Conformant Terms Romantic Orientation

Heteroromantic - What is it? What does it mean?

Julia Sotska

Updated on December 19, 2022 | 4 min read

Heteroromantic flag

Heteroromantic which sometimes may be spelled as heteromantic typically refers to a person that feels an attraction to the opposite sex. It is one of the romantic orientations that describes people's romantic feelings for people of genders unlike their own.

Women who are romantically attracted to men and men who are attracted to women may use the term heteroromantic to describe their romantic orientation. Some asexual people also use the term to describe their feelings towards the opposite sex. There are heteroromantic bisexual, heteroromantic asexual, and heteroromantic homosexual people who identify with the term. Romantic orientation is separate from sexual one and should not be confused with one another.

Terminology

According to Urban Dictionary, the term heteroromantic means someone who is attracted to the opposite sex in a romantic way. Often used by heteroromantic asexuals. Sexuality and romantic relationships do not have to correspond. Many heteroromantic asexuals experience attraction separate from sexuality.

The term refers to those who are attracted to people and experience romantic attraction to the opposite sex but may experience sexual attraction for the same gender. A heteroromantic person may have other sexual orientations but seek a romantic relationship with those of the opposite sex.

History

According to Dictionary.com, the word has origins somewhere in mid-1990s. That said, Dr. Alfred Kinsey developed the Kinsey scale in the late 1940s which focuses on who people are sexually attracted to rather than romantic relationships they form. People can be sexually attracted to their own gender but may only experience romantic feelings for those of the opposite one.

Pronouns

Heteroromantic people may be of many different genders. They may use a variety of different pronouns like gender-specific ones he/him or she/her or neutral ones like they/them. Heteroromantic people may also use neopronouns if they choose to. Remember, respecting an individual's pronouns is crucial.

Flag and Symbols

The most commonly used heteroromantic flag features shades of grey with a heart either in the middle or in the top left corner of the flag.

Heteroromantic flag

How to Know if You are Heteroromantic?

If you feel romantically attracted to the opposite gender as your own you may be heteroromantic. You do not have to be sexually attracted to them in order to identify as heteroromantic. In fact, you may be sexually attracted to the same sex, be sexually fluid, asexual, bisexual, greysexual, and so on yet identify as a heteroromantic person.

If you want romantic partners and romantic relationships with people of different genders than your own then you may be a heteroromantic person. If this label best describes how you choose romantic partners and form romantic relationships, separate from your sexual identity, then it is yours to claim.

Remember there are many men and women, gender fluid, non-binary, people who have romantic partners of different genders.