SOSC 1900 Lecture Notes - Condom, Gender Studies, Feminist Theory
31 Mar 2014
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Discussion of sarah baartman and continuation of last week"s lecture. Women can be heterosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered, pansexual, celibate, etc. Men can be heterosexual, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered, pansexual, celibate, polyamorous etc. In our social environment, heterosexuality is produced as normative. Normative: produced as natural, and normal against which all other expressions of sexuality are produced as deviant, aberrant and at worst punishable. In the words of feminist theorist adrienne rich heterosexuality is compulsory. Heterosexuality has always been produced as the norm, an unchanging sexual system that is universal. Institutions produce and reinforce it (the family, religious institutions, education, law, etc. ) Compulsory heterosexuality part and parcel of the dominant ideology (dominant ideology so pervasive that it is like fish swimming in water of which fish are unaware) Compulsory heterosexuality: refers to the ideology and social practice that pushes properly gendered women and men into couples and makes them believe it is a free choice.
