Essay On Heteronormativity

In modern culture people are presumed straight until proven otherwise. This ideology is what social theorists have claimed title to as heteronormativity. These uncivilized notions systemize the binaries of both sexual orientation and gender identity. Heteronormativity is a structure of hierarchal binaries that discriminates anyone who does not fit the social “norm” of heterosexuality. Heteronormative mindsets have damaging effects on queer society because they deem heterosexuality as the superior orientation; queer people are underrepresented in the media, politics, culture and other areas of life, leading them to feel marginalized, and it moreover encourages people to stay oblivious to queer orientations.

Sexuality is the whole of a person, including all aspects of a boy or a girl, a man or a woman, and a lifelong change. Sexuality reflects the human personality, not just sexuality. As a general expression of personality, sexuality involves the biological, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural factors of life. These factors affect the development of personality and the relationship between people and consequently the impact on society. Through sexuality, homosexuality is considered as a sexual orientation, a tendency for intimate, unconditional love, for people of the same gender. There are two kinds of homosexuality in society such as gay and lesbian that have feelings with the same gender. According to Module 9 – Slide 20, professor Aguilera points out, “Heterosexism- society reinforces heterosexuality and marginalizes anyone who does not conform to this norm” (Aguilera 2017:20). Moreover, heterosexism is the love or sexual relationship with people who have the different gender or normal sexual relationship between a man and a woman. By definition, people easily distinguish between homosexuality and heterosexism. The homosexuality is the love between people who have the same gender, and the heterosexism is the love between people who have the different gender. The emotional relationship between a man and a woman is a natural relationship and everyone knows and accepts in the last

Many people from the United States hold the belief that being gay is something that has always been considered to be okay. They believe that it is just a given. Despite people’s current beliefs on the subject, for a very long time, it was something that was widely believed to be taboo. In the past, people were imprisoned due to their sexuality. Regardless, throughout the decades, people have pushed for the widespread acceptance of people who are part of the LGBT community. Today, homophobia still exists in some parts of the United States, but we have come a long way since the early 1900s.

Heterosexism, according to Warren J. Blumenfeld, is the system of advantages given to heterosexuals based on the social construct of gender roles and heterosexual norms, while marginalizing and oppressing homosexuals and others who do not fit into the heterosexual culture (373). The enforcement of this system is known as heteronormality. This is seen in the binary system, which is a social construct that divides people into different strictly bordered categories organized by “social roles, values, stereotypes, and behavioral and attitudinal imperatives, expressions, and expectations” (Blumenfeld 373). Those who stick to the binary system, maintain power and privilege. People who may live in the binary system, but also intentionally

This paper will continue on, researching the societal change/acceptance in the gay and lesbian community as no longer being unorthodox and with the stigma coming from the gay community itself.

From the moment a child is born, the society in which they are born into begins to teach the child what is normal, and what is not. If the aforementioned child has a vagina, they will be labeled a girl and assumed to be heterosexual, and the same principle applies if the child has a penis. Yet the human world is not as simple as this established gender binary. For example, there are people who identify with a gender other than the sex assigned at birth.1 There are also people who are not sexually attracted strictly to the opposite gender, or at all. Such diversions from societal normality are more often than not greeted with opposition, as what is considered normal is also deemed right. The LGBT community has had to deal with fierce societal

Heteronormativity is the idea that heterosexuality and male and female gender binaries are the default. It has an emphasis on strict gender roles that feed into the idea that males are supposed to be strong protectors, sole providers, and reject anything deemed “feminine”. These ideas are further advanced by the notion of courtly love, which see the males as a dotting servant to women, the objects of their affection, but in reality is a tool of narcissism.

In “The Myth of Homosexuality” by Christine Downing, there is the discussion of homosexuality and its meaning over the years. Downing begins the article by stating how a myth has classified women-on-women and men-on-men relationships to fall under the same term of homosexuality, but there is much deeper understanding to it than that. The classification under one word has caused a lot of shaping concerning how they are viewed or how they view themselves. In order to look past the surface of what defines the myth, Downing states that we must start with the culture’s myth and it’s origin.

Around the age of three, children start establishing their gender identity. Humans involved in their life usually inform of material such as: Girls have long hair, boys have short hair, girls wear dresses, and boys wear pants. However, if one of these children discovers that they belong to the homosexual portion of our country during their post-adolescence time period, they will fail to obtain mutual respect from their peers because the elderly figures in their peers’ lives have educated them on how the “regular”girl or guy

“As the Equity Project points out, heterosexism and homophobia can have disastrous results for lesbian, gays, bisexual, transgender youth” (Bates & Swan, Pg. 155). In this week’s journal, the question arises. Looking back over the course of your teenage and childhood years, what are some ways that can now recognize as heterosexism and/or homophobia affecting young people? More so my middle school years, teens who were heterosexism and homophobia tended to be isolated from the big group of kids. Further, they were segregated from the popular clique and were looked at as the “weird” kids. Being labeled as the weird kids, they frequently tried to cope things out with drugs and alcohol. Like the article states, “LGBT youth often become homeless

The gay personality may be determined during a child’s early years of development or throughout the individual’s life. A lesbian or gay individual like heterosexual individuals are influenced by family, peers, and society. Family structure, social factors, and cognition and conditioning help the development of sexual identity (Kwiatkowski, 2010). The child while living with the parents, adopt many of the customs and values the parents emphasize. The parents may stress the importance of gender roles in the household which the child may learn to

Throughout history, society’s views of homosexuality and of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) have changed. These views have changed how the members of this community feel about their personal identity as a whole. Over the last ten years, homosexuality and the LGBTQ community have become more accepted in society. In fact, a recent victory for the LGBTQ community occurred in June of 2015 when gay marriage become legalized in all fifty states. Despite the immense torture that members of the LGBTQ have received over decades, they are slowly becoming more accepted in today’s society. As society begins to become more tolerant with different ideals, the new and younger generations will continue to become more accepting of the people who identify as members of the LGBTQ community. These members will become more comfortable in their own skin and be allowed the same opportunities so other members of society.

According to an opinion widely held, homosexuality is said to be freer today than ever before. It is present and visible everywhere: in the street, in the newspapers, on television, at the movies. It is even supposedly completely accepted, judging by the recent legislative advances made in many countries for the recognition of same sex couples. Certainly, some work remains necessary in order to eradicate the last vestiges of discrimination. But with changing public opinion, it will only be, according to some people, a matter of time, the time needed for a movement begun many decades earlier to achieve its goals.

In chapter seven, of Social Inequality Forms, Causes, and Consequences, gender identity and sexual orientation are discussed. The chapter discusses transgender;

The realization of the homosexuality in the modern western world as a cultural, sexual and a social category has been a result of complex power relations that surround sexuality and gender. The acceptance of homosexuality in the society has met its fair share of resistance and skepticism. The view that homosexuality can be in the same league as heterosexual has led it to be viewed as a normal behavioral and moral standard (Gallagher & Baker, 2006). Inasmuch as the skeptics may not want to accept the existence of homosexuality studies show that the habit is rampant today with many gay people coming out in the open. Of interest is the political acceptance of homosexuality with passing gay rights so that it can be recognized by law. This move has given homosexuals the ability to engage in legal entities like marriage (Gallagher & Baker, 2006).