heteronormative
Assuming everyone's straight
Heteronormative describes attitudes, institutions, or assumptions that treat heterosexuality as the default or only normal sexual orientation.
The term critiques how society privileges straight relationships—in marriage laws, media representation, or the assumption that everyone has or wants an opposite-sex partner: The questionnaire's heteronormative framing asked women about their husbands.
Belief held without proof
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- defaultPreset standard option
- invisibilityState of being unseen
erasure · bias · stereotype · closeted · coming out · passing · questioning · privilege
Consisting of two parts
- cisgenderBirth-sex-identified
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
- masculinityMale gender characteristics
- femininityFemale nature or character
patriarchy · gender norms · husband · wife · bride · groom · breadwinner · homemaker
Formal union between partners
- familyRelated people together
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
domesticity · procreation · nuclear family · monogamy · adoption · custody · inheritance · tax benefits
Unusual or non-normative
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- pansexualAttracted regardless of gender
- asexualWithout erotic attraction
polyamory · chosen family · activism · visibility · representation · deconstruction · subversion · reclaiming
presumption
Belief held without proof
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- defaultPreset standard option
invisibility · erasure · bias · stereotype · closeted · coming out · passing · questioning · privilege · blindspot
binary
Consisting of two parts
- cisgenderBirth-sex-identified
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
- masculinityMale gender characteristics
femininity · patriarchy · gender norms · husband · wife · bride · groom · breadwinner · homemaker · dress codes
marriage
Formal union between partners
- familyRelated people together
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
engagement · domesticity · procreation · nuclear family · monogamy · adoption · custody · inheritance · tax benefits · spousal rights
queer
Unusual or non-normative
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- pansexualAttracted regardless of gender
asexual · polyamory · chosen family · activism · visibility · representation · deconstruction · subversion · reclaiming · allyship
- LGBTQ+gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer
- sexualitysexual orientation, sexual behavior, erotica, sexual identity, bisexual
- Queer Culturegay, drag culture, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
- inclusive languagegender-neutral, they/them, singular they, preferred pronouns, pronouns
heteronormativeinclusive
Covering all members
affirming · accepting · progressive · open · pluralistic