Pronounced "HEH-ter-OH SEX-is-um"
Related terms include heteronormativity, cissexism, biphobia, queer.
"It's heterosexist to say that you don't care about gay marriage just because it doesn't directly affect your rights."
Heterosexism is the idea that heterosexuality is a normal, natural, or superior state of human sexual orientation, and the system of oppresion based on that belief. It is very closely related to homophobia and the two ideas tend to coexist. Like homophobia and cissexism, heterosexism exists on both a societal and individual level and can be either deliberate or unintentional on part of the person holding those beliefs.
Cultural heterosexism is a major obstacle in attaining marriage equality and other recognition of same-sex relationships. Related acts and ideas-- such as homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia-- can also lead to acts of violence and discrimination LGBT+ individuals.
The word heterosexism was developed as a portmanteau, from "hetero-sex," meaning "opposite sex,"and "-ism," often used as a suffix in reference to forms of oppression such as racism and sexism. Alternative terms for the same concept include institutionalized homophobia, heterocentrism, and heterosexualism.
Showing posts with label hetero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hetero. Show all posts
Definition of "Heteronormativity"
Pronounced "HEH-ter-OH-NOR-muh-TIV-ih-TEE."
Related terms include cisnormativity, heterosexism, gender binary, gender essentialism .
"The paperwork for my kids' school has a space for contact information for 'mom' and one for 'dad.' That's so heteronormative."
Heternormativity is the belief or assumption that all people are heterosexual, or that heterosexuality is the default or "normal" state of human being. It tends to complement and accompany concepts like cisnormativity, gender binarism, and gender essentialism. A heteronormative society operates on the assumption that heterosexuality and specific gender features are the human "default." These assumptions can be hurtful because they are stigmatizing and marginalizing, making people who are LGBT+ feel like they are perceived as deviant or unnatural.
The concept of heteronormativity can exist on both a societal and individual level. On a societal level, heteronormativity takes the form of denying marriage equality and same-sex adoption. On an individual level, it can take a form of unintentionally inaccurate assumptions-- such as assuming that a woman is referring to a man when she mentions a spouse or fiance.
The term heteronormativity traces its origins to the early 90s, when it was popularized by Queer Theory expert Michael Warner in "Fear of a Queer Planet." It is a portmanteau of "hetero-" meaning opposite, as in heterosexual, and "normativity," meaning a system of normative assumptions.
Related terms include cisnormativity, heterosexism, gender binary, gender essentialism .
"The paperwork for my kids' school has a space for contact information for 'mom' and one for 'dad.' That's so heteronormative."
Heternormativity is the belief or assumption that all people are heterosexual, or that heterosexuality is the default or "normal" state of human being. It tends to complement and accompany concepts like cisnormativity, gender binarism, and gender essentialism. A heteronormative society operates on the assumption that heterosexuality and specific gender features are the human "default." These assumptions can be hurtful because they are stigmatizing and marginalizing, making people who are LGBT+ feel like they are perceived as deviant or unnatural.
The concept of heteronormativity can exist on both a societal and individual level. On a societal level, heteronormativity takes the form of denying marriage equality and same-sex adoption. On an individual level, it can take a form of unintentionally inaccurate assumptions-- such as assuming that a woman is referring to a man when she mentions a spouse or fiance.
The term heteronormativity traces its origins to the early 90s, when it was popularized by Queer Theory expert Michael Warner in "Fear of a Queer Planet." It is a portmanteau of "hetero-" meaning opposite, as in heterosexual, and "normativity," meaning a system of normative assumptions.
Posted by
Juniper Russo
Definition of "Ally"
Pronounced "AL-eye"
Related terms include cishet, oppression, erasure.
"As an ally to the LGBT+ community, I have chosen not to marry my opposite-sex partner until same-sex marriage is legalized."
Within the context of progressive culture, an ally is a person who is not a member of an oppressed group but who supports civil rights and social movements associated with that group. An ally acknowledges his or her position of relative privilege and uses that position to create change within the larger culture and society. Examples of acts of allyship include a sighted person writing image descriptions for a website, a cisgender man marching in a pro-choice rally, or a white person boycotting a business known for racial profiling.
The role of an ally within an oppressed community can be a point of some controversy. For example, Mia McKenzie of Black Girl Dangerous wrote a widely-circulated article criticizing self-identified allies for putting themselves in the spotlight at the expense of the people they claim to support, saying allyship is "not supposed to be about you. It's not supposed to be about your feelings. [...] It's supposed to be a way of living your life that doesn't reinforce the same oppressive behaviors you're claiming the be against."
The general consensus within oppressed communities is that a role of an ally is to listen to feedback and take their role seriously and humbly, never choosing to speak for, or over, oppressed minorities.
The term "ally" is much older than many terms used in the progressive community, first used in progressive culture with the birth of PFLAG, or Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, in 1973.
Related terms include cishet, oppression, erasure.
"As an ally to the LGBT+ community, I have chosen not to marry my opposite-sex partner until same-sex marriage is legalized."
Within the context of progressive culture, an ally is a person who is not a member of an oppressed group but who supports civil rights and social movements associated with that group. An ally acknowledges his or her position of relative privilege and uses that position to create change within the larger culture and society. Examples of acts of allyship include a sighted person writing image descriptions for a website, a cisgender man marching in a pro-choice rally, or a white person boycotting a business known for racial profiling.
The role of an ally within an oppressed community can be a point of some controversy. For example, Mia McKenzie of Black Girl Dangerous wrote a widely-circulated article criticizing self-identified allies for putting themselves in the spotlight at the expense of the people they claim to support, saying allyship is "not supposed to be about you. It's not supposed to be about your feelings. [...] It's supposed to be a way of living your life that doesn't reinforce the same oppressive behaviors you're claiming the be against."
The general consensus within oppressed communities is that a role of an ally is to listen to feedback and take their role seriously and humbly, never choosing to speak for, or over, oppressed minorities.
The term "ally" is much older than many terms used in the progressive community, first used in progressive culture with the birth of PFLAG, or Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, in 1973.
Posted by
Juniper Russo
Definition of "Cishet"
Pronounced SIS-het.
Related terms include cisgender, cisnormativity, ally, and cissexism.
"Karen is a dedicated ally-- she's a cishet but goes to Pride every year to show support for her dads."
Cishet, used as both an adjective and a noun, describes a person who is both cisgender and heterosexual. A person is cishet if he or she is cisgender, meaning identifying with his or her assigned-at-birth gender, as well as heterosexual, or attracted exclusively to people of the opposite sex. Cishet individuals are not inherently part of the LGBT+ or queer community but may identify themselves as allies.
People who are cishet arguably form most of the human population. The common assumption that all or most people are cishet contributes to cisnormativity and heteronormativity. Most people who are cishet do not identify themselves as cishet because they have never had want or need of a specific label to describe their orientation and gender identity.
The use of "cishet" by the LGBT+ and feminist community has been a source of some controversy, It may be occasionally used in what are perceived as ad hominem or straw-man arguments when addressing cisgender heterosexuals, and this has led to many perceiving it as an insult. In gender, cishet is a shorthand descriptive term and not a slur.
First used in online communities in the 2000s, cishet is a portmanteau of cis-- as in cisgender, from the Latin cis-, meaning "this side of"-- and het-- as in heterosexual, meaning attracted to the opposite sex.
Related terms include cisgender, cisnormativity, ally, and cissexism.
"Karen is a dedicated ally-- she's a cishet but goes to Pride every year to show support for her dads."
Cishet, used as both an adjective and a noun, describes a person who is both cisgender and heterosexual. A person is cishet if he or she is cisgender, meaning identifying with his or her assigned-at-birth gender, as well as heterosexual, or attracted exclusively to people of the opposite sex. Cishet individuals are not inherently part of the LGBT+ or queer community but may identify themselves as allies.
People who are cishet arguably form most of the human population. The common assumption that all or most people are cishet contributes to cisnormativity and heteronormativity. Most people who are cishet do not identify themselves as cishet because they have never had want or need of a specific label to describe their orientation and gender identity.
The use of "cishet" by the LGBT+ and feminist community has been a source of some controversy, It may be occasionally used in what are perceived as ad hominem or straw-man arguments when addressing cisgender heterosexuals, and this has led to many perceiving it as an insult. In gender, cishet is a shorthand descriptive term and not a slur.
First used in online communities in the 2000s, cishet is a portmanteau of cis-- as in cisgender, from the Latin cis-, meaning "this side of"-- and het-- as in heterosexual, meaning attracted to the opposite sex.
Posted by
Juniper Russo
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