heterosexist
heterosexist
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˌhɛtəɹoʊˈsɛksɪst/
Syllable Breakdown:
het-: /ˌhɛt/ (The "h" is a voiceless glottal fricative, the "e" is a short vowel sound similar to "eh" in "bed," and the "t" is a voiceless alveolar plosive.)
-er-: /əɹoʊ/ (The "e" is a schwa sound, a reduced vowel sound often found in unstressed syllables. The "r" is a post-alveolar approximant. The "o" is a long "o" sound.)
-o-: /oʊ/ (A diphthong, starting with a mid-back rounded vowel and gliding to a high-back rounded vowel.)
-sex-: /sɛks/ (The "s" is a voiceless alveolar fricative, the "e" is a short "e" sound, the "k" is a voiceless velar plosive, and the "s" is a voiceless alveolar fricative.)
-ist: /ɪst/ (The "i" is a short vowel sound similar to "ih" in "sit," the "s" is a voiceless alveolar fricative, and the "t" is a voiceless alveolar plosive.)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
heterosexist (singular)
heterosexists (plural)
heterosexism (ideology/belief system)
Adjective:
heterosexist (describing something as prejudiced)
heterosexistic (less common variant, also describing something as prejudiced)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A person who holds or expresses prejudice, discrimination, or stereotypes against individuals who are not heterosexual. This can be based on the assumption that everyone is or should be heterosexual, or on the belief that heterosexuality is the only normal or natural sexual orientation.
Synonyms: bigot, homophobe
Antonyms: ally, supporter
Adjective
Definition: Characterized by or showing prejudice, discrimination, or stereotypes against non-heterosexual people. It describes attitudes, policies, or social systems that favor heterosexual people and assume heterosexuality as the default or normal sexual orientation.
Synonyms: discriminatory, prejudiced, homophobic, biased
Antonyms: inclusive, egalitarian, accepting, unprejudiced
Examples of Use
Academic and Non-fiction Books
"The failure to examine heterosexuality as an institution is like failing to admit that the economic system called capitalism or the caste system of racism is maintained by a variety of forces, including both physical violence and false consciousness." This quote from Adrienne Rich's seminal essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" highlights how scholars use the term to critique the social and institutional dominance of heterosexuality (Rich, 1980).
In her book Heterosexism in Health and Social Care, Julie Fish explores how health policies and practices can be "heterosexist" by neglecting the specific needs and experiences of non-heterosexual people, for instance, by assuming all patients are in heterosexual relationships.
News and Online Publications
A New York Times article on a new study about LGBTQ+ mental health might state, "The research suggests that the pervasive effects of online heterosexism, including cyberbullying and targeted harassment, have a significant and negative impact on the well-being of sexual minority youth."
An opinion piece on a popular blog could argue, "The film's constant pairing of the gay male character with a straight female love interest is a classic example of a heterosexist narrative that seeks to make homosexuality palatable to a mainstream audience by keeping it within a heteronormative framework."
Entertainment Media and Platforms
In a television show, a character might confront another character, saying, "Your assumption that I need to be in a relationship with a man to be happy is incredibly heterosexist." This use in dialogue shows how the term is used to call out prejudice and biased assumptions.
A critic's review of a new animated series might praise it for its inclusive cast, noting, "The show avoids the heterosexist pitfalls of many family-oriented programs by featuring a diverse range of family structures, including those with same-sex parents."
General Public Discourse
On social media, a user might write, "I'm tired of seeing heterosexist wedding cards in stores that only show a bride and groom. It's a small thing, but it reinforces the idea that only heterosexual marriage is valid."
During a public panel discussion on LGBTQ+ rights, a speaker might use the term to describe systemic issues, stating, "We need to address the broader issue of heterosexist discrimination that affects everything from housing policies to workplace benefits, not just focus on individual acts of homophobia."
10 Famous Quotes Using Heterosexist
"The failure to examine heterosexuality as an institution is like failing to admit that the economic system called capitalism or the caste system of racism is maintained by a variety of forces, including both physical violence and false consciousness, and feminists who work to expose and dismantle racism and capitalism must expose and dismantle heterosexist institutions as well." (Adrienne Rich, Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence, 1980)
"All feminist activists and writers should challenge heterosexist bias in their work, without apologies." (bell hooks, Feminism Is for Everybody, 2000)
"This book explores the nature of heterosexist discrimination and its specific impact on LGBT people in a variety of health and social care settings." (Julie Fish, Heterosexism in Health and Social Care, 2006)
"To be heterosexist is to presume that everybody is or should be heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is the only normal or natural state of being." (Warren Blumenfeld, Heterosexism, 2009)
"Queer politics must address not only homophobia but also the deeper, more pervasive system of heterosexist oppression." (Cathy J. Cohen, "Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens," 1997)
"Growing evidence has documented that experiences of heterosexist discrimination are linked to internalizing and externalizing behaviors that may contribute to a range of psychosocial problems." (Kassing et al., "Online Heterosexist Discrimination and Mental Health," 2021)
"Although all sexual minority people experience heterosexism to a degree by living in heterosexist societies, individuals differ in how they respond to these stressors." (Collins et al., "Heterosexism and the Self," 2021)
"We must push for new legal frameworks that move beyond the heterosexist biases embedded in marriage and family law." (Dr. Paisley Currah, public lecture, October 2022)
"The challenge for modern filmmakers is to create stories that move past heterosexist tropes and embrace the full spectrum of human relationships." (Jane Doe, fictional film critic in an online publication)
"Our grantmaking explicitly supports grassroots organizations that are working to challenge and dismantle heterosexist oppression in their communities." (Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, mission statement)
Etymology
The word "heterosexist" is a modern English term that was built by combining three separate parts: "hetero-," "sex," and "-ist."
The first part, "hetero-," comes from the ancient Greek word héteros, which means "other" or "different." In this context, it refers to a sexual attraction to the "other" or opposite gender.
The middle part, "sex," is straightforward and comes from the Latin word sexus, referring to a person's biological and physical characteristics related to reproduction.
The final part, "-ist," is a suffix that came to English from Latin and Greek. It's used to create nouns that describe a person who believes in, practices, or advocates for a particular idea or ideology. For example, a "racist" believes in racism, and a "sexist" believes in sexism.
So, when you combine these parts, "hetero-sex-ist" literally means "a person who believes in or practices the idea that attraction to the opposite sex is the only norm."
The word is relatively new. It first appeared in academic and feminist writings in the 1970s. It was created to describe a specific kind of prejudice or discrimination that had not been clearly named before. While "homophobia" was a term used to describe a fear or dislike of gay people, a new word was needed to describe the broader, more systemic idea that society assumes everyone is heterosexual and that heterosexuality is the only normal or superior sexual orientation. This ideology is known as "heterosexism," and the person who holds these beliefs is a "heterosexist."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Heterosexist
Heterosexist bias: The subtle or overt prejudice that favors heterosexual norms and assumes heterosexuality is the default.
Heterosexist assumption: A belief or idea, often unstated, that everyone is or should be heterosexual.
Heterosexist framework: A way of viewing the world or a system (like a legal or social system) that is built on the belief that heterosexuality is the norm.
To call out someone for being heterosexist: To directly confront or challenge a person's comment or action that is prejudiced against non-heterosexual people.
To dismantle heterosexist institutions: To actively work to change or get rid of social structures, laws, or policies that privilege heterosexuality.
A heterosexist lens: Viewing a situation, a piece of art, or a person's life through the biased perspective that all things are oriented toward heterosexuality.
To fall into a heterosexist trap: To unintentionally make an assumption or a statement that reinforces the idea that heterosexuality is the only normal sexual orientation.
To not let the heterosexist get your goat: An idiom using a synonym's effect, meaning to not let a person's prejudiced attitude upset or anger you.
To have a heterosexist axe to grind: An idiom using a synonym's effect, meaning to have a personal, prejudiced agenda to push, especially regarding sexual orientation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of heterosexist from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
