Editing Heteronormativity (section)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{short description|Concept asserting heterosexuality as the only social norm}}
{{Distinguish|Heteronomy}}
{{globalize|article|2=Anglosphere|date=January 2023}}
{{LGBTQ sidebar|attitudes}}
{{Discrimination sidebar|Related}}
'''Heteronormativity''' is the definition of [[heterosexuality]] as the [[Normativity|normative]] [[human sexuality]].<ref name="Harris">{{cite book|vauthors =Harris J, White V|title =A Dictionary of Social Work and Social Care|isbn = 978-0-19-251686-2 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2018|access-date=19 August 2018|page=335|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M3FGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT335}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Joyce |first1=Rosemary A. |title=Heteronormativity |journal=The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality |date=2015 |pages=501–581 |doi=10.1002/9781118896877.wbiehs205}}</ref> It assumes the [[gender binary]] (i.e., that there are only two distinct, opposite [[gender]]s) and that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of the opposite sex.

Heteronormativity creates and upholds a social hierarchy based on sexual orientation with the practice and belief that heterosexuality is deemed as the [[Social norm|societal norm]].<ref>Ray, T. N., & Parkhill, M. R. (2021). Heteronormativity, Disgust Sensitivity, and Hostile Attitudes toward Gay Men: Potential Mechanisms to Maintain Social Hierarchies. Sex Roles, 84(1/2), 49–60. {{doi|10.1007/s11199-020-01146-w}}</ref><references group="Ray, T. N., & Parkhill, M. R. (2021). Heteronormativity, Disgust Sensitivity, and Hostile Attitudes toward Gay Men: Potential Mechanisms to Maintain Social Hierarchies. Sex Roles, 84(1/2), 49–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-020-01146-w" /> A heteronormative view, therefore, involves alignment of biological [[sex]], [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], [[gender identity]] and [[gender role]]s. Heteronormativity has been linked to [[heterosexism]] and [[homophobia]],<ref name="Harris" /><ref name="Gorski">{{cite book|vauthors =Goodman RD, Gorski PC|title =Decolonizing "Multicultural" Counseling through Social Justice|isbn = 978-1-4939-1283-4 |publisher=[[Springer Publishing|Springer]]|year=2014|access-date=19 August 2018|pages=28–30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MeYlBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA28}}</ref> and the effects of societal heteronormativity on [[lesbian]], [[gay]] and [[bisexual]] individuals have been described as heterosexual or "straight" [[privilege (sociology)|privilege]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Williford |first1=Beth |title=Heterosexual privilege |journal=Encyclopedia of Gender and Society |year=2009 |pages=418–420 |doi=10.4135/9781412964517 |isbn=9781412909167 |url=http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/gender/n208.xml|url-access=subscription }}</ref>