Sexuality As A Social Construct - 1486 Words

Hannah St. Lifer Sexuality as a Social Construct Heternormativity is the idea that there exist two distinctive classifications of the genders, males and females, with customary roles in society. The idea asserts that heterosexuality is the only normal sexual orientation of people and that all sexual and marital relations must abide by this norm. Society has adopted this belief and constructed it into a standard of life. It is normal for people to automatically presume that most other people are heterosexual and that heterosexuality is the default sexual preference. Thus, all other sexualities that are nonheterosexual are a deviation of the default. Heterosexuality is the most appreciative and is the most acceptable sexuality for a man and†¦show more content†¦Monogamous, reproductive heterosexuality is also valued socially above all other forms of sexuality. Society has constructed the belief that heterosexuality is the ideal sexual identity, and society subsequently critiques non-heterosexual identities, such as gays, bis exuals, and trans, which all fall outside this custom. As a consequence of society deeming heterosexuality as the ideal sexuality, sexualities that are biologically infertile are less socially acceptable in society. Nonheterosexuals are seen as deviants and consequently mocked and ridiculed by society. Gayle proposes that same sex relationships are inferiors, but, â€Å"stable, long-term lesbian and gay couples are verging on respectability, but bar dykes and promiscuous gay men are hovering just above the groups at the very bottom of the pyramid.† For instance, society already considers gay males to be lower on the hierarchy, but those males, which are less masculine, are even lower on the pyramid. Society has constructed these â€Å"less masculine† gays to be â€Å"more gay†. However, homosexual males that still obtain monogamous relationships are more appreciated in respect to gays who are not in relationships. For example, famous gay couples such as Ellen DeGeneres’s relationship, and the gay marriage po rtrayed on Modern Family, are valued in society. These are higher up on the pyramid because both gay couples are in stable relationships that