a-spec

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English

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Simplified diagram of the aromantic and asexual spectra

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From a- (from asexual and aromantic) + spec, a clipping of spectrum.

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈeɪ.spɛk/

Adjective

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a-spec

  1. (neologism) On, or relating to, the asexual spectrum and/or aromantic spectrum. [from 21st c.]
    Hyponyms: (asexual spectrum) acespec, (aromantic spectrum) arospec
    • 2017 December 7, Hayley Van Allen, "Where is the LGBTQ+ representation in Scripps core?", in The Scripps Voice, volume XXI, issue 04, page 4:
      A segment of Core could have been about solely the trans community, or the exclusion of bi, pan, and a-spec people from queer spaces []
    • 2018 June 2, “A is Not for Ally: Spare a Thought for Invisible Identities this Pride Month”, in The Panoptic[1], retrieved 6 April 2020:
      However, this article isn’t about what it means, or how it feels to be a-spec: it’s about the erasure (A-rasure?) of a-spec identities.
    • 2017 March 31, “Jughead, Bughead, And The Need For Asexual & Aromantic Heroes In Comics”, in Comics Alliance[2], retrieved 6 April 2020:
      Jughead means a lot to aspec people
    • 2020 March 12, “‘It’s Not You, It’s Not Me’ Centers Allosexual Feelings And Fails Asexual People”, in wearyourvoicemag.com[3], archived from the original on 6 April 2020:
      We can and should recognize that there is plenty of room for a multitude of reactions from a-spec folks because, like any other identity, we are not a monolith and we carry with us a multitude of experiences, desires, limitations, and perspectives.
    • 2020 February 4, “Asexuality, Explained Through Cake”, in The Link[4], retrieved 6 April 2020:
      In the context of asexuality, it has led to the infantilization of people who are aspec, and in a lot of cases has pressured ace people to have sex, simply because they didn’t think not wanting to have sex was an option.
    • 2018 October 27, “Explore the spectrum: Guide to finding your ace community”, in GLAAD[5], archived from the original on 1 August 2020:
      While the SAM was initially created by a-spec people, it can easily be used by people who are not asexual or aromantic.
    • 2018 February 15, “Ace Jam created a space for games with asexual characters”, in Rock, Paper, Shotgun[6], retrieved 6 April 2020:
      Asexual representation in games is so sparse as to be virtually non-existent, and some of the few examples that there are reinforce incorrect beliefs about a-spec people.

Usage notes

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  • Some people have asserted that a-spec was first used by the autistic community to mean "on or relating to the autism spectrum", and view it as having been co-opted by the asexual and aromantic communities.[1][2] Many autistic people argue that they have not heard a-spec used for the autism spectrum, and do not object to its use by asexuals and aromantics.[1][2] Compare m-spec (multisexual spectrum).

Noun

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a-spec (plural a-specs)

  1. A person on the asexual spectrum and/or aromantic spectrum.
    • 2022 April 15, Timaree Schmit, “Reader question: Asexual dating”, in Philadelphia Weekly[7]:
      Aspecs [those on the asexual spectrum][sic] can have relationships with anyone. We’re not limited to being exclusively with other aspecs…. There always needs to be communication and establishing boundaries regardless of the relationship. [] ” – M
    • 2023, Eris Young, Ace Voices: What it Means to Be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-Ace, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 29:
      This is why events like the Indigenous Aces panel and articles by a-specs from marginalised backgrounds are so important within the larger conversation around a-spec issues.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Theresa Kenney, "Asexual Assemblages: Thinking Asexually About Sexual (Digital) Citizenship", paper submitted to McMaster University, page 31
  2. 2.0 2.1 Erin Ekins, Queerly Autistic: The Ultimate Guide for LGBTQIA+ Teens on the Spectrum, page 29

Anagrams

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