In celebration of Aromantic Awareness Week, Dr. Amanda Mollet educated students about asexuality, being aromantic and how intimacy is defined.
Hosted by LBTQIA Services, the event was focused on raising awareness about the under-researched sexual and gender identities.
An individual who identifies as asexual, or “ace,” experiences little to no sexual attraction to others. An aromantic, or “aro,” person experiences few or minimal romantic attractions towards other people.
Mollet works as assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Kansas. Mollet researches equity and inclusion, and her current primary focus is on asexual students’ experience and how they continue to challenge existing norms about sexuality.
“I think so much of the narrative assumes that ace, and aro folks don’t have relationships, and that there isn’t any type of intimacy,” Mollet said. “Being able to come and say, ‘yes,’ they do and hearing all the ways that it’s beautiful, has been so lovely.”
Mollet hopes to work against the common perception that people on this spectrum do not have healthy relationships or experience love.
“Asexuality and aromantic visibility is incredibly limited in our society,” said attendee and UMKC student Grabriel Kribbs. “As someone who identifies as asexual, it was difficult coming to terms with my sexuality because it was never really shown or discussed.”
