We would like to invite any and all current college students or those who have graduated in the past year who identify on the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum to write a short reflection on the topic, “Stereotypes.” This is intended to be low-stress – you are not expected to write an entire blog post. Instead, we will create a single post combining the received submissions showing the diversity of perspectives present within our community. Your submission can be up to 300 words or another form of media such as a drawing.

How to submit

Please submit your written response to this form: https://forms.gle/rPyRZkXTGh3X9tFL8. If you want to submit another form of media, please email it to aace@smith.edu and note your college. The deadline for submissions is December 11, and the submissions will be posted anonymously on December 12.

Prompts

The following are meant to give you ideas for what you can write about, but you are not limited to these prompts! The topic is meant to be broad, so feel free to write about whatever you are inspired to write about.

• What stereotypes of asexuality and/or aromanticism have you encountered? How have they affected you?
• In what ways do you fit or differ from such stereotypes? Did that affect your journey of self-discovery?
• How do stereotypes of asexuality and/or aromanticism intersect with stereotypes of other identities?
• In media representation of asexuality and aromanticism, what stereotypes have you encountered and what was your reaction to them?
• Are there stereotypes you find funny? Are there stereotypes you find accurate? Are there stereotypes you find problematic?