This study investigates the cross-cultural manifestations of amatonormativity—the societal assumption that romantic relationships are the most valuable and universal form of intimacy—and its influence on close friendships in the United States and China. Drawing from Professor Elizabeth Brake’s (2012) conceptualization of compulsory romance, this research examines how individuals prioritize, perceive, and experience intimacy within non-romantic relationships. Using an original 26-item self-report questionnaire, data were collected from 214 participants (59 from the U.S. and 155 from China) to assess attitudes toward romantic and platonic intimacy, the impact of romantic involvement on friendships, and cultural variation in amatonormative beliefs. Quantitative analyses revealed that U.S. participants generally valued friendships more highly than romantic relationships, whereas Chinese participants regarded both as similarly important. Across both samples, participants expressed a desire for deeper emotional closeness in friendships than they perceived as socially “normal,” suggesting an internalized constraint shaped by amatonormative norms. These findings indicate that while amatonormativity is present in both cultural contexts, its expression and influence differ according to age, social expectation, and cultural discourse surrounding romance and family. This research contributes to ongoing discussions on asexuality and aromanticism by highlighting how compulsory romance structures everyday understandings of intimacy and friendship across societies.

Yitong Sun. Cross Cultural Analysis of Amatonormativity in Close Friendships. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2026), Vol. 9, Issue 2: 33-38. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2026.090205.

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