyromantic|greyromantics]], [[Demisexual|demisexuals]], [[Demiromantic|demiromantics]], other [[Mesi Aromantic|mesi aros]], [[Mesi Asexual|mesi aces]], [[Split Attraction Model (SAM)|split attraction]] users, andincluding those that don't have solid labels but know they are somewhere under the umbrellas of asexual or aromantic.).
Tumblr user [https://www.tumblr.com/untitled-google-docs-document untitled-google-docs-document] created an alternative flag on July 5th, 2022.<ref>{{Archive|Site=today|URL=https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/untitled-google-docs-document/688973602249408512?source=share}}</ref> She created this flag mainly because the a-spec flags have only included aro and ace individuals and not aplatonic and agender individuals. Thus, she wanted to make a flag inclusive to all a-spec individuals. The green stripe represents aromantic and agender individuals. The yellow string represents love and relationships outside of amatonormative ideas, how the community fights against [[Amatonormativity|amatonormativity]] and radicalises the word "love", and [[Tertiary Attraction|tertiary attraction]]. The white stripes represent the diversity of the a-spec community. The blue stripe represents anyone who is aplatonic. The purple stripe represents asexual individuals and the a-spec community as a whole. The compass rose symbol was inspired by the-moon-is-aroace's a-spec flag, only changing the colour for aesthetic reasons.
The aloe vera flag was redesigned by RavenFire803 on July 1th, 2021 to represent the larger community. The aloe symbol was made to be both green and purple instead of just green to show balance.
The striped A-spec flag was coined by RavenFire803 on July 6th, 2021. It has no confirmed meaning.
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[[Category:Identity]]
[[Category:Verified Resources]]
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