Heterosexuality

Heterosexuality typically refers to sexual attraction, desire, and erotic interest in the opposite sex. Debates exist about whether sexual identity should be categorized as a set of practices, a set of attitudes and desires, or as a self-identified concept. One might [Page 686]engage in heterosexual behaviors but not self-identify as heterosexual; similarly, one might not engage in heterosexual behaviors yet recognize attraction to the same sex.

Still others might self-identify as heterosexual even while participating in same-sex behavior (e.g., heterosexual-identified women kissing other women at bars in front of their boyfriends). Further, heterosexuality is often considered invisible because of its privileged status. That is, heterosexuality primarily appears in relationship to homosexuality and bisexuality, particularly when recognizing the “heterosexual-homosexual continuum.”

Because heterosexuality is often unrecognized as an ...