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=== Parallels and intersections ===
=== Parallels and intersections ===


The ideas that underpin heterosexism can be linked to the concepts of [[racism]] and [[white privilege]]. All of these ideas and concepts promote privilege for dominating groups within a given society. On the one hand, racism against, for example, non-white people such as [[Black people|black]], [[Asian people|asian]], or [[Indigenous people|indigenous]] people, promotes privilege for [[white people]] as a group. On the other hand, heterosexism promotes privilege for the collectivity of heterosexual people (as individuals or couples) as well as some "[[straight-acting]]" gay men, lesbians, and bisexual people, who, in other words, are thought to project themselves as or be perceived as heterosexual. By analogy, this latter heterosexual privilege has often been called "[[Heterosexuality|straight]] privilege".
The ideas that underpin heterosexism can be linked to the concepts of [[racism]] and [[white privilege]]. All of these ideas and concepts promote privilege for dominating groups within a given society. On the one hand, racism against, for example, non-white people such as [[Black people|black]], [[Asian people|asian]], or [[Indigenous people|indigenous]] people, promotes privilege for [[white people]] as a group. On the other hand, heterosexism promotes privilege for the collectivity of heterosexual people (as individuals or couples) as well as some "[[straight-acting]]" gay men, lesbians, and bisexual people, who, in other words, are thought to project themselves as or be perceived as heterosexual. By analogy, this latter heterosexual privilege has often been called "[[Heterosexuality|straight]] privilege".{{cn}}


What's more, heterosexism can intersect with racism by further emphasizing differences among arbitrary groups of people. For example, heterosexism can compound the effects of racism by:
What's more, heterosexism can intersect with racism by further emphasizing differences among arbitrary groups of people. For example, heterosexism can compound the effects of racism by:
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Likewise, racism can allow LGBT people to be subjected to additional [[discrimination]] or violence if they belong to or are considered a part of a socially devalued racial category. <ref>(2008) Heterosexism and Homophobia. Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, 2, 1-4. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from Gale Virtual Reference Library: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.</ref> Some of the privileges afforded to people falling into the categories of white people and (perceived) heterosexuals include, but are not limited to, social acceptance, prestige, freedom from negative [[stereotypes]], and the comfort of being within the norm and thereby not being marginalized or viewed as different. <ref> Simoni, J. M. & Walters, K. L. (2001). Heterosexual Identity and Heterosexism: Recognizing Privilege to Reduce Prejudice. Journal of Homosexuality, 1(1), 157-173. Retrieved March 30, 2008 from Google Scholar: http://www.haworthpress.com/store/E-Text/View_EText.asp?a=3&fn=J082v41n01_06&i=1&s=J082&v=41</ref>
Likewise, racism can allow LGBT people to be subjected to additional [[discrimination]] or violence if they belong to or are considered a part of a socially devalued racial category. <ref>(2008) Heterosexism and Homophobia. Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, 2, 1-4. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from Gale Virtual Reference Library: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.</ref> Some of the privileges afforded to people falling into the categories of white people and (perceived) heterosexuals include, but are not limited to, social acceptance, prestige, freedom from negative [[stereotypes]], and the comfort of being within the norm and thereby not being marginalized or viewed as different. <ref> Simoni, J. M. & Walters, K. L. (2001). Heterosexual Identity and Heterosexism: Recognizing Privilege to Reduce Prejudice. Journal of Homosexuality, 1(1), 157-173. Retrieved March 30, 2008 from Google Scholar: http://www.haworthpress.com/store/E-Text/View_EText.asp?a=3&fn=J082v41n01_06&i=1&s=J082&v=41</ref>




== Heterosexism as a set of beliefs and attitudes ==
== Heterosexism as a set of beliefs and attitudes ==

Revision as of 13:08, 24 April 2008

Heterosexism is a term denoting the presumption that everyone is heterosexual and/or the belief that heterosexual people are naturally superior to homosexual and bisexual people. Heterosexism also encompasses discrimination and prejudice in favor of heterosexual people over gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, and transgender people. As a predisposition toward heterosexuals and heterosexuality, heterosexism has been described as being "encoded into and characteristic of the major social, cultural, and economic institutions of our society."[1]

Heterosexism thus includes the underlying beliefs and attitudes of such preference. Stemming from the essentialist cultural notion that maleness-masculinity and femaleness-femininity are complementary, heterosexism is not limited to heterosexuals; people of any sexual orientation, including gay men, lesbians or bisexuals, can hold heterosexist beliefs.[citation needed]

Background

Etymology and usage

The term heterocentrism or heterosexualism may be equivalent to heterosexism [2]. Although the well-established term heterosexism is often explained as a coinage modeled on sexism, the derivation of its meaning points more to (1.) heterosexual + -ism than (2.) hetero- + sexism. In fact, the portmanteau word heterosexualism has been proposed as a near equivalent. [3]

Given this lack of semantic transparency, researchers, outreach workers, critical theorists and LGBT activists have proposed and use terms such as institutionalized homophobia, state(-sponsored) homophobia,[4] sexual prejudice, anti-gay bigotry, straight privilege, The Straight Mind (a collection of essays by French writer Monique Wittig), heterosexual bias or the much lesser known terms heterocentrism, homonegativity, and from gender theory and queer theory, heteronormativity.

In everyday speech and writing, however, heterosexism is commonly confused with or eclipsed by the word homophobia, whose key meaning is antipathy towards gay men and lesbians.

Parallels and intersections

The ideas that underpin heterosexism can be linked to the concepts of racism and white privilege. All of these ideas and concepts promote privilege for dominating groups within a given society. On the one hand, racism against, for example, non-white people such as black, asian, or indigenous people, promotes privilege for white people as a group. On the other hand, heterosexism promotes privilege for the collectivity of heterosexual people (as individuals or couples) as well as some "straight-acting" gay men, lesbians, and bisexual people, who, in other words, are thought to project themselves as or be perceived as heterosexual. By analogy, this latter heterosexual privilege has often been called "straight privilege".[citation needed]

What's more, heterosexism can intersect with racism by further emphasizing differences among arbitrary groups of people. For example, heterosexism can compound the effects of racism by:

  • promoting injustices towards a person already facing injustices because of their race and
  • establishing social hierarchies that allow one group more privilege than other groups.

Likewise, racism can allow LGBT people to be subjected to additional discrimination or violence if they belong to or are considered a part of a socially devalued racial category. [5] Some of the privileges afforded to people falling into the categories of white people and (perceived) heterosexuals include, but are not limited to, social acceptance, prestige, freedom from negative stereotypes, and the comfort of being within the norm and thereby not being marginalized or viewed as different. [6]

Heterosexism as a set of beliefs and attitudes

See also: Religion and homosexuality, Homosexuality and psychology, Sexual orientation and medicine, and Social attitudes toward homosexuality

Heterosexism as a set of beliefs and attitudes relies on a core tenet according to which homosexuality and bisexuality do not normally exist and, as such, constitute illnesses or deviant behaviors. Within a heterosexist ideology or mindset, the well-established concept of sexual orientation is rejected. A set of more nuanced heterosexist views, which some may consider faith, dogma, universal truths, appeals to authority, or popular beliefs, but others consider to be conventional wisdom or sociobiological knowledge can include, among others, the following:

  • A person can choose his or her sexual “preference” and, as a result, homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or a current fad.
  • Homosexuality being wrong, ungodly, and against nature, it is therefore a sin, evil or subhuman.
  • Views identical or akin to Anita Bryant's notorious statement during her Save Our Children campaign:
"As a mother, I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must recruit our children."
  • Because of their lifestyle, homosexuals do not have families with children, so they undermine the survival of the human race. (natalism)

As well as comprising attitudes held by an individual or a social group, heterosexism can also exist as the expression of attitudes within an institution. As a result, schools, hospitals, and correctional institutions can act as a showcase for heterosexist attitudes in various ways. First, schools may implement these attitudes and ideas through unfair and inconsistent disciplinary actions. One such example is meting out harsher punishment to a same-sex couple violating the school ground rules while allowing a heterosexual couple to pass with an easier and more subtle disciplinary action for an equal or identical violation. Also, hospitals may limit patient visiting only to immediate family, i.e. relatives, and “exclude same sex partners”. Lastly, jails and prisons may reflect heterosexist attitudes by denying the existence of sexual activity between members of the same sex among the incarcerated or prohibiting safer sex education and the distribution of condoms. [7]

Heterosexism as discrimination

Explicit or open discrimination

This type of heterosexism includes anti-gay laws, harassment based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; negative stereotyping, discriminatory language and discourse, and other forms of discrimination against gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals such as:

Implicit or hidden discrimination

This form of heterosexism operates through invisibility, underrepresentation, and erasure. It includes:

  • Lack of portraying LGBT people in advertising to the general public;
  • Censorship of LGBT characters, themes, and issues in works of art, literature, entertainment;
  • Exclusion of historical and political figures’ and celebrities’ homosexuality or bisexuality, on equal terms with homosexuality; their portrayal as heterosexuals;
  • Complete avoidance of mentioning these people and their positive contributions particularly in news media;
  • In the context of sex education or professional advice, referring only to opposite-sex partners when discussing female or male sexual attraction and activity;
  • Total silence on LGBT issues at school or work or absence of their discussion in a positive light;
  • Implementation and use of content-control software (censorware) to filter out information and websites that focus on LGBT topics and issues;
  • Postal censorship and border control or customs seizure of publications deemed obscene solely on the basis of them containing LGBT-related material even when they contain no erotic or pornographic material; see also Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
  • Work environments that tacitly require gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals not to reveal their sexual orientation via discussion of their relationship status while heterosexuals can discuss their relationships and marital status freely;
  • At public libraries or bookstores: rejection, removal or destruction of LGBT-themed books, films, and posters;
  • Refusal to include LGBT parented families at school events or to represent such family diversity in school curricula; see also anti-bias curriculum;
  • Coercive or forced sex reassignment surgery on gay men and lesbians. For example, many Iranian gay men and lesbians must turn to sex-reassignment surgery as a strategy to avoid persecution and a death sentence; transsexuality and being transgender are not outright forbidden in the Qu'ran. See also: LGBT rights in Iran

Effects of heterosexism

The main effect of heterosexism is the marginalization of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals within society. Heterosexism has led to stigmatization and persecution of not only these people but also those of other sexual diversity such as transgender, and transsexual people. Along with violence against LGBT people, homophobia, lesbophobia, and internalized homophobia, heterosexism continues to be a significant social reality that compels people to conceal their homosexual or bisexual orientation, or metaphorically, to remain in the closet in an effort to pass for heterosexual.


The fear of being homosexual extends past social environments and into the workplace and political realms of our society. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom conducted a survey with the objective of determining how heterosexism and other gender prejudices prevent lesbians and gay men from advancing their roles in the political realm of society. [8] When a woman attempts to move up in her career position she is seen as “stepping out of the box”; she upsets the patriarchal system that demands that women be subordinate. [9] Though this problem weighs have between men and women it is still much of a problem for lesbians as well.

In culture

On singing duo Romanovsky and Phillips' album Be Political, Not Polite, the song "When Heterosexism Strikes" discusses possible actions in response to example cases of heterosexism. (lyrics)

References

  1. ^ Dines, Gail (2002). Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. ISBN 076192261X.
  2. ^ Corsini, Raymond J. (1992). The Dictionary of Psychology. ISBN 1583913289.
  3. ^ Gregory M. Herek. "Definitions: Homophobia, Heterosexism, and Sexual Prejudice".
  4. ^ International Lesbian and Gay Association. "State-sponsored Homophobia"
  5. ^ (2008) Heterosexism and Homophobia. Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, 2, 1-4. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from Gale Virtual Reference Library: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.
  6. ^ Simoni, J. M. & Walters, K. L. (2001). Heterosexual Identity and Heterosexism: Recognizing Privilege to Reduce Prejudice. Journal of Homosexuality, 1(1), 157-173. Retrieved March 30, 2008 from Google Scholar: http://www.haworthpress.com/store/E-Text/View_EText.asp?a=3&fn=J082v41n01_06&i=1&s=J082&v=41
  7. ^ (2008). Heterosexism and Homophobia. Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, 2, 1-4. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from Gale Virtual Reference Library: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.
  8. ^ Morin, C. & Zepernick, M. (2005). Heterosexism: How does it affect our political work? Peace and Freedom, 14(2), 1. Retrieved March 30, 2008 from Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.
  9. ^ Morin, C. & Zepernick, M. (2005). Heterosexism: How does it affect our political work? Peace and Freedom, 14(2), 1. Retrieved March 30, 2008 from Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.

See also

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Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special%3ADiff%2F207848121