Allonormativity is the assumption that everyone experiences a specific type of attraction. It is the force which upholds compulsory sexuality, the social systems and structures which privilege or incentivize sexual relationships over single individuals.
The term is often used when discussing the pathologization, erasure, and dehumanization of a-spec individuals in society, media, and within academic discourses.
History
The term is derived from the word allosexual. It's origins can be traced back to January of 2015, in Issue 2 of F-ace-ing Silence, where it was stated that "...allonormativity will tend to operate differently upon different types of aces."[1] Since then, it would spread throughout the a-spec community.
Type of Allonormativity
Amatonormativity
Amatonormativity specifically refers to the assumption that everyone will be happy in a monogamous, romantic relationship. The term was coined by Elizabeth Brake and comes from the Latin word amatus, meaning loved.[2] According to Brake, one way in which amatonormativity is institutionally applied is the law and morality surrounding marriage. Loving friendships, queerplatonic, and other relationships are not given the same legal protections romantic partners are given through marriage.[3] Amatonormativity most often targets those who are aromantic or polyamorous.
Platonormativity
Platonormativity refers to the assumption that everyone desires to have friends or, sometimes, that friendship is the very thing that makes one human. It is unknown who first coined the term. Platonormativity often takes the form of believing that one cannot truly be fulfilled without friends, and that those who do not want or have friends, such as aplatonics, are broken in some way.[4][5][6] Even those who have seemingly "overcome" amatonormativity have been criticized by aplatonics and loveless aros for promoting platonormativity, such as the common belief that aromantics are only okay because they can still experience platonic attraction.[7]
Other Forms of Allonormativity
While amatonormativity, platonormativity, and allonormativity itself are the most well-known terms, others have been proposed, such as faminormativity, which is the assumption that everyone values their family.[8] Despite this, not many have caught on like the previous have, possibly due to the invisibility of atertiary individuals.
Resources
Wikipedia contributors. "Allonormativity." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Aug. 2024. Web. 30 Aug. 2024.
Wikipedia contributors. "Amatonormativity." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Aug. 2024. Web. 30 Aug. 2024.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830200858/https://rottenzucchinisfiles.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/f-ace-ing-silence-issue-2_formatted-for-printing.pdf
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200715002159/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfjx6v4
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230704225025/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201207/should-marriage-be-abolished-minimized-or-left-alone
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830202830/https://www.tumblr.com/transgenderism-horror/749016125488119808/ive-seen-someone-say-that-aplatonic-people-should?source=share
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830202124/https://www.tumblr.com/loveless-arobee/745865400004345856/just-heard-someone-on-tiktok-state-that-platonic?source=share
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830202632/https://www.tumblr.com/infiniteorangethethird/742321139207094272/anyway-shoutout-to-my-fellow-aplatonics-and?source=share
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830202933/https://www.tumblr.com/aro-bird/752093409237417984/clawing-and-biting-at-the-people-that-made-pride?source=share
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830203539/https://www.tumblr.com/thetisming/752050531829153792/amatonormativity-a-romantic-partner-should-be-the?source=share