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 identity, it confers a variety of privileges in Western culture. People are often assumed to be heterosexuality unless they identify themselves concretely as nonheterosexual (“coming out”). This constructs heterosexuality as the “normal” and “default” identity, putting those who do not identify as heterosexual at a distinct disadvantage. Some refer to the privileging of heterosexual identity over other identities as “heterosexism,” a theoretically different concept than “homophobia” because it references privilege rather than hatred, fear, or aversion.

Feminist theorist, Adrienne Rich, famously identified heterosexuality as “compulsory,” meaning that homosexuality and heterosexuality are not constructed as equally acceptable and viable options for sexual identity. Rather, people are taught from an early age that heterosexuality is often considered the “normal” and “righteous” identity while heterosexuality or bisexuality are often considered “abnormal” and “deviant.” As such, all institutions privilege and favor heterosexuals, often at the expense of homosexuals. For example, the media rarely recognizes same sex couples but almost always portrays heterosexual couples. Girls and boys are taught in schools that they should find a partner of the opposite sex. The military does not recognize homosexuals but instead assumes that all service people are heterosexual.

Legal and social situations also value heterosexuality above homosexuality. In many countries throughout the world, homosexuality is a punishable offense, where those caught engaging in samesex behaviors can be put in jail or even sentenced to death. Eighty countries continue to consider homosexuality illegal. For example, throughout the Middle

East, heterosexuality is the only recognized form of sexuality, as homosexual activity is punished with the death penalty in Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. Since 1979, the Iranian government has executed more than 4,000 people charged with homosexual activity. Globally, accusations of homosexuality have led to arrests, murders, and mass “roundups” in a number of countries, including Zimbabwe, North Korea, China, Russia, Afghanistan, and Ghana.

Recent debates in the United States about marriage have identified the unjust favoritism present in the fact that only heterosexual people can marry, while homosexual people cannot marry. Conservatives often argue against gay marriage based on the idea that heterosexuals can reproduce, though liberals often point out that artificial means of conception are possible and that conservatives simply do not want to recognize homosexual couples. Even wedding ceremonies favor heterosexuality, as women are expected to be “given away” by their fathers to their husbands, and men traditionally ask the father's permission to marry his daughter. Homosexual couples have fought numerous legal battles over the right to marry, often confronting intense opposition within the conservative heterosexual community.

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