Aspecs are also really vulnerable to the "Is this queer subtext or does this thing just hate women?" trap and like. I get it. We're starved for meaningful representation and dismissed or outright mocked for our identities and it makes us really defensive. And of course you can apply queer(platonic) readings to texts regardless of authorial intent. But it makes me uncomfortable when I see people celebrate an aspec reading as if it's something intended and subversive when the thing in question is platonic only because it is blatantly, aggressively supporting normative power structures. As someone commented the last time I complained about this, bros before hoes is not a radical sentiment. We need to be able to determine whether something is actually challenging amatonormativity and compulsory sexuality or if it's just upholding sexism (or racism) so strongly that the amatonormativity fades into the background. And then we can do what we want, headcanon-wise! But these stories aren't supporting us just because they prioritize a different kind of bigotry.
