Allyship 101

What is allyship? 

Ally is a verb. It's not something you are it's something you DO.
Allyship takes many forms. It can be challenging anti-Aromantic ideas or arrangements, supporting Aromantic people, learning about Aromanticism, and more. 

Calling out vs. calling in.
When someone says or does something harmful, part of responding is deciding to Call Out or Call In.
Calling Out: Calling Out means immediately confronting a person who has done or said something harmful. This brings immediate and direct attention to the issue.
Calling In: Calling In means approaching someone after something has happened in a more private setting to discuss the issue after it has happened. 

When you are in an Aromantic space, make room for Aromantic people to share their experiences and thoughts. As an ally, you are there as a listener. When asking questions, ask yourself "Would I be comfortable if someone asked me this question?" 

Key Terms and Concepts

Split Attraction Model - The idea that attraction(s) are "split". That is, there are multiple kinds of attraction people can experience, including Romantic, Sexual, Platonic, and others. These kinds of attraction do not always occur at the same time or in the same orientation(s). 

Amatonormativity - The assumption that all human beings pursue love or romance, especially by means of a monogamous long-term relationship. 

Arophobia - Irrational hate, bias, or arrangements that hurt or harm Aromantic people. 

Singlism - Negative bias, attitudes, actions, and arrangements that hurt or harm Single people. 

Allosexual - Experiences feelings of Sexual Attraction to others. Opposite of Asexual.