Compulsory Heterosexuality by

Compulsory Heterosexuality

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 18:53:31 UTC

Compulsory heterosexuality, also known as "comphet", is the belief that heterosexuality is the "norm" and seen as the default sexuality in society.

Why does this topic interest me?

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 19:09:38 UTC

This topic interests me because my favorite song is "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan. My friend told me this song is about a compulsory heterosexual relationship, because the girl the artist is singing about left her to be with a man, due to the fact that heterosexuality is seen as the "norm". I really enjoy this song, so when we started learning about the meaning behind it in class, it caught my interest.

Relevance

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 19:19:30 UTC

Even though society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, some members still feel as though they need to be with someone of the opposite sex. This is an issue within the community because they aren't marrying the people that they truly love.

Related Feminist Theory

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 19:29:59 UTC

Compulsory heterosexuality falls under Postmodern Feminist Theory, specifically relating to the social construction of reality branch. This branch focuses on the idea that reality is not one thing, and it is based on whatever group and values are dominant in society at the time. This is seen in compulsory heterosexuality because while there is no natural sexuality, society constructed the idea that being heterosexual was the default, based on the beliefs of the majority group.

Key Terms

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 19:33:44 UTC

Compulsory - required by a law or a rule

Sexuality - a person's identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are typically attracted to

Norm - something that is usual, typical or standard

Adrienne Rich

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 19:44:32 UTC

Coined the term "compulsory heterosexuality"
Wrote "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" in 1980
Spoke about homosexuality during a time when it wasn't accepted
Called out the feminist movement for complying with practice and erasing the stories of women who identified as lesbians within the movement

(https://feminismandreligion.com/2024/02/10/rereading-adrienne-richs-compulsory-heterosexuality-and-lesbian-existence-by-xochitl-alvizo/#:~:text=Compulsory%20heterosexuality%20creates%20an%20absence,denial%20of%20trans%20women's%20experience.)

Origin

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 19:56:37 UTC

This idea was first brought to light by Adrienne Rich in 1980

History of Compulsory Heterosexuality

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 20:03:51 UTC

Critiques

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 20:22:50 UTC

The idea of compulsory heterosexuality reinforces the binary gender system and its gender roles
It romanticizes lesbianism instead of seeing and accepting it
Sexual orientation politics can't be lumped with gender politics
It is not created by society as a whole, but by specific individuals and institutions of power

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_heterosexuality#:~:text=The%20theory%20of%20compulsory%20heterosexuality,discounts%20individual%20agency%20in%20life.)

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 20:30:42 UTC

Made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states
Said that people who were in same-sex relationships were having their 14th Amendment rights denied

(https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/576/644/)

Compulsory heterosexuality doesn't only affect lesbians

galtieri2 — 2025-03-21 20:35:43 UTC