- Entry
- Reader's guide
- Entries A-Z
- Subject index
Compulsory Heterosexuality
First coined by Adrienne Rich (1980), the term compulsory heterosexuality refers to the idea that heterosexuality is constructed, institutionalized, and reinforced as not only a universal, but the only “normal” and “acceptable” form of sexuality. One idea behind compulsory heterosexuality ...
- Arts, Popular Culture, and Sports
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Advertising, Gender Images in
- Art, Gender Images In
- Barbie
- Bodybuilding
- Cheerleading
- Children's Literature, Gender Images in
- Diaries
- Feminist Magazines
- Gender Roles on Television Shows
- GI Joe
- Hip-Hop/Rap
- Media and Gender Socialization
- Media and Gender Stereotypes
- Men's Magazines
- Primetime Comedy
- Primetime Drama
- Quilting
- Romance Fiction
- Rosie the Riveter
- Sports and Homosexuality
- Superheroes
- Surfing
- Toys
- Women Artists
- Women's Museums
- Wonder Woman
- Associations and Organizations
- Féministes Révolutionnaires
- ABANTU for Development
- ACT UP
- All India Women's Conference
- All-China Women's Federation
- American Birth Control League
- American Civil Liberties Union
- American Men's Studies Association
- American Woman Suffrage Association
- Arabic Feminist Union
- Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)
- Bluestocking Society
- Brazilian Federation for the Advancement of Women
- Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE)
- Christian Coalition
- Coalition on Violence Against Women (Kenya)
- Committee on Women, Population, and the Environment
- Concerned Women for America
- Daughters of Bilitis
- Development Alternatives With Women in a New Era
- Federation of South African Women
- Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
- Gender Public Advocacy Coalition
- General Union of Palestinian Women
- Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association
- Human Rights Campaign
- Indigenous Women's Network
- Mattachine Society
- National American Woman Suffrage Association
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws
- National Association of Colored Women
- National Coalition of American Nuns
- National Congress of Mothers
- National Council of Negro Women
- National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
- National Organization for Men Against Sexism
- National Organization for Women (NOW)
- National Woman's Party
- National Women's Political Caucus
- North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA)
- Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Promise Keepers
- Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
- Self-Employed Women's Association
- Sociologists for Women in Society
- United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
- Woman's Peace Party
- Women Against Violence Against Women
- Women, Food and Agriculture Network
- Women's Christian Temperance Union
- Women's Equity Action League
- Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
- Women's Peace Society
- Women's Political Council
- Women's Social and Political Union
- Women's World Banking
- Biographies
- Abzug, Bella
- Addams, Jane
- Anthony, Susan B.
- Anzaldúa, Gloria
- Balch, Emily Greene
- Benedict, Ruth
- Benjamin, Harry
- Blackburn, Molly
- Cooper, Anna Julia
- Day, Dorothy
- de Beauvoir, Simone
- Earhart, Amelia Mary
- Ellis, Havelock
- Erickson, Reed
- First, Ruth
- Freud, Sigmund
- Gandhi, Indira Priyadarshini Nehru
- Gilman, Charlotte Perkins
- Goldman, Emma
- Hamer, Fannie Lou
- Hay, Harry
- Hirschfeld, Magnus
- Jones, Mary Harris (Mother)
- Jorgensen, Christine
- Kamal, Sufia
- Kinsey, Alfred C.
- Komarovsky, Mirra
- Krafft-Ebing, Richard von
- Marcuse, Herbert
- Martineau, Harriet
- Mead, Margaret
- Mother Teresa
- Naidu, Sarojini
- Nightingale, Florence
- Orshansky, Mollie
- Ramabai, Pandita
- Rankin, Jeannette
- Ransome-Kuti, Olufunmilayo
- Rivera, Sylvia
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
- Sanger, Margaret
- Sarria, José
- Shaarawi, Huda
- Shepard, Matthew
- Stanton, Elizabeth Cady
- Teena, Brandon
- Truth, Sojourner
- Wollstonecraft, Mary
- Body Image, Health, and Illness
- Ageism
- AIDS and International Women's Health
- Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
- Beauty Pageants
- Body Hair
- Body Image
- Body Politics
- Breast Implants
- Butch/Femme
- Cancer
- Castration
- Cervical Cancer Vaccination
- Chromosome Disorders
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Depression
- Dieting
- Disability
- Eating Disorders
- Emotion Work
- Eugenics
- Exercise and Fitness
- Female Circumcision/Female Genital Mutilation
- Feminist Magazines
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Gender Transgression
- Gynecology
- Health Care Systems, Hidden/Informal
- Health Disparities
- Hegemonic Masculinity
- HIV/AIDS
- Hormone Therapy
- Hormones
- Hysterectomy
- Hysteria
- Infant Mortality Rates
- Infertility
- Intersexual, Intersexuality
- Lookism
- Male Circumcision
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Mental Health
- Midwifery
- New Reproductive Technologies
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Pregnancy
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Self-Esteem
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Steroids
- Suicide
- Traditional Healing
- Women's Health Movements
- Yin-Yang
- Crime and Criminal Justice
- Access to Justice
- Crime and Criminal Justice, Gender and
- Death Penalty, Gender and the
- Domestic Violence
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Gangs, Boys
- Gangs, Girls
- Genocide
- Honor Killings
- ManKind Project, The
- Mental Health
- Mentors in Violence Prevention Model
- Prison and Parenting
- Prison Culture and Demographics
- Rape
- Rape, Statutory
- Rehabilitation
- Sentencing, Gender Differences
- Sex Work (Prostitution)
- Sexual Harassment
- Sexual Slavery
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Torture
- Economics, Environment, and Ecology
- Aid to Families with Dependent Children
- Comparable Worth
- Domestic Labor
- Economy: History of Women's Participation
- Family Wage
- Female Farming Systems
- Feminization of Labor
- Feminization of Migration
- Gender Wage Gap
- Glass Ceiling
- Global Care Chain Work
- Health Care Systems, Hidden/Informal
- Health Disparities
- Hostile Work Environment
- Household Livelihood Strategies
- Immigrant Households and Gender Dynamics
- Infant Mortality Rates
- Labor Force Participation Rates by Gender
- Mental Health
- Microlending
- Mommy Track
- Occupational Segregation
- Poverty, Feminization of
- Private/Public Spheres
- Sex Work (Prostitution)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Welfare Reform
- Workfare
- Gender Identities and Roles
- Affirmative Action
- Alpha Male
- Androcentrism
- Androgyny
- Assertiveness Training
- Bears
- Beauty Pageants
- Bem Sex Role Inventory
- Berdache (Two-Spirit)
- Bifurcated Consciousness
- Biological Determinism
- Butch/Femme
- Camp
- Compulsory Heterosexuality
- Consciousness-Raising
- Cross-Dressing
- Discursive Theories of Gender
- Drag King
- Drag Queen
- Ethics and Moral Development, Gender Differences in
- Feminine Mystique
- Footbinding
- Gangs, Boys
- Gangs, Girls
- Gender Dysphoria
- Gender Identities and Socialization
- Gender Identity Disorder
- Gender Outlaw
- Gender Performance
- Gender Role Ideology and Intimacy
- Gender Roles on Television Shows
- Gender Stereotypes
- Gender Transgression
- Genderqueer
- Glass Ceiling
- Hegemonic Masculinity
- Hijra/Hejira
- Hormones
- Hysteria
- Institution, Gender as
- Intersexual, Intersexuality
- Language, Gender Differences
- Lesbian
- Lesbian Separatism
- Lesbian Stereotypes
- Male Feminists
- Menstruation
- Military Masculinity
- Misogyny
- Mommy Track
- Nature/Nurture Debate
- Oedipal Conflict
- Passing
- Privilege, Male
- Self-Esteem
- Sex Versus Gender Categorization
- Sexism
- Sexual Activity: Age at First Intercourse
- Sexual Identities and Socialization
- Stone Butch
- Tomboy/Sissy
- Transgender
- Transsexual
- Transvestite
- Virginity
- International Development and Human Rights
- Asaf Ali, Aruna
- Caste
- Comfort Women
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
- Death Penalty, Gender and the
- Dowry Prohibition Act
- Dowry/Daaj
- Eugenics
- Female Circumcision/Female Genital Mutilation
- Female Farming Systems
- Femicide
- Feminist Activism in Latin America
- Feminization of Migration
- Footbinding
- Genocide
- Global Care Chain Work
- HIV/AIDS
- Honor Killings
- Immigrant Households and Gender Dynamics
- Infant Mortality Rates
- International Women's Day
- Maquiladora
- Microlending
- Midwifery
- NGOs and First- and Second-Generation Rights for Women
- NGOs and Grassroots Organizing
- Population Control
- Pornography, Legal and Political Perspectives
- Postcolonial/Subaltern Feminism
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Rape
- Sex Tourism
- Sex Work (Prostitution)
- Sexual Rights and Citizenship
- Sexual Slavery
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Torture
- Transnational Development, Women and
- United Nations Development Fund for Women
- Politics, Public Policy, and Social Movements
- “Don't Ask, Don't Tell”
- “Personal Is Political”
- Vindication of the Rights of Woman, A
- Abortion
- Affirmative Action
- Aid to Families with Dependent Children
- Anti-Miscegenation Laws
- Assertiveness Training
- Black Feminist Thought
- Bloomsbury Group
- Body Politics
- Consciousness-Raising
- Death Penalty, Gender and the
- Declaration of Sentiments
- Declaration of the Rights of Women
- Defense of Marriage Act
- Disability
- Equal Pay Act of 1963
- Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
- Eugenics
- Family Law
- Family Medical Leave Act
- Feminism and Militarization
- Feminist Activism in Latin America
- Femocrat
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Fetal Rights/Public Fetus
- Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
- Gender Discrimination in Employment
- Health Care Systems, Hidden/Informal
- HIV/AIDS
- Hull House
- Intersexual, Intersexuality
- Lesbian Feminism
- Lookism
- ManKind Project, The
- Marriage Promotion Act
- Married Women's Property Acts
- Men's Movements
- Mentors in Violence Prevention Model
- Military Masculinity
- Military, Women in Relation to
- Military, Women Serving in
- Million Man March
- New Reproductive Technologies
- NGOs and First- and Second-Generation Rights for Women
- NGOs and Grassroots Organizing
- Nineteenth Amendment
- Poor Women's Grassroots Organizations in America
- Population Control
- Pornography, Legal and Political Perspectives
- Seneca Falls Convention
- Sentencing, Gender Differences
- Sex Work (Prostitution)
- Sex-Radical Feminists
- Sexuality and Reproduction
- Suffrage Movement
- Surrogacy
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Title IX
- Transgender Political Organizing
- Uniform Marital Property Act
- United Nations Decade for Women
- Universal Human Rights
- Violence Against Women Act
- Welfare Reform
- Women and National Identity
- Women's Political Council
- Women's Social Movements, History of
- Workfare
- Race and Ethnicity
- “Down Low,” The
- Access to Justice
- Activo/Passivo Sex Roles
- Anti-Miscegenation Laws
- Anzaldúa, Gloria
- Berdache (Two-Spirit)
- Black Feminist Thought
- Body Politics
- Caste
- Colorism
- Death Penalty, Gender and the
- Ethnic Cleansing
- Eugenics
- Gangs, Boys
- Gangs, Girls
- Genocide
- Global Care Chain Work
- Health Care Systems, Hidden/Informal
- Health Disparities
- Hijra/Hejira
- Hip-Hop/Rap
- HIV/AIDS
- Immigrant Households and Gender Dynamics
- Indian General Allotment Act
- Intersectionality
- Kamal, Sufia
- Lookism
- Mail-Order Brides
- Maquiladora
- Mestiza Consciousness
- Million Man March
- Naidu, Sarojini
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- National Association of Colored Women
- National Council of Negro Women
- Postcolonial/Subaltern Feminism
- Prison Culture and Demographics
- Ramabai, Pandita
- Ransome-Kuti, Olufunmilayo
- Sarria, José
- Sati
- Self-Esteem
- Sentencing, Gender Differences
- Shaarawi, Huda
- Stratified Reproduction
- Sufia Kamal
- Torture
- Traditional Healing
- Truth, Sojourner
- Relationships, Marriage, and the Family
- Adultery
- Aid to Families with Dependent Children
- Arranged Marriages
- Bachelors and Spinsters
- Bisexuality
- Boston Marriages
- Bridal Industry
- Caregiving
- Child Support
- Chivalry
- Cohabitation
- Commitment Ceremonies
- Courtly Love
- Courtship
- Deadbeat Dads
- Divorce
- Domestic Labor
- Domestic Partners/Civil Unions
- Domestic Violence
- Dowry/Daaj
- Eldercare
- Emotion Work
- Extended Families
- Family Law
- Family Medical Leave Act of 1963
- Family Wage
- Family, Organization of
- Fatherhood Movements
- Feminization of Migration
- Gender Stereotypes
- Global Care Chain Work
- Gynecology
- Hegemonic Masculinity
- Household Family and Medical Leave Act
- Household Livelihood Strategies
- Immigrant Households and Gender Dynamics
- Incest
- Infertility
- Mail-Order Brides
- Marriage
- Marriage Promotion Act
- Married Women's Property Acts
- Mate Selection
- Maternalism
- Maternity Leave
- Matrilineal Systems
- Midwifery
- Military Families
- Monogamy
- Motherhood
- Online Dating
- Parental Leave
- Patriarchy
- Polyamory
- Polygamy
- Poverty, Feminization of
- Pregnancy
- Prison and Parenting
- Private/Public Spheres
- Romance and Relationships
- Same-Sex Families
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Sati
- Sexuality and Reproduction
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Single-Parent Households
- Sperm Donors
- Surrogacy
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Uniform Marital Property Act
- Veiling
- Welfare Reform
- Wet Nursing
- Workfare
- Religion, Mythology, and Spirituality
- Christianity and Homosexuality
- Christianity: Status of Women in
- Clergy Sex Scandals
- Deities, Gender Images and
- Divine Feminine Spirituality
- Honor Killings
- Hysteria
- Judaism, Gender Roles and
- Mormons, Gender Roles and
- Nuns
- Polygamy
- Religion, Gender Roles in
- Shakti Shanthi
- Shari'a
- Theology, Feminist
- Traditional Healing
- Voodoo
- Wicca
- Witches
- Women and Islam
- Yin-Yang
- Science, Research, Education, and Technology
- Breast Implants
- Cancer
- Chromosome Disorders
- Cyborg Manifesto
- Depression
- Domestic Technology
- Education: Chilly Climate in the Classroom
- Education: Gender Differences
- Feminist Bioethics
- Feminist Disability Theory
- Feminist Ethnography
- Feminist Methodology
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Gender and the Brain
- Gender and the Internet
- Genetic Prenatal Testing
- Gynecology
- HIV/AIDS
- Hormone Therapy
- Hysterectomy
- Masculinity Studies
- Materialist Feminism
- Menopause
- Mental Health
- Midwifery
- New Reproductive Technologies
- Population Control
- Postmodern Feminism
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Psychoanalytic Feminism
- Queer Studies
- Research, Gender Bias in
- Scientific Motherhood
- Sex Education
- Sexology and Sex Research
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Standpoint Theory
- Steroids
- Traditional Healing
- Transgender Studies
- Women in Science
- Women Studies
- Women's Health Movements
- Sexuality and Reproduction
- “Down Low,” The
- Tearoom Trade
- Abortion
- Activo/Passivo Sex Roles
- Bisexuality
- Breastfeeding
- Celibacy
- Chastity
- Compulsory Heterosexuality
- Contraception
- Cybersex
- Feminist Sex Wars
- Fertility Rates
- Heterosexual Privilege
- Heterosexuality
- Homophobia
- Homosexuality
- Incest
- Infertility
- Lesbian
- Masturbation
- Mate Selection
- Morning-After Pill
- Nature/Nurture Debate
- New Reproductive Technologies
- Penile Erectile Dysfunction
- Phallocentrism
- Polyamory
- Pornography, Contemporary-Mainstream
- Pornography, Legal and Political Perspectives
- Queer
- Sadomasochism
- Safer Sex
- Sex Toys
- Sexology and Sex Research
- Sex-Radical Feminists
- Sexual Activity: Age at First Intercourse
- Sexual Identities and Socialization
- Sexual Rights and Citizenship
- Sexual Slavery
- Sexuality and Reproduction
- Sodomy
- Sperm Donors
- Sports and Homosexuality
- Sterilization
- Stratified Reproduction
- Surrogacy
- Tea Rooms
- Teen Pregnancy
- Virginity
165444- Loading...
Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL
-
Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life -
Read modern, diverse business cases
-
Explore hundreds of books and reference titles
Add to list closeHave you created a personal profile? Login or create a profile so that you can save clips, playlists and searches
Read next
More like this
SAGE Recommends
We found other relevant content for you on other SAGE platforms.
link backcloseWant to try SAGE Knowledge first?icon warningSign up for a free trial and experience all SAGE Knowledge has to offer.
start free 30 day trialYou must have a valid academic email address to sign up.
closeWith institutional access I can:Want to try SAGE Knowledge first?- View or download all content my institution has access to
Sign up for a free trial and experience all SAGE Knowledge has to offer.
start free 30 day trialYou must have a valid academic email address to sign up.