Heteronormativity

Heteronormativity

1. Language assumes heterosexuality

   • Defining women in relation to their marriage to men: 'miss, mrs'
     • This has changed with the advent of gay/lesbian marriages in the UK
   • Homosexuality as 'marked term'
     • Little research on 'heterosexual language', search for 'gay language'
       • Mostly focuses on gay men's use of language
     • It is now acceptable to be gay, but it’s still not okay to be a fag. You can be a lesbian, but not a dyke” (Wilchins, 2004: 19
   • If one speaks with a 'male' voice and speaks of a partner, assumption is that the partner is female
     • 'What's 'her' name, job, etc'
   • Queer theory: 'heteronormative language prescribes and rewards monogomous and reproductive heterosexuality.' (Cameron, 2005)
     • Examining heterosexual language
     • Performing heterosexuality at a young age
       • 8-9 year olds, the 'heterosexual market'
         • Having 'boyfriends' and 'girlfriends' - no interest in sex but to perform maturity and growing up (Eckert, 1994)
           • Linguistic device not used for actual meaning but to perform ideology of emotional development and of being heterosexual / normal
           • Status management amongst peers
   • Sexual deviance is gender deviance (Cameron, 2005)
     • Mimickry of heterosexuality and gender roles by LGB people (Cameron, 2005)
       • Naturalises heterosexuality through mimicry (Cameron, 2005)
   • The study of sexuality and language - and particularly 'heteronormative' language is a relatively new turn in language studies (Cameron, 2005)
   • Tanner: heterosexuality comes 'later' in development

2. Protest and the active challenging of heteronormativity

   • Early sociologists ignored homosexuality (pre 1950s, marx, weber)
     • Mary McIntosh (1967) - Homosexuality is a 'role' - people are not either gay or straight. Kinsey scale.
       • Questions about 'causes' are wrong questions
       • Social labelling of homosexuals as being 'ill' is heteronormative labelling - social control
         • 'permitted' and 'forbidden' behaviour
       • The need to fit homosexual behaviour into categories = heteronormative and incorrect
   • 'The Homophile Movement'
     • Co-operation with psychologists
     • Emphasised 'fitting in' with heteronormative culture
       • Accessorizing for women
     • The 'reasonable' face of activism
   • Wolfendon Report:
     • PRIVATE homosexuality reccomended not criminal
       • No 'flaunting'
       • If someone else is in house or in a public place = illegal
         • Gay Liberation Front Response: “Out of the closets and into the streets”
       • Homosexuality allowed hidden only
   • Stonewall Riots
     • Stonewall Inn- mafia owned, allowed openly LGBT people
       • Police raid took place
         • Led to demonstrations
   • Queer Politics
     • AIDS is not just a 'gay issue'
     • Deconstructing gay/straight and man/woman binary
   • Contemporary shift towards gay rights as 'human rights'
     • Campaign on european court of human rights to make gay sex legally a 'human right'
       • Gay sex as a human right - straight sex has been for some time.
       • Heteronormative language and legistlation
         • Most European Court of Human Rights legislation is still heteronormative
           • e.g. deportation rights
           • There has been some change!
             • Gay men and lesbians can now claim the privileged status of ‘family’ to combat a range of discrimination
             • Right to marry legislation

3. The Cultural Turn

   • Neo-liberal point of view more common
   • Gay representation on TV more normative
     • Lesbian women portrayed as masculine because feminine lesbians do not fit into 'norms' (Richardson, 1996)
   • Homophobia targeted at a specific 'type' of gay men
     • Effeminate
       • Shows how 'normative' expectations, not being 'flamboyant' still are important today
     • Homosexuality is a 'threat to masculinity'
   • Queer theory
     • Anti-essentialist, identity driven
       • Questioning identity categories
       • Problematizing heterosexuality as a norm
   • Radical Lesbian Feminism
     • Fight against heteronormativity and oppression by dating other women

4. Family and intimacy in late modernity

   • Gay marriage
     • Gender roles: idea of who is the 'man' and 'woman' is heteronormative
       • Research shows that lesbian and gay families tend to share roles equally (Dalton & Bielby, 2000)
         • Although some ascribe to 'roles'
         • Who takes time off for childcare depends on jobs etc
         • Using gender as a resource, lesbians proving their 'motherhood'
           • Sharing childcare and mother role
   • LGBT adoption
     • LGBT couples adopting kids
     • Adopting a partner's child (from heterosexual marriage)
       • Made easier by ability to have legal marriage
   • Increasing incorporation of LGBT families into popular culture

5. Men and women around the world

   • Uganda: illegal to be gay
     • Concepts of gender and sexuality are modern Western constructs of the self
     • No pre existing words in language for gay - use tong zhi, meaning 'comrade'
   • Some countries e.g. Uganda - being gay is still illegal
     • others e.g. the netherlands have had gay marriage for decades
       • Heteronormativity depends on the country
   • Some countries (The netherlands) have had gay marriage for centuries
   • china: only recently a word for gay, it means 'comrade'

6. Sexuality and violence

   • Violence in LGBT relationships usually committed by men on men
   • Bisexuals more likely to be victims of violence than either gay or straight people
     • Non-conformity, heteronormativity?

7. LGBT health

   • LGBT people more likely to victims of violence
   • LGBT people often denied rights to visit partners
   • More likely to have mental health issues
     • and be homeless
     • abuse drugs
   • Stigma and AIDS