A-spec

The a-spec flag.

* Agender-spectrum (when referring to genders which are a-spec in and of themselves; applicable to some definitions)

## Related terms

### Similar or related

* Asexual spectrum
* Aromantic spectrum
* Atertiary spectrum
* Aroace spectrum
* Agender spectrum
* Anattractional

### Counterpart or opposite

* Allosexual (not on the asexual spectrum)
* Alloromantic (not on the aromantic spectrum)
* Allotertiary (not on the atertiary spectrum)
* Allogender (not on the agender spectrum)

**A-spec**, or **a-spectrum**, is an umbrella term for orientations which involve little to no attraction. Attraction experienced by a-spec people may be vague, conditional, fleeting, fluctuating, or otherwise restricted, if experienced at all. This umbrella encompasses the asexual spectrum and aromantic spectrum, and sometimes the atertiary spectrums as well.

The agender spectrum is also sometimes included in alternate or expanded definitions. Under these alternate definitions, the a-spectrum encompasses identities involving the experience of little to no gender as well, or involve any identity spectrum with the *a-* prefix.

The a-spectrum, when referring exclusively to a lack of attraction, is sometimes called the **anattractional spectrum**. A-spec may also be used by individuals who experience little to no attraction, but don't wish to use the split attraction model, or don't wish to differentiate between attraction types.

## Etymology

*An-* and *a-* are prefixes meaning "not," "without," or "lacking". "Spec" is short for "spectrum," representing the wide range of identities and experiences included under this umbrella. "A-spec" is short for "a-spectrum," and is circumstantially short for "anattractional spectrum" as well.

In the case of the term "anattractional," the prefix *an-* is combined with "attraction," which is then combined with the suffix *-al*, meaning "of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form or character of," to create the term "attractional". Thus, anattractional etymologically means "without attraction," "unrelated to being attracted," or "experiencing no attraction".

## History

It is unclear when and where the terms "a-spec" and "a-spectrum" first originated, but many speculate that these terms were coined in late 2015 or early 2016. One of the earliest uses online exists in a thread on AVEN. The first known instance of the usage of "anattractional spectrum" appears to be from Ask-Pride-Color-Schemes on Tumblr, on January 15, 2018.

## Flag

The a-spec flag was created by Tumblr user the-moon-is-aroace on March 25, 2019. The compass rose in the center represents how a-spec people represent attraction in different ways. The black, grey, white, green, and purple color scheme was taken from the existing asexual and aromantic flags. The green and purple are on opposite sides to represent that asexuality and aromanticism are separate and independent identities. Black represents aroace people, and grey represents grey a-spec communities. The flag is intended to be used for a variety of purposes, including the unification of a-spec people. The flag does not appear to include the agender spectrum.

   The aloe vera a-spec flag was designed by Tumblr user squirreltastic and hetaces, with additional input from an *Inclusionist Discord Server*. Three versions of the flag were posted to their blog on November 17, 2019, along with the symbol alone. The flag was designed with the format of the sapphic, achillean, diamoric, and pluralian flags in mind: three stripes with a plant in the center stripe. The green stripe represents aromantic people, the purple stripe represents asexual people, and the grey stripe represents the grey area between a-spec and allosexual/alloromantic identities, such as greysexual people, greyromantic people, demisexual people, demiromantic people, split attraction users, and unlabeled a-spec people. The plant is a stylized aloe vera. The flag does not appear to include the agender spectrum.

The inclusive anattractional flag was designed by mod Loki from Ask-Pride-Color-Schemes on Tumblr, on January 15, 2018. The flag explicitly includes the asexual spectrum, aromantic spectrum, aplatonic spectrum, aqueerplatonic spectrum, asensual spectrum, and analterous spectrum. The meaning behind the stripes was not stated. However, it appears to be based on the existing asexual, aromantic, aplatonic, aqueerplatonic, asensual, and analterous flags. Based on this, it can be assumed that black represents a lack of attraction, white represents allies outside the a-spec community, grey represents the grey area of attraction, purple represents the asexual spectrum, orange represents the asensual spectrum, yellow represents the aplatonic spectrum, pink represents the aqueerplatonic spectrum, blue represents the analterous spectrum, and green represents the aromantic spectrum.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 All Terms. AUREA. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022.
2. ↑ A-Spectrum Safety Net. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022.
3. ↑ Coyote. What is the "a-spectrum"?. Arocalypse. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022.
4. ↑ explore the spectrum: guide to finding your ace community. GLAAD (2018-10-27). Archived from the original on March 24, 2022.
5. ↑ Moulton, Hannah (2015-10-08). Somewhere on the A-Spectrum: Agender, aromantic and asexual people face misconceptions, aggression (English). utdailybeacon.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021.
6. ↑ Seaburs (2015-02-12). The [A stands for … what?] (English). Archived from the original on March 24, 2022.
7. ↑ Ask-Pride-Color-Schemes (2018-01-15). an inclusive aspec pride flag for asensual, aplatonic, alterous spectrum, etc. (English). Archived from the original on January 20, 2022.
8. ↑ an-. Dictionary.com.
9. ↑ -al. Dictionary.com.
10. ↑ Aceing History's posy (2017-06-06). Archived from the original on January 23, 2022.
11. ↑ Tumblr thread (2017-02-27). Archived from the original on August 24, 2022.
12. ↑ Awkward Moment (2016-01-15). Archived from the original on August 24, 2022.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ask-Pride-Color-Schemes (2018-01-15). an inclusive aspec pride flag for asensual, aplatonic, alterous spectrum, etc. (English). Archived from the original on January 20, 2022.
14. ↑ A new flag for the aspec community (2019-03-25). Archived from the original on August 24, 2022.
15. ↑ squirreltastic (2019-11-17). Hello Everyone! I want to present a community flag for the A-spec community!. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022.