Intro to Feminist Theory, Short Essay #2
"Heterosexuality is a die-hard custom through which male-supremacist institutions insure their own perpetuity and control over us. Women are kept, maintained and contained through terror, violence, and the spray of semen..." -- Cheryl Clarke, "Lesbianism, An Act of Resistance"
Heteronormativity is the belief that only relationships between two people of opposite genders are normal, and that each gender has specific and exclusive natural roles in life. The belief that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation is oppressive in itself because it restricts choice of one’s gender identity to the male/female binary and thus stigmatizes alternative expressions of gender and sexuality. Society is heteronormative in that social institutions and policies reinforce these beliefs, such as college applications asking for the applicant’s mother and father, rather than parents, thus assuming heterosexuality, or any form asking for one’s gender and giving the option of male or female. While these assumptions aren’t necessarily oppressive in themselves, heteronormativity creates the backdrop for heterosexism to emerge. Heterosexism is what makes heterosexuality an oppressive institution in the sense that it places systematic constraints on the lives of gay men, lesbians, and even straight women.
Heteronormativity creates and maintains heterosexism. Heterosexism is “the system of beliefs and practices which suppresses, denies, and penalizes homosexuality on the grounds” of heteronormativity. In other words, heterosexism extends the beliefs of heteronormativity to the practical level of discriminating against gays and lesbians through societal customs and institutions, such as the U.S. military banning gay men and lesbians from enlisting. and the existence of sodomy laws--both of which are systematic constraints on the lives of homosexuals.
Heterosexism also gives privileges to heterosexuals. These privileges can be as simple as holding hands with one’s partner in public, or as important--legally, personally, and financially--as getting married. Homosexuals are, with some exceptions, denied these privileges that heterosexuals take for granted, and are therefore systematically constrained.
It is easy to see how heterosexuality is oppressive to all homosexuals by virtue of their sexual orientation, but we must go one step further and understand how it is also oppressive to all women, gay or straight, by virtue of their gender role. Although it seems like heterosexual women should be benefitting from heterosexual privilege, “the overall result of heterosexual relationships on women’s lives is not likely to be the conferral of privileges.” Straight women are in a contradictory position because although they receive some privileges by virtue of their heterosexuality, they are also oppressed by virtue of their gender based on the heteronormative belief that genders have natural roles, which virtually cancels out their heterosexual privilege. For example, all women think twice about walking home alone at night for fear of rape or violence.1 The ability to be raped is what defines a woman in our heterosexist society--her ability to be dominated by a man through heterosexual sex, as is her “natural” gender role. Also, “without a man” to protect her, “she is vulnerable to external violence,” thus making heterosexuality necessary for survival, and systematically constraining women.
Heterosexuality is an oppressive institution in the sense that it places systematic constraints on the lives of gay men, lesbians, and straight women through the assumptions imbedded in heteronormativity which are enacted through heterosexism. Because heterosexuality is an institution, its oppression is systematic, decentralized, and impersonal. Merely changing a few laws will not get rid of heteronormativity and heterosexism. In order to eradicate heteronormativity and heterosexism, those who benefit most from it--heterosexual males--must expose heterosexuality as oppressive and problematize it. All people can avoid investing power in the institution of heterosexuality by not conforming to gender roles and sexuality norms or accepting the privileges accorded to them based on the norms of masculinity and heterosexuality. Everyone must take responsibility and reject the oppressive institution of heterosexuality, because heteronormativity and heterosexism are not just problems for gays and lesbians, but for all women as well.
Heteronormativity is the belief that only relationships between two people of opposite genders are normal, and that each gender has specific and exclusive natural roles in life. The belief that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation is oppressive in itself because it restricts choice of one’s gender identity to the male/female binary and thus stigmatizes alternative expressions of gender and sexuality. Society is heteronormative in that social institutions and policies reinforce these beliefs, such as college applications asking for the applicant’s mother and father, rather than parents, thus assuming heterosexuality, or any form asking for one’s gender and giving the option of male or female. While these assumptions aren’t necessarily oppressive in themselves, heteronormativity creates the backdrop for heterosexism to emerge. Heterosexism is what makes heterosexuality an oppressive institution in the sense that it places systematic constraints on the lives of gay men, lesbians, and even straight women.
Heteronormativity creates and maintains heterosexism. Heterosexism is “the system of beliefs and practices which suppresses, denies, and penalizes homosexuality on the grounds” of heteronormativity. In other words, heterosexism extends the beliefs of heteronormativity to the practical level of discriminating against gays and lesbians through societal customs and institutions, such as the U.S. military banning gay men and lesbians from enlisting. and the existence of sodomy laws--both of which are systematic constraints on the lives of homosexuals.
Heterosexism also gives privileges to heterosexuals. These privileges can be as simple as holding hands with one’s partner in public, or as important--legally, personally, and financially--as getting married. Homosexuals are, with some exceptions, denied these privileges that heterosexuals take for granted, and are therefore systematically constrained.
It is easy to see how heterosexuality is oppressive to all homosexuals by virtue of their sexual orientation, but we must go one step further and understand how it is also oppressive to all women, gay or straight, by virtue of their gender role. Although it seems like heterosexual women should be benefitting from heterosexual privilege, “the overall result of heterosexual relationships on women’s lives is not likely to be the conferral of privileges.” Straight women are in a contradictory position because although they receive some privileges by virtue of their heterosexuality, they are also oppressed by virtue of their gender based on the heteronormative belief that genders have natural roles, which virtually cancels out their heterosexual privilege. For example, all women think twice about walking home alone at night for fear of rape or violence.1 The ability to be raped is what defines a woman in our heterosexist society--her ability to be dominated by a man through heterosexual sex, as is her “natural” gender role. Also, “without a man” to protect her, “she is vulnerable to external violence,” thus making heterosexuality necessary for survival, and systematically constraining women.
Heterosexuality is an oppressive institution in the sense that it places systematic constraints on the lives of gay men, lesbians, and straight women through the assumptions imbedded in heteronormativity which are enacted through heterosexism. Because heterosexuality is an institution, its oppression is systematic, decentralized, and impersonal. Merely changing a few laws will not get rid of heteronormativity and heterosexism. In order to eradicate heteronormativity and heterosexism, those who benefit most from it--heterosexual males--must expose heterosexuality as oppressive and problematize it. All people can avoid investing power in the institution of heterosexuality by not conforming to gender roles and sexuality norms or accepting the privileges accorded to them based on the norms of masculinity and heterosexuality. Everyone must take responsibility and reject the oppressive institution of heterosexuality, because heteronormativity and heterosexism are not just problems for gays and lesbians, but for all women as well.